Can my 2 year old get free childcare?

For parents in England with a 2 year old who get certain benefits or whose child has extra needs.

Applies to: England Last checked against official sources: 30 September 2026

Your 2 year old can get 15 hours a week of free childcare for 38 weeks a year in England if you or your child are eligible. You may qualify if:

you get Universal Credit and household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax (not counting benefits)
you get Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA or the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
your child has an EHC plan, gets DLA, is in care or has left care under certain orders

Apply through your local council's early years team. If you work, you may also qualify for Free Childcare for Working Parents.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Wales: Check gov.wales for Wales
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

15 hours a week
Benefits or child's needs based
Apply via your council

Two routes to free childcare for 2 year olds in England

There are two separate schemes. Which one fits depends on whether you get certain benefits or are working.

	Early Learning for 2 year olds	Free Childcare for Working Parents
Who it is for	Families on certain benefits or low income, or children with extra needs	Working parents
Hours	15 hours a week	30 hours a week
Ages	2 year olds	9 months to 4 years
How to apply	Your local council	Online through your childcare account

The 15 hours are for 38 weeks a year. You may be able to spread the hours over more weeks, using fewer hours each week.

Who can get the 15 hours (extra support)

You can get it if you get any of these:

Universal Credit, with household take-home pay of £15,400 a year or less (after tax)
Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

Your child can also get it, whatever your income, if they:

have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
get Disability Living Allowance
are looked after by the local council
have left care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order

If you cannot claim benefits because of your immigration status, different income limits apply:

Where you live	1 child	2 or more children
Outside London	£26,500	£30,600
London	£34,500	£38,600

You must also have savings of £16,000 or less.

When your child can start

Child's 2nd birthday	Can start from
1 January to 31 March	1 April
1 April to 31 August	1 September
1 September to 31 December	1 January the next year

How to apply for the 15 hours

Contact your local council's early years or family information team.
The council checks if you qualify. Your child can start from the date in the table above.
If you do, use your hours at an approved nursery, childminder or playgroup that offers funded places.

If you work: the 30 hours

Free Childcare for Working Parents gives up to 30 hours a week from 9 months old. You and any partner must each expect to earn at least these amounts over the next 3 months:

Your age	Minimum over 3 months
21 or over	£2,643.68
18 to 20	£2,256.80
Under 18, or an apprentice	£1,664

This equals 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage. You cannot get it if either of you expects adjusted net income over £100,000 this tax year. You can apply when your child is 23 weeks old, and you must reconfirm every 3 months.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Scotland: some 2 year olds get funded early learning and childcare. You may qualify if you get certain benefits, including Universal Credit with monthly household take-home pay of £885 or less, or if you or your child has experience of care. Apply through your council.
Wales: Flying Start gives 12.5 hours a week of funded childcare for 2 year olds in eligible areas. It is being rolled out to all 2 year olds, starting with the most disadvantaged areas. Contact your Family Information Service.
Northern Ireland: the English schemes do not apply. Check nidirect for local options.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Contact your council

Common questions

When can I apply?

Close to your child's 2nd birthday. The hours start the term after, depending on when they turn 2.

Will it affect my benefits?

No.

Source: 15 hours free childcare (Early Learning for 2 year olds)

Checked against GOV.UK on 30 September 2026

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