Free Early Learning for 2-Year-Olds

This is funding for childcare sessions for 15 hours per week, 38 weeks of the year from the term after their 2nd birthday, and is available to families who are accessing certain benefits and meet the relevant criteria. It is not an entitlement for every 2-year-olds.

Free Early Learning for 3 and 4-Year-Olds (Nursery Education Funding)

All 3 and 4-year-olds in England already get 15 hours a week, or 570 hours a year of free early education. If their parents are living and working in England, 3 and 4-year-olds may be entitled to 30 hours free childcare. An extra 570 hours of free childcare a year, so 1140 hours in total. 30 hours free childcare will be available from September 2017.