Your 2-year-old can get free early education and childcare if they attend a preschool in England and get one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• If you are claiming Universal Credit - if you and your partner have a combined income from work of less than £15,400 a year after tax
• If you are claiming tax credits and you have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

A child can also get free early education and childcare if any of the following apply:

• they’re looked after by a local council
• they have a current statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• they get Disability Living Allowance
• they’ve left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order

If you’re eligible the free early education and childcare:

• must be with an approved childcare provider
• starts from the term after your child’s 2nd birthday

Contact your childcare provider or local council to find out more.