Early learning and childcare information

Early learning and childcare for 2 year olds

 

Your 2 year old may be able to get funded early learning and childcare if either:

• you get certain benefits
• you or your child have experience of care

 

Qualifying benefits

Universal credit

If you get Universal Credit, your 2 year old may be able to get funded early learning and childcare. 

Your monthly household take-home pay must be £796 or less.

'Take-home pay' is how much money you get after these things are taken from your pay:

• tax
• National Insurance 
• pension contributions

Sign in to your Universal Credit Account

Tax credits

If you get tax credits, your 2 year old may be able to get funded early learning and childcare.

If you get Child Tax Credit only, you must earn £19,995 or less.

If you get Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you must earn £9,552 a year or less.

Other benefits

Your 2 year old may get funded early learning and childcare if you get one of these benefits:

• Income Support
• Jobseekers Allowance (income based)
• Employment and Support Allowance (income based)
• Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

 

Experience of care

Your 2 year old can get funded early learning and childcare if you or your child has experience of care.

Experience of care means being looked after by either:

• a local council
• a kinship carer or guardian, like a family member or a close friend

Apply 

Download and complete an application form

Following receipt of the completed application form, benefit information or care experienced status will be checked. You will then receive an email which confirms whether or not your child qualifies for a place. Depending on availability, we will offer your child a place at one of our Eligible 2 settings.  If we are unable to offer your child a place, they will remain on our waiting list and we will notify you as soon as a place becomes available. 

 

Early learning and childcare settings for our Eligible 2s

• Funded providers - our partner nurseries, childminders and community groups offer funded places for Eligible 2 year olds.
• Tots n Teens, Haddington
• Tots n Teens, Musselburgh
• Sanderson's Wynd Primary School, Tranent
• Preston Tower Primary School, Prestonpans

Please do not contact or apply to the settings directly.  We have a waiting list of eligible children so places are allocated in date of birth order, from the oldest child.  

 

Eligible 2 start dates

If there is availability in our Eligible 2 settings, children can take up their funded place the term after their second birthday as follows: