Families Receiving Government Support

When does this start?

  • This scheme is currently in place in England and at our Nursery.

Eligibility Criteria
Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get any 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
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
  • 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 authority
  • Have 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

If you're a non- UK citizen who cannot claim benefits
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:

  • £34,500 for families within London with one child
  • £38,600 for families within London with two or more children
  • You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

Deadlines for 15 hour applications
To ensure that your child can receive the 15 hours entitlement, parents must apply and have their codes validated by the Local Authority by the following deadlines:

  • 31st March to receive the funding in the Summer
  • 31st August to receive the funding in the Autumn
  • 31st December to receive the funding in the Spring

15 hours Entitlement Checklist

  • Set up an online Synergy account
  • Complete a parent declaration form provided by us with your 6 digit code for each child accessing the additional hours.
  • Any additional services or hours above entitlement must be agreed for and paid for by you the parent.
  • Parents need to re-confirm eligibility every 3 months with Wandsworth Borough.
  • If you fall out of eligibility, you will enter a grace period which will enable access to the funded place until that grace period ends.
  • If you are still not eligible after the grace period, then alternative payment for 15 hours must be funded by you, the parent.
  • You can re-apply when you become eligible again and give the code to us.

When to apply for your child's code
You can apply from when your child is:

  • 1 year and 36 weeks for 15 hours free childcare

You must have a valid code by the end of the month before a new term starts.

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