Free early education for 2 year olds
Early education for 2 year olds is part of the Government agenda to support and improve outcomes of children through early access to high quality early years settings. Some 2 year olds are eligible for 15 hours free early education funding.
Your 2-year-old can get free early education and childcare if you live in England and get one of the following benefits:
A child can also get free early education and childcare if any of the following apply:
Eligible children are able to start the term after their second birthday.
Born between: | Can start from: | When can I apply? |
1 January to 31 March (inclusive) | The start of the summer funding period (April) following their 2nd birthday, until they access Free Entitlement 3 and 4 year olds | January |
1 April to 31 August (inclusive) | The start of the autumn funding period (September) following their 2nd birthday, until they access Free Entitlement 3 and 4 year olds | April |
1 September to 31 December (inclusive) | The start of the spring funded period (January) following their 2nd birthday, until they access Free Entitlement 3 and 4 year olds | September |
To find out if you are entitled to funding, please click on this link: https://myparentportal.oxfordshire.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/parents/freechildcare
3 and 4 Year Old Funding for ALL children
We also accept children under the Nursery Education Grant Scheme paid directly to Nursery by the Government. The term after your child’s 3rd birthday you are entitled 15 hours free childcare per week.
THE MONTH YOUR CHILD WAS BORN | FUNDING STARTS |
January, February, March | APRIL |
April, May, June, July, August | SEPTEMBER |
September, October, November, December | JANUARY |
30 Hour Funding
30 hours childcare for three and four year olds is now available for many working families. To check your eligibility for 30 hour funding please visit the Childcare Choices website: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. Once you have your code, you still MUST keep renewing it when prompted by HMRC to remain eligible for 30 hours.
From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support. From September 2024, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of 9 months to 3-year-olds.
Early Years Pupil Premium Funding
Early Years Pupil Premium offers extra support for 3 and 4 year old children whose parents meet certain criteria. Oxfordshire County Council will check who is eligible and the funding comes directly to Shrivenham Pre-School.
We will use this additional funding to help support all children with their learning development, enabling us to buy new resources and provide specialist staff training. This helps us ensure the best possible early years outcomes for all children. In the long term, this will mean better early years outcomes for all children at Shrivenham.