Funding for 2-year-olds

Some 2-year-olds are eligible to 570 hours of free early years education. This is dependent on meeting certain criteria. Eligible 2-year-olds can take up a place the term after their 2nd birthday.

If you would like your child to attend a pre-school or other provider at 2 years 9 months and you are not eligible for a funded 2 year old place, you will need to pay until your child is eligible for the 3- and 4-year-old funding. Free 3- and 4-year-old funding can be taken from the term after your child's 3rd birthday.

There are two ways to gain eligibility for 2-year-old funding. If you are a working parent you can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Your 2-year-old could also get free early education and childcare if you meet the disadvantaged child eligibility criteria.

You can check your child's eligibility online.

If you need any further information, you can contact your childcare provider or the Southampton Family Information Service.

Your child will continue to receive 2-year-old funding until the term after their third birthday. Your child will then become entitled to the free early years education under the 3- and 4-year-old offer.

Please chat to your provider if you would like your child to continue with them. In most instances it is helpful for your child to continue their early education with the same provider as they will have built up a good relationship with you and your child.

It's available at participating:

• School nursery classes
• Nurseries or pre-schools on school sites
• Independent schools
• Nurseries or pre-schools in Children’s Centres
• Day nurseries
• Pre-schools
• Sessional providers (e.g. playgroups)
• After school clubs
• Childminders (childminders cannot be funded for a child to whom they are related)

All settings that offer nursery education must be registered with Ofsted. Providers of funded early education places are usually judged as good or outstanding. Some settings with less than good or outstanding may be able to offer sessions.

You can use your entitlement at more than one provider, for example using a group provider and a childminder. We strongly recommend that you consider the impact on continuity of care for children when enabling children to take up their early education place at more than one provider, as some children find this very unsettling.

Settings may be run by private, voluntary, independent or maintained providers.

Find childcare on our directory. Each setting record will show whether they offer 2-year-old funding, 3- and 4-year-old funding, or both.

You can use up to 15 hours per week, over 38 weeks per year or 570 hours a year. The entitlement is flexible and can be used over a minimum of three days per week.

If a provider is open for more than 38 weeks a year, then funding can be spread over the period that they are open. This will be dependent on whether a provider can accommodate this.

The following standards apply:

• No session to be longer than 10 hours
• No minimum session length (subject to the requirements of registration on the Ofsted Early Years Register)
• Not before 6am or after 8pm
• A maximum of two sites in a single day

You will need to speak to your chosen provider about the availability and times of sessions available.

Funding is paid directly to the childcare provider. You will be asked by the provider to complete a declaration form. If you need to pay fees for the additional services provided (for example, if a nursery is looking after your child for more than 15 hours in a week, or for lunch), the funding will be passed to you as a saving on your fees.

Your childcare provider or the Family Information Service can give you more information about any additional fees and charges which may be payable.

To get a place for your child, you will need to find a setting suitable for you and your child. You can view our guide to choosing the right childcare setting and find local childcare. 

From September 2025 eligible working parents of children from 9 months to school age will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.

Depending on your income and family situation, you could be eligible for additional support to help pay your childcare costs. View the help with childcare costs page to find out more or go to the Best Start in Life website.