Free Childcare for 2 year olds

Related Articles

Free childcare is available for eligible 2 year olds, for 15 hours a week during term time.

Your child will have the chance to have fun, play, learn socialise and make new friends.

If your child is eligible, they can take up a place at the start of the term following their second birthday. 

reachdeck_icon.jpg  ReachDeck toolbar to translate the page

Apply for a 2 year old free childcare place

 To complete an application you will need to provide:

  • Your own name and date of birth
  • Contact details
  • National Insurance Number or National Asylum Seekers Number
  • Child's name and date of birth

If you are eligible, you will be given a code at the end of the online application process.

You can take to your code to any of the approved childcare providers. 

Your childcare provider will give you a free place once they have seen the code and confirm you are eligibile for a free 2 year old place.

Please note funding cannot be backdated.  

Is my child eligible?

To access free childcare for 2 year olds, you must be getting one or more 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) 


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

  • are looked after by a local authority
  • have a statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
  • get Disability Living Allowance
  • have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order

You may have to pay for extra costs like nappies, meals or trips.


If you are not in receipt of one of the above you will not be eligible to apply.
No Recourse to Public Funds Application Form

Non- UK citizen who cannot claim benefits 

If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’, 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 
  • £34,500 for families within London with one child 
  • £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children 
  • £38,600 for families within London with two or more children 

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


Email application form to earlyyears_team@sandwell.gov.uk  

What if I don't get an online code?

If you complete an online application and don't get a code at the end of the process.

You will need to send a photo of your most recent benefits statement as proof that you qualify for a free 2 year old childcare place to Sandwell Early Years 

Email earlyyears_team@sandwell.gov.uk 

 

When can my child start?

The date you can start a funded place depends on your child's birthday.

My child’s birthday

Free childcare start date

1st January to 31st March

Start of Summer term on or after 1 April

1st April to 31st August

Start of Autumn term on or after 1 September

1st September to 31st December

Start of Spring term on or after 1 January

Can I use more than one childcare provider?

Yes you can split your 15 hours between 2 childcare providers as long as the hours you use do not exceed 15 hours.

I have lost my confirmation code

If you have already applied but have lost your confirmation code

email earlyyears_team@sandwell.gov.uk  and your code will be sent to you.

Immigration status and public funds
Free childcare for 2 year olds has an eligibility requirement relating to the immigration status of the parent(s) and so may not be available to all families.

Free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds (15 hours) is not classed as a public fund for immigration purposes, so can be accessed by a child regardless of their immigration status

The immigration status of a person who is not a British citizen (a non-UK national) will determine whether they are able to access public funds.

Non-UK nationals are required to obtain leave to enter or remain in order to live in the UK, unless they have the right of abode or are exempt from immigration control.

When leave to enter or remain is granted, conditions may be imposed on the person relating to employment and access to public funds

Different conditions apply depending on the type of leave that the person has been granted. 

When limited leave to enter is granted to a person to visit, study, work, or join family in the UK, they will have the ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) condition imposed.

A person who does not have any leave to enter or remain when they are required to have this will also have no recourse to public funds.

When a service has immigration-related eligibility requirements, the person’s immigration status will usually need to be established, such as whether they have a form of immigration permission and, if so, what type of visa they hold.

Following the UK's departure from the European Union, European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and their family members are now required to obtain leave to enter or remain in order to live in the UK, although those who were living in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 have different residence rights and entitlements to services. Therefore an EEA national's immigration status will be relevant when establishing their entitlement to benefits and housing assistance.

Early Education and Childcare rights and entitlements

Public Funds guidance

Support for families in Sandwell who have no recourse to public funds

Afghanistan Resettlement Education Grant

Immigration information for Ukrainians in the UK

Skilled Worker Visa

A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. 

This replaces Tier 2 (General) work visa (also known as Type 2 visa)

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:

  • work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
  • do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
  • be paid a minimum salary - how much depends on the type of work you do

You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa.

You will not be eligible for 2 year old funding unless you have recourse to public funds

Apply for a skilled worker visa

Student Visa

Student Visa replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa.

A student visa allows overseas students to come to the UK and study.

You can apply for a Student visa if you’re 16 or over and want to study on a further or higher education course in the UK.

How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed in the UK.

If you’re 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it’s below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.

You may also be able to extend your visa.

You may be able to work but this depends on  what you’re studying and whether you’re working in or out of term-time.

If you have a student visa, you will be told what you can and cannot do when you recieve the visa.

You will not be eligible for 2 year old funding unless you have recourse to public funds

Apply for a student visa

Hong Kong British National (Overseas)

The UK government has introduced a new immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) status holders, providing the opportunity for them and their family members to live, work and study in the UK.

Information for British nationals (overseas) on immigration to the UK following the announcement of national security legislation in Hong Kong.

Welcome: a guide for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders in the UK

A guide for adults and dependants who have been granted leave on the new British National (Overseas) visa to access public services and make the most of the opportunities in the UK.

You could be entitled to 15 hours free childcare for 2 year olds.

All children will get 15 hours free nursery education starting the term after the child's 3rd birthday.

Working parents may also be entitled to an additional 15 hours.

Childcare Brokerage Service

The Brokerage Service provides help to families who are unable to find a 2 year old funded place. They will discuss your needs with you and provide advice and information on the availability of places in your area.

If you need any help finding suitable childcare then contact us and we’ll do our best to help you.

How to make a complaint

If you are unhappy with your application for free childcare for 2 year olds

email details of your complaint to earlyyears_team@sandwell.gov.uk


Complaints about childcare quality

If the complaint relates to quality issues, first speak to your childcare provider

If it isn't resolved, contact Ofsted on 0300 123 1234


Page last reviewed: 19/12/2023

Actions

Get in touch with us

Family Information Service

family_information@sandwell.gov.uk
Back to top