Funding Information and how to apply for a nursery place

Funded Nursery place options

Early Learning 2

Some 2-year-olds whose families receive some form of Government support are eligible for 15 hours funded childcare across 38 weeks of the year (term time).
If eligible the funding comes into place the term after your child's second birthday.
There is more information on EL2 funding on our page here along with details of how to apply.

Universal funding for all 3 and 4 year olds

All 3 and 4 year olds are currently entitled to 15 hours a week of Free Childcare and Early Education (Universal Entitlement).
Funding comes into place the term after your child's second birthday.
There is more information on our 15 hours funding for 3 and 4 year olds here.

30 hours of funded early year education for 2, 3 and 4 year olds for eligible working parents

Some working parents are also eligible to receive and additional 15 hours (30 hours total) of fundedchildcare per week (Extended Entitlement). (2 year olds from September 2025.)
The expanded entitlement is available to families where:
both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family)
each parent earns on average a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at the National Minimum wage or 16 hours at National Living Wage.
neither parent has an income of more than £100,000 per year
both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on parental, maternity or paternity leave, adoption leave or get statutory sick pay
one parent is employed, and one parent has substantial caring roles based on specific benefits received for caring, or is disabled/ incapacitated based on receipt of specific benefits
There is more information here on the early years funding for working parents.