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FF2

Free Early Education for 2 year olds is known in Kent as FF2
(up to 15 hours)

A child is entitled to a funded place if a family is in receipt of certain benefits (listed below), they may be able to get up to 15 hours over 38 weeks a year or 12 hours over 48 weeks a year (stretched) free childcare for their two-year-old.

A child is entitled to a funded place if the family is in receipt of:

  • Universal Credit, and the household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax (not including benefit payments)
  • Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit

2-year-olds can also get a place if:

  • they’re looked after by a local council;
  • they have an education, health and care (EHC) plan, also known as an EHCP;
  • they get Disability Living Allowance; or
  • they’ve left care under a special guardianship order, adoption order, child arrangements order or residence order.

If the family are a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits

If their immigration status says they have ‘no recourse to public funds’, they may still get free childcare for your 2-year-old. They must live in England and their household income must be no more than:

  • £26,500 for families outside of London with one child
  • £34,500 for families within London with one child
  • £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children
  • £38,600 for families within London with two or more children

They cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

Further information on 2-year-old free childcare eligibility can be found on the https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/ website.

Eligible children can start claiming in the term after they turn two, depending on when their birthday is.

ELIGIBILITY TABLE

 Child's 2nd birthday    When they can claim from
1 January to 31 March   The beginning of term on or after 1 April
1 April to 31 August   The beginning of term on or after 1 September
1 September to 31 December   The beginning of term on or after 1 January

Kent County Council's website has more information on how to apply for free early education for 2 year olds.

Parents with eligible children are welcome to apply for a place at Barnies subject to availability and will need to provide the confirmation email with code from KCC as evidence before a place can be reserved.

This allocation can be split between EYFS providers but once the amount to be claimed at Barnies has been established parents are required to sign the KCC Parental Declaration as confirmation. The funding is only applicable during the stipulated term dates as stated by KCC with a maximum period of 38 weeks per year. KCC use the Single Funding Formula to determine the cost of ‘education’ under the government funding but additional charges are applicable for the ‘wrap around care’.  Therefore, fees for the wrap around care are charged at the usual rate.

Please do not hesitate to ask the setting for further information.

If you think you may also meet the criteria for the setting to claim Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) or the Disability Access Fund (DAF) please use the link below to check and let the setting know.   

https://www.kelsi.org.uk/early-years/sufficiency-and-sustainability/free-early-education/claiming-eypp-and-daf