Funded childcare for two-year-olds

Some two-year-olds living in Wirral may be eligible for 15 hours funded childcare per week, totalling 570 hours per year.

Who can get funded childcare?

Families in receipt of some form of additional government support may be eligible for 15 hours of funding. 

Your two-year-old will be eligible for funding if you receive:

  • Universal Credit, if a parent is entitled to Universal Credit you must have a household annual income equivalent to and not exceeding £15,400, assessed on up to three of the parent's most recent Universal Credit assessment periods.
  • Tax Credits, provided you have a household annual income not exceeding £16,190
  • support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
  • your two year old may also be eligible for funding (depending on your household income) if you receive:
  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Children are also eligible if:

  • they have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • they’re looked after by a local council
  • they’ve left care in England or Wales through an adoption order, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
  • Children of Zambrano Carers with a net household income not exceeding £15,400
  • Children of families with no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR);
  • Children of a subset of failed asylum seekers (supported under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 – ‘the 1999 Act’)

Working families

Working families who earn at least £167 per week may also be eligible for 15 hours of funding. You apply through Childcare Choices. To see the qualifying criteria and apply visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Families accessing the working parents funding entitlement, must have a working parent eligibility code that is valid before the start of the term. Term start dates are 1 September, 1 January and 1 April.

Where can I use the funding?

You can use the funding with:

If your child meets eligibility, the funding can be used the term after their second birthday. Please see below for term dates.

When can my child start?

Applications can be made the term before your child would be eligible to claim. Working parent applications can be made up to 16 weeks before the child’s 2nd birthday. Children become eligible from the term after their second birthday:

Child's Birthday Eligible from Apply from
1 January to 31 March April (Summer Term) From 1 January
1 April to 31 August September (Autumn Term) From 1 April
1 September to 31 December January (Spring Term) From 1 September

Once approved, you do not need to reapply, unless you are claiming under the working parents' entitlement, you must reconfirm every 3 months with HMRC.

You will need to tell HMRC when you get funded childcare. Call the Tax Credit Helpline.

For further information contact fis@wirral.gov.uk or 0151 666 3980.

How to apply

Applications can be completed by:

  • a parent or carer of the child or;
  • a professional working with the family. 

You will need to know the parent or carer's details.

Apply for early years funding

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