How to use your funded childcare for 2 year olds

You can use our childcare search to look for providers who offer this service.

To offer this service, providers must be registered with Ofsted and not be judged to be inadequate. They must also sign our funding agreement.

We cannot fund any other types of care, including family arrangements. If a relative or friend looks after your child during the week, they can't be paid for this entitlement.

We recommend you choose a provider graded 'good' or 'outstanding' by Ofsted, and in Lancashire almost all the childminders and nurseries are rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. You can see their latest inspection grade and report on the Ofsted website. You will also be able to arrange visits before you take up a place to make sure that you and your child are happy.

All our nurseries and childminders welcome children from a wide range of backgrounds and they will be happy to discuss how best to meet any cultural, religious and dietary needs you or your child may have.

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To book a place with your chosen provider you will need:

• your letter or email confirming your eligibility

• a copy of your child's birth certificate

Once you have agreed your hours or sessions for your child you should be asked to sign a Parental Agreement.

This provides you and the provider with a document which clearly shows the agreed hours or sessions that your child should attend. This helps to protect everyone if there is a dispute, particularly one that involves money (in rare circumstances the provider may ask you to pay for any hours that your child has mistakenly received from them).

If your family is eligible, we'll pay for up to 15 funded hours a week, for up to 38 weeks of the year.

The 38 weeks are divided into:

• Spring Term (1 January – 31 March): 11 weeks at 15 hours per week (165 hours per term) 

• Summer Term (1 April – 31 August): 13 weeks at 15 hours per week (195 hours per term) 

• Autumn Term (1 September – 31 December): 14 weeks at 15 hours per week (210 hours per term)

You may have the option to 'stretch' your child's funded hours over more than 38 weeks. This would mean that your child would attend for less than 15 hours per week, but more than 38 weeks in the year. Please discuss this option with your chosen provider to see if this is something that they offer.

You can take the funded hours flexibly. For example, your child could attend for three hours a day over five days, or five hours a day for three days in a week, or they could take the offer over a number of two days. It is up to each provider to decide at what times of the day, and which days of the week the funded places are available. 

There are some rules that apply though, you can use: 

• A maximum of 10 hours in one day 

• A maximum of 15 hours over one week

You do not have to take up the full 15 hours.

When you speak with a childcare provider they will be able to explain these rules to you, or you can contact our Family Information Service.

The funded place can be taken over a lunch break, if this is offered by your provider. Your provider may offer a meal at an additional cost; however you should also have the choice to provide your own packed lunch.

The provider will work with you to consider your child's needs, your preferred hours/days, and the sessions where they currently have vacancies. They will do their best to give you the hours you want, but it is their decision whether to offer you exactly what you want.

If after talking it through, the provider is unable to take your child at the times you want, you will need to find another provider.

The funded hours can be split across two registered providers. If your child attends two providers, you must complete a 'Parental Agreement' for both providers, which must contain accurate information about the number of hours your child attends at each provider. The funding hours will then be split across both providers.

The council funds each early education and childcare provider on a termly basis. If you move your child within term to a different childcare provider you may not be able to claim funded hours at the new childcare provider. You will need to discuss this with your existing childcare provider to see whether they are willing to transfer any of the funding to the new childcare provider. They are not obliged to do this as it is at their discretion. Please check before you move your child.

This also applies if you want to move your child to a maintained nursery from a private day nursery or vice versa.

If your child is unwell, you are not able to claim back any funded hours that your child has been unable to attend due to illness. The funded hours will be used to keep your child's place open for their return. If your child is unwell and unable to attend for more than four weeks, please contact your provider to discuss your child's place.

If your child is unable to attend due to a family holiday, their funded hours will normally be used to keep their funded place open until they return. Alternatively, if you discuss your holiday with your childcare provider, you may be able to pay a retainer to keep your child’s place open. This may mean that your child can receive their funded hours later in the term. This would be at the discretion of your provider and they are under no obligation to offer this.

You should not be charged for the funded place. Lancashire County Council pays the provider directly for your child's funded place and if your child doesn't get any additional hours there should not be a registration fee.

If, however you choose to take up any additional hours or services from your provider, you will be charged accordingly for these and they may charge a registration fee. Please discuss this with your provider.

If you are using a provider that is open for more than 38 weeks, you will be charged for any additional time that your child attends.

We will continue to fund the place until your child moves onto the universal funding the term after they turn three, they will keep their place even if your circumstances change and you wouldn't be eligible any more.

If you're not sure whether your child is receiving all of their funded hours, check the invoice you get from your provider.

They should provide you with a clear invoice and you should be confident about how your fees have been calculated.

If you're concerned, arrange to speak to your provider who should be able to explain your fees. If you're still concerned, email the Early Education Funding Team at fee234@lancashire.gov.uk.