Help with childcare costs

Some 2-year-olds can get up to 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.

Some childcare providers offer fewer hours per week over extra weeks (up to 570 hours).

This is a national childcare scheme and is for 2-year-olds who meet the government criteria. In Kent we call this scheme 'Free for 2'.

Once you have been confirmed eligible for a free 2-year-old place, the funding will remain with your child until they take up their free 3-year old place. Even if your circumstances change.

Find out if your child is eligible

Apply

You can apply for 'Free for 2' when your child reaches 1 year and 10 months. Don't apply before then.

You cannot get free childcare until after your child turns two. Even if you apply and get a voucher.

You will need an email address to create an account.

If you think you meet the government criteria for 2-year-old funding, complete an application below.

Check eligibility and apply

Application support

If you need help, use our guidance for support using the application system (PDF, 829.8 KB).

If you are a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits and do not have a National Insurance (NI) or National Asylum Support Service (NASS), email miearlyyears@kent.gov.uk for help.

If you can’t apply online

• visit your local Family Hub
• ask your childcare provider to help you apply. They must be registered with us and Ofsted. If you're not sure, see our list of all providers who offer funding, ask them directly or call us on 03000 41 23 23.

Please do not apply more than once as this can delay the checking process.

Using your free childcare for 2-year-olds funding

For more information on eligibility and using your free childcare for 2-year-olds, read our guide for parents.

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If you are an eligible working parent, you can currently apply for 15 hours of childcare for your 9 to 35-month-old.

If you apply more than 3 months before the start of the new term, you will need to reconfirm your details before the end of the month before the start of the new term. This is to ensure you are still eligible.

Some childcare providers may offer fewer hours per week over more weeks of a year (up to 570 hours). This is known as stretched funding.

The Department for Education sets the dates for when children become eligible by age.

Here are the applicable dates for the entitlement from 9 months and 2 years and application deadlines.

9-month-olds and above

2-year-olds

Foster carers

Some children in foster care may be able to receive 15 hours free childcare if:

• accessing the extended hours is consistent with the child's care plan
• there is a single foster parent family and the foster parent is engaging in paid work outside their role as a foster parent
• there are 2 foster parents in the same fostering household and both are engaging in paid work outside their role as a foster parent.

If you are a foster carer, speak to your social worker to start the process. They must complete a separate form before an eligibility check. This is not done through HMRC.

Once eligible, you must reconfirm your details every 3 months. This is completed through a Reconfirmation Statement.

If you are fostering a child from outside of Kent, contact the supervising social worker from that authority. You can apply through them for the funding.

Eligibility

To qualify for a childcare code you must meet the following criteria. Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:

• £2,380 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £183 per week)
• £1,788 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £137 per week)
• £1,331 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £102 per week).

This is the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.

You can use an average of how much you expect to earn over the current tax year if:

• you work throughout the year but do not get paid regularly
• you’re self-employed and do not expect to earn enough in the next 3 months.

Example

You’re eligible if you’re 21 or over and do not have a regular income but earn £9,518 a year. This is the same as earning £2,379 every 3 months on average.

If you start a new job or are on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave

The date you start a new job or return to work will affect when you can get free childcare.

Visit Childcare Choices for more information, to sign up for updates and try out the handy eligibility checker to discover how you can save money on your childcare.

Apply for free childcare if you're working.

Using your Working Parent Entitlement

Read our guide to the Working Parent Entitlement. It explains the full eligibility criteria, how to apply, and other details.

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare each week for 38 weeks a year.

Some childcare providers may offer fewer hours per week over more weeks of a year (up to 570 hours). This is known as stretched funding.

The Department for Education sets the dates for when children become eligible by age. The dates apply to both the universal (15 hours) and extended (30 hours) entitlement.

You do not need to apply for this funding. Simply find a childcare provider who is registered with us to deliver it to access your 15 hours.

Read our guide to 15-hour funding. It explains the full eligibility criteria, how to apply, and other details.

Eligible working families with 3 and 4 year olds can receive up to 30 hours of free childcare each week. This is 15 extra hours of free childcare. This is in addition to the universal entitlement and is called extended entitlement.

It is available over 38 weeks a year. Some providers may offer fewer hours per week over more weeks (up to 1,140 hours total for the 30 hours).

The Department for Education sets the dates for when children become eligible by age.

When to apply

You must apply for your 30-hours eligibility code in the term before your child becomes eligible by age. If they are already eligible by age, apply in the term before you wish to take up the offer.

If you don't apply within the recommended timeframes, you may not get your code in time.

If you receive your code, and do not apply before the deadline, you can only take your childcare place until the term after.

Apply for 30-hours

Before you apply, you’ll need to sign up online and get an eligibility code. Once you have the code, you can continue to apply.

Apply for 30-hours of free childcare

Don't forget, once you have your 30-hours childcare place, you’ll need to confirm your eligibility every 3 months.

Read our guide to 30-hour funding. It explains the full eligibility criteria, how to apply, and other details.