Young children still not accessing free childcare

Too many two-year-olds are missing out on free nursery education

Recent statistics show that parents of two-year-olds are not claiming the funding they are entitled to and are therefore missing out on fifteen hours of free childcare.

Who and why?

The childcare funding was increased for all three and four-year-olds to include some two-year-olds depending on their eligibility back in 2011 how ever figures show that just under a third of two years olds are missing out on the opportunity for nursery education and parents are missing out on free childcare.

With only two-thirds of parents actually taking up their free childcare for two-year-olds this is nowhere near close to 95% of parents who make use of the funding for their three and four-year-olds. London and Birmingham have the highest percentages of two-year-olds who are entitled but are not claiming their funding.

It is believed this is because many of the parents are not aware that they meet the criteria to receive the funding. Parents are entitled to the funding if they claim certain benefits or are looked after children.

This funding is an important tool in decreasing attainment gaps and giving children from less privileged backgrounds a greater start in their early years.

Who is entitled?

Parents of two-year-olds can claim the free funding if they receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit
• tax credits and you have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Parents/Carers can also claim if their two-year-old is:

• they’re looked after by a local council
• they have a current statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• they get Disability Living Allowance
• they’ve left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order

To find out more information about whether you and your child can make the most from the free childcare entitlement go into your local nursery setting today.