From April 2024 , eligible working parents in England with children aged 2 will have access to 15 hours of FREE childcare. We have Nursery places available for 2, 3 and 4 year olds

 

The Local Authority are really pleased to tell you that we have recently produced a short video promoting the Early Education Entitlement(EEE) offer available to eligible 2 yearolds.

The video includes comments from Early Years Leaders and Parents of children who have accessed the offer stating the benefits experienced by children and their families.

The video is located on the Birmingham City  Council website in the childcare section and can be easily accessed by parents, carers and parent facing professionals using the link below.

Free childcare for 2 year olds | Free childcare and education for 2 to 4 year olds | Birmingham City Council

 

Gracelands Nursery School Admissions Procedure

At Gracelands Nursery School we follow Birmingham City Council’s Admissions Criteria

 

Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get one of the following benefits:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
  • tax credits, and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
  • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

2-year-olds can also get free childcare if they:

You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips. Contact your childcare provider or local council to find out more.

If you're a non-EEA citizen who cannot claim benefits

Your 2-year-old may get free childcare if you are getting support under the Immigration and Asylum Act and have either:

  • claimed asylum in the UK and are waiting for a decision (known as 'part 6')
  • been refused asylum in the UK (known as 'section 4')

A 2-year-old you care for may also get free childcare if your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, and you have any of the following:

  • leave to remain with 'no recourse to public funds' on family or private life grounds
  • support from your local council because you have 'a child in need', for example they have a disability or a child protection plan
  • the right to live in the UK because you're the main carer of a British citizen (known as a 'Zambrano Carer')

All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours per year. It's usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year, but you can choose to take fewer hours over more weeks, for example.

Some 3 to 4-year-olds are eligible for 30 hours free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year (during school term time) Check if you're eligible and find out how to apply.

The free early education and childcare:

  • must be with an approved childcare provider
  • stops when your child starts in reception class (or reaches compulsory school age, if later)

You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips. You can get it from the term after your child's 3rd birthday.

You may be able to get free childcare for 52 weeks if you use fewer than 30 hours per week. Check with your childcare provider to find out if this is something they offer.

Eligibility

Your eligibility depends on:

  • if you are working
  • your income (and your partner's income, if you have one)
  • your child's age and circumstances
  • your immigration status

You can get 30 hours free childcare at the same time as claiming Universal Credit, tax credits, childcare vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare.

If you are working

You can usually get 30 hours free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

  • in work
  • on sick leave or annual leave
  • on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave

If you're on adoption leave for a child aged 3 to 4 years old, you must return to work within 31 days of the date you first apply for 30 hours free childcare for that child.

If your working pattern has changed because of coronavirus (COVID-19)

You may still be eligible for 30 hours free childcare if you're temporarily working less and either:

  • you're on furlough through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
  • you're claiming a Self Employment Income Support Scheme grant

If you are not currently working

You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you get Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer's Allowance or contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance. You can apply if you're starting or re-starting work within the next 31 days.

Your income

You'll need to expect to earn a certain amount over the next 3 months. This is at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average. For example, over the next 3 months you expect to earn at least £1,853.28 - the National Living Wage for people over 23. If you have a partner, they'll need to expect to earn at least this much too.

If you or your partner are temporarily earning less than this amount because of coronavirus, you may still be eligible. You must be furloughed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or claiming a Self Employment Income Support Scheme grant to qualify.

If you're self-employed and do not expect to make enough profit in the next 3 months, you can use an average of how much you expect to make over the current tax year. This earnings limit does not apply if you're self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago.

If you or your partner have an expected 'adjusted net income' over £100,000 in the current tax year you will not be eligible. This includes any bonuses you expect to get. Your adjusted net income is your total taxable income before any personal allowances and minus things like Gift Aid.

Your child

You will not be eligible if your child does not usually live with you. If you foster your child, you cannot use the online application to get 30 hours free childcare. Speak to your social worker and your local authority if you want to apply.

Your immigration status

To be eligible for 30 hours free childcare, you (or your partner if you have one) must have a National Insurance number and at least one of the following:

  • British or Irish citizenship
  • settled or pre-settled status, or been living in the UK before 1 January 2021 with the right to reside
  • permission to access public funds - your UK residence card will tell you if you cannot do this

When to apply

You can apply from when your child is 2 years and 36 weeks old.

When your child turns 3 When they can get 30 hours from Recommended time to apply
1 September to 31 Dec Term starting on or after 1 Jan 15 October to 30 November
1 January to 31 March Term starting on or after 1 April 15 January to 28 February
1 April to 31 August Term starting on or after 1 Sept 15 June to 31 July

 

You can apply outside of these recommended dates but you might not receive your code in time. You must have a valid code by the end of the month before a new term starts.

Check with your childcare provider to find out the exact date your 30 hours free childcare starts.

You have to reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months. If you apply more than 3 months before the term starts, you'll have to reconfirm your eligibility in your account in order to keep your code valid.

Apply

Apply online for 30 hours free childcare. If you are applying for 30 hours and someone else already claims Tax-Free Childcare for that child, your application will be unsuccessful.

If you have a partner

You must include your partner in your application if you are:

  • married or in a civil partnership and live together
  • not married or in a civil partnership, but living together as though you are

Their employment and income will not affect your eligibility if they:

  • are or will be absent from your household for more than 6 months
  • are a prisoner

You and your partner cannot both have accounts for the same child.

If you are separated

You and your ex-partner need to decide who should apply if you are jointly responsible for your child. If you cannot decide, both of you must apply separately and HMRC will decide who gets a childcare account.

You can check eligibility via Help paying for childcare: Free education and childcare for 2-year-olds - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  or alternatively the School will check once you have completed Nursery Admissions Form and will confirm whether your child is entitled to a free part-time 2 year old place.

 

3-4 year olds

Free 15 Hours - Part -time Place

All children in England get 570 free hours per year. It's usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year, but you can choose to take fewer hours over more weeks. You can get it from the term after your child's third birthday.

 

30 Hours - Full-time Place

Extended free childcare - 30 hours for 3 and 4 year olds

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours a week of free early learning.

From September 2017 the government has committed to doubling the amount of free childcare from 15 to 30 hours a week for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds.

Eligible working parents will be able to access the additional free childcare in Ofsted registered childminders, schools, nurseries and out of school club who have registered to provide Early Education Entitlement places with Birmingham City Council.

A child is entitled to 30 hours childcare the term after their third birthday or from the term after their family becomes eligible. ;Parents will need to confirm that they remain eligible every three months. The eligibility criteria is set out below.

  • The parent of the child (and their partner where applicable) should also be in qualifying paid work. The definition of qualifying paid work is each parent or the single parent in a lone parent household will need to expect to earn the equivalent of 16 hours at the national living wage or their national minimum wage rate over the forthcoming quarter. This applies whether you are in paid employment, self employed or on zero hours contract.
  • Where one or both parents are in receipt of benefits in connection with sickness or parenting, they are treated as though they are in paid work.
  • Where one parent (in a couple household) is in receipt or could be entitled to be in receipt of specific benefits related to caring, incapacity for work or limited capability for work that they are treated as though they are in paid work.
  • Where a parent is in a 'start up period' (i.e. they are newly self employed) they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months in order to qualify for the extended entitlement.
  • If either or both parents' income exceeds £100,000 they will not be eligible for the extended entitlement.

Children who have been admitted to primary school and are attending a state-funded or independent school reception class are not entitled to any additional free hours outside their school reception class   For more information parents should view the Childcare Choices Website

Use the childcare calculator on the GOV.UK website to check what help you could get with childcare costs. Funded early education information for parents If you think that your child is eligible for a free full-time place check and register at https://childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk/par/app/applynow Once you have registered you will be given a code which you will be required to bring to School for verification.

Birmingham Federation of Maintained Nursery Schools logo