Sessions, Funding and Prices

Sessions and Fees

Free Early Education

Free for Two Funding

Free early education places for 2 year olds is known in Kent as the Free for 2 or 'FF2' scheme.

The local authority has a duty to provide eligible 2 year olds up to 570 hours of free early education a year over 38 weeks of the year.

A child is eligible if:

• they come within the criteria used to determine eligibility for Free School Meals
• their families receive Working Tax Credits and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 per year
• they have a current statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and care plan
• they are entitled to Disability Living Allowance
• they are looked after by a local authority
• they are no longer looked after by the local authority as a result of an adoption order, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order which specifies with whom the child lives.

Eligible children can start claiming after they turn 2, depending on when their birthday is.

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

Free Early Education

All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 hours of free early education or childcare per year. This is usually taken as 15 hours each week for 38 weeks of the year.

You can start claiming free childcare after your child turns 3. The date you can claim will depend on when their birthday is.

The free early education and childcare can be at:

• all types of nurseries and nursery classes
• playgroups and pre-school
• childminders
• Sure Start Children’s Centres

For More information please see:-

http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/childcare-and-pre-school/free-childcare