Help with Childcare Costs

Early learning for 2 year olds

15 hours of early learning each week for families in England who get extra support. This is for 38 weeks of the year. The maximum each year is 570 hours. You can get early learning from the term after your child's 2nd birthday, as long as you have got a valid eligibility code.
  • check the eligibility criteria on the government website
  • apply online for your eligibility code on the Southend Citizen Portal
  • take your code to your childcare provider
  • childcare entitlements frequently asked questions on the Best Start in Life website

    • When can I apply and when can my child start?

    You can apply during the term in which your child turns 2 years old. If you are eligible, the offer will start the term after from 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child's 2nd birthday.

    If my child turns 2 years old between

    I can access their hours from

    1 January to 31 March

    Term starting on or after 1 April

    1 April to 31 August

    Term starting on or after 1 September

    1 September to 31 December

    Term starting on or after 1 January

    I have an eligible code, what do I do now?

    1. Find a childcare provider that delivers early learning places. You can use the childcare provider directory to find local early years and childcare providers

    1. Take your eligibility code to your childcare provider

    1. Ask your childcare provider how the hours can be taken and ask about any additional charges that may apply in addition to the funded hours

    1. Your childcare provider will ask you to complete a ‘Parent Declaration Form’. This form authorises your childcare provider to claim funding from the Council for the funded hours your child gets

    What the entitlement covers

    Government funding is intended to pay for 15 or 30 hours a week of free, high quality, flexible childcare.

    Government funding does not cover

    • meals
    • nappies
    • additional hours
    • additional activities, such as trips, pick up and collection from another provider, forest school, beach trips

    So, you might be asked to pay for these things, but you can speak to your provider about what alternative options they may have. For example, instead of paying for nappies if your child needs them, your childcare provider should allow you to provide your own nappies for your child.

    Information about children moving providers mid-term can be found on the Southend Learning Network.

    Information about how we use your personal data and the data about your child can be found on the Early Education Funding Privacy Notice.