2 Year Old Funding Information 

Since April 2024, there are two ways for families to access funded early education for 2 year olds.

2 year old funding, accessed via the local authority is for families who are in receipt of certain benefits, or specific types of government support.

To check eligibility criteria, please visit the following link: 2 year old funding eligibility criteria          

To apply for this, within RBWM – families should use this link:

RBWM 2 year old funding application form

There is also an application for those families who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

RBWM 2 year old funding application (NRPF)

Eligible families will be emailed a confirmation letter, stating what they can access and from when. They are asked to show this to their chosen early year’s provider as proof of their eligibility. They do not need to provide a funding code.             

2 year old funding can start the school term after a child’s second birthday and we encourage families to apply the school term in which their child turns two.

Once the child has started with a provider, and funding has been claimed for their place, the funding will remain with them for the whole year (until they become a funded three year old), even if their circumstances change.

The working parent’s entitlement for families from 9 months+ will increase from offering up to 15 hours a week, to up to 30 hours a week (term time only) from September 2025.

This means that eligible families with children from 9 months + can access funded hours through the ‘working parents’ entitlement’. To check eligibility for this, families need to visit the following website: Childcare Choices , search for ‘30 hour support’ and apply.

Eligible families are given a code, which they will need to give to their chosen early year’s provider. This must be validated by the provider before the child can access their funded place. Codes must be renewed every three months by families and must be valid for the period of time in which they hope to use it. This funding is dependent on eligibility and can be lost if a families circumstances change.            

Some families may be eligible for both types of funding. Where this is the case, the maximum number of hours they can claim for remains at up to 30 per week, term time only.

Providers will be asked to claim the 2 year old funding (using the letter as eligibility) for the first 15 hours a week, and the working parent’s entitlement (using the code for eligibility) for anything over 15 hours (up to a maximum of 30 hours a week) term time only.

As the working parent’s entitlement can be taken away if family circumstances change, and the 2 year old funding will not be – this offers some stability for families and providers, knowing that there are at least 15 funded hours guaranteed moving forwards.

Due to this, when asking families for proof of eligibility, please be sure to ask if they have a letter, code or both!

If you have any questions about this, or would like to contact us with regards to accessing some marketing materials to promote the funding locally, please email: 2yearoldfunding.rbwm@achievingforchildren.org.uk or call: 01628-685959.