Parents and carers - 2, 3 and 4 year old Early Education funding

Some 2 year olds in Coventry will be eligible to get an entitlement of up to 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year - very similar to the three school terms.

This can be taken up with any Early Years provider such as a childminder, nursery or pre-school that is registered with both Ofsted and Coventry City Council to offer funded places.

The Coventry Family Information Directory is a free website that contains information about Early Years providers in Coventry.

To qualify for a 2 year old funding code you must be receiving one of the following UK benefits or universal credits:

Eligibility Route 1

Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
• the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Eligibility Route 2

2-year-olds may also get free childcare if they:

• are looked after by a local authority, for example a Foster Carer – proof of evidence will be required, such as– A letter from a relevant professional with the child`s name and date of birth. 
• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan- a letter from a relevant professional with the child`s name and date of birth regarding the EHCP awarded. 
• the child is in receipt of  Disability Living Allowance Evidence – award letter for DLA
• the child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order - a letter from a relevant professional with the child`s name and date of birth or special guardianship, adoption or residence order from the court.

If you’re a non- UK citizen who cannot claim benefits

If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF), you may still get free childcare for your 2-year-old. You must live in England and your household income must be no more than:

• £26,500 for families outside of London with one child
• £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children

You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

Please also complete the Self-Declaration Form and attach to your application on the Coventry City Council Parent Portal. Proof of evidence will be required when applying.

Eligibility Route 2 – Local criteria

The child you are applying for may be eligible for funding if one or more of the three criteria set out below is met:

Child Protection

• If your child is supported through a child protection plan or child in need plan. A letter from the lead Social Worker would be required as evidence.

Coventry SEND 

• You have a total household income of £20,000 or less a year, after tax

and

• Your child has a diagnosed syndrome, condition or disability that significantly affects the ability to access learning or has 12 months developmental delay in 2 or more out of the 4 areas of need. These are:
  • Communication and Interaction
  • Cognition and Learning
  • Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties
  • Sensory and/or physical needs

and

• Your child is accessing additional services provided by health or local authority professionals

Proof of your total household income a year, after tax and a letter from the relevant professional will need to be submitted when applying

Early Help support

• You have a total household income of £20,000 or less a year, after tax

and

• Your child is accessing additional services provided by health or local authority professionals

Proof of your total household income a year, after tax and a letter from the relevant professional will need to be submitted when applying.

If you are a full-time higher education student you may be eligible for help with your childcare costs through the Childcare Grant.

Some Early Years Providers may be able to offer less hours per week for more weeks during the year for example 11 hours a week for 50 weeks a year. This way the funding could also be used during the school holiday periods. Not all providers are able to do this so please check with them when you ask them about the two year old funded place. This style of funded delivery is called a stretched offer.

What if my circumstances change, will I still receive funding?

Yes, you will still receive the funding up until your child is eligible for the 3 year old funding.

 If having read the information above, you feel you meet the eligibility criteria please apply for Two Year Old Funding.

Parent Portal guidance for two-year-old funding

• Two Year Old Funding Parent Portal guidance 2021-22 

When will the 30 hours of free childcare be extended?

At the Spring Budget 2023, the government announced that from April 2024, working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare. 

For further information, please click on the following link: Education hub.blog.gov.uk