Funded Places for 2, 3 and 4 year olds

Funded Early Education

3 and 4 year-olds
All 3 and 4 year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of funded early education each week for 38 weeks of the year. Some providers may offer this over a longer period of time (the equivalent number of hours over the whole year).  Some families may be entitled to 30 hours funding, please check https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare for eligibility
Your child becomes eligible from 1 September, 1 January or 1 April following their 3rd birthday.
The free early education can be at:

The funding is claimed through the setting at the beginning of each term.  In Suffolk you may claim the funding across two settings. Please contact us for further details about funding.

Please note that an additional services charge may be invoiced for all funded hours claimed.
  
2 year-olds
Funding for two year olds with working parents may be eligible for 15 hours funded early education each week for 38 weeks of the year starting the term after they turn two - check your eligibility at Apply for free childcare if you're working - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Families with two year olds in in receipt of a qualifying benefit listed below may be eligible for 15 hours funding per week during term time. 
If the child is subject to Child Protection, Child in Need plan or is a Looked After Child they are eligible, regardless of whether the family are in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
Your child becomes eligible from 1 September, 1 January or 1 April following their 2nd birthday.

Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get one 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
  • child tax credits, and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
  • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • 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:

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

Contact your childcare provider or local council to find out more.

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

Your 2-year-old may get free childcare if you are getting support under the Immigration and Asylum Act and have either:

  • claimed asylum in the UK and are waiting for a decision (known as ‘part 6’)
  • been refused asylum in the UK (known as ‘section 4’)

A 2-year-old you care for may also get free childcare if your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, and you have any of the following:

  • leave to remain with ‘no recourse to public funds’ on family or private life grounds
  • support from your local council because you have ‘a child in need’, for example they have a disability or a child protection plan
  • the right to live in the UK because you’re the main carer of a British citizen (known as a ‘Zambrano Carer’)

Check with your local council if you’re unsure if you can get free childcare.