Free Childcare for 2 years olds

Families that meet certain criteria can get 15 hours of free childcare or early education. This starts the term after their child's second birthday.

The free entitlement can be taken at any Ofsted registered provider. This includes local nurseries, pre-schools, playgroups, and childminders. The provider must be eligible to get funding and signed up to Oldham Council's list of approved providers:

• Oldham Council’s list of approved providers

It entitles you to receive the 15 hours over 38 weeks (A total of 570 hours per year). You can ‘stretch’ the hours over more weeks, using fewer hours per week, this can be discussed with your chosen childcare provider.

Who is eligible?

Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you 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
• 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:

• are looked after by a local council
• 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 meals, nappies or trips.

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’)
• support from your local council because you have ‘a child in need’, for example, they have a disability or a child protection plan

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 the right to live in the UK because you’re the main Carer of a British citizen (known as a ‘Zambrano Carer’)

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.

If you have a child that falls under the non-EEA citizen eligibility criteria above, please email the Free Entitlement team:

• 2Year.OldEntitlement@oldham.gov.uk

Apply

To apply for free child care for your 2 year old child you will need to create an account and sign into our parent portal:

• Apply for free childcare for 2 year olds - parent portal website

When to apply

You can apply once your child is 21 months old and your child becomes eligible for a free 15 hour place in the term after their second birthday.