2 year old early education - myth busting

False.

Not necessarily, you might meet the criteria for 2 year old early education.

It is:

• based on economic and non-economic criteria
• quick and easy to apply.

The following is the economic criteria.

• 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).

Create an account and apply on Slough Borough Council Citizen Portal. If you’re eligible, you will find out straight away.

For further support, call the Family Information Service on 01753 476589.

If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’, you may still get funded childcare for your 2-year-old.

You must live in England and your household income must be no more than:

• £26,500 for families outside of London with one child 
• £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children.

You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

Contact your childcare provider or check with us if you’re unsure if you can get funded childcare.

False.

Just because you are eligible for 15 hours a week of funded early education, you don't have to use the full 15 hours a week entitlement.

Speak to your childcare provider about your concerns.

It might be possible to start at reduced hours and increase it later. 

False.

Once you are eligible for the 2 year old funding, you are eligible!

When your application is approved you get your code. Give this to the childcare setting, to get your little one started.

It doesn’t matter if anything changes in your economic circumstances after, as at the time you applied, you were eligible!

To remind you, you could be eligible for the 2 year old funding if you:

• are on certain benefits such as Universal, Child Tax or Working Tax Credits and
• have an annual income of below £16,190 before tax (£15,400 for families in receipt of Universal Credit). 

True, false.

You will always be your child’s first and main carer, nurturer, and teacher, but early education at a nursery can help your child further by:

• setting the foundation for early lifelong learning
• improving your child’s cognitive, linguistic, and social development
• preparing them for school.

Why not take advantage of this and:

• have some time to yourself
• have quality rest time
• focus on another child at home
• do a course, upskill yourself, get back to work
• visit friends
• have time for a hobby.

True.

Yes, you can ask your health visitor, or another agency who may be working with your family, to help you with the application.

If your child already attends a childcare provision, speak to them about receiving your funded early years education.

• Check details and apply for the funded early education place on Slough Borough Council website.

For further support call the Family Information Service on 01753 476589.

False.

The early years education provider will be paid directly, so you won’t need to worry about managing the money.

True.

This is a national scheme that allows your child to get a head start.

It offers an opportunity, free of charge, to learn and play alongside other children and to:

• paint
• read
• cook
• climb
• sing
• dance
• dress up
• be active
• build
• garden.

False.

For children who are eligible, the earliest date you can claim will depend on when their second birthday is.

You can apply and fill out the application the term they are turning 2 years old and access the funding in a childcare setting the term after.

Start dates are as follows.

• Child’s birthday - 1 January to 31 March. Earliest start 1 April.
• Child’s birthday - 1 April to 31 August. Start 1 September.
• Child’s birthday - 1 September to 31 December. Start - 1 January.

Eligible 2 year olds can have up to a maximum of 570 funded hours in the child’s birthday year.

The maximum weekly amount of 15 hours per week of funded early years education can be used over two or more days a week.

You can spread the funded hours throughout the year - this is called a ‘stretched offer’. Please note: with stretched funding, there may be a charge for sessions, outside of the funded hours.

For further details:

• check Slough Borough Council - funded early education for 2 year olds
• call 01753 476589
• email FIS@Slough.gov.uk.

Find a list of providers offering the funded early education for 2 year olds.