Funded childcare for 2 year olds

  1. Overview
  2. When to apply
  3. How to apply
  4. Other ways you might be eligible
  5. After you apply
  6. Find a nursery or childminder
  1. Hours and restrictions
  2. When your child turns three
  3. No recourse to public funds
  4. Other help with childcare costs
  5. Further Information and advice

3. How to apply

Depending on whether you receive government support or are a working family, the way in which you apply for funded childcare in Lancashire will be different. 

Families receiving government support

If you receive any of the following benefits or you are working and on low income as detailed below:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit - if you and your partner are on a low income from work (usually a combined income of less than £15,400 a year after tax)
  • guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), AND your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax

you can apply for an eligibility check with us to take up a 15 hours' funded place for your two-year old.

If you’re a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits please see no recourse to public funds for more information on how to apply.

Online eligibility checker

If you do not have access to the internet you can also call our Family Information Service on 0300 123 6712.

Please see when to submit your application for more information.

Working families

From April 2024 eligible working families can get 15 hours funded childcare. You, and any partner must expect to earn:

  • on average at least £167 per week* from 16 hours a week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage) and
  • Less than £100,000 adjusted net income per year.

*Rising to £183 per week from 6 April 2024.

If you fall into this category, get further details and claim your childcare entitlement code on the Childcare Choices website.

Apply for your code for working families

To access the 15 hours childcare support for working parents from 1 April 2024, you must apply for a code via the Childcare Choices website by 31 March 2024.

We recommend you apply by the end of February 2024 to get your code in time. See the '15 & 30 hours childcare' section on the Childcare Choices website for further information.

You can also sign up for updates and discover other ways you could save money on your childcare costs.

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Funded places for 2-year-olds

Play, learn and grow with a local nursery or childminder

Play, learn and grow with a local nursery or childminder.

Hear from our Lancashire providers about the benefits of a 2-year-old place.

Learn more about 2-year-old places