Two Year Old Funding

What’s on offer in Staffordshire?

If you are in receipt of benefits and have a child who is two years old, you may be able to get a little extra help from Staffordshire County Councils new scheme called Think2. You may be able to get 15 hours of quality childcare for your two year old free every week during term time.

Children as young as two really benefit from early education. They learn while they play, mixing improves their social skills and they get used to a routine. Once they’re old enough to go to school, they’re already well prepared and often achieve more.

Are you eligible?

If any one of the following applies, the answer is yes:

Income Support
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
Child Tax Credit and have an Annual income not over £16,190 (CTC)
Working Tax Credit and have an Annual income not over £16,190 (WTC)
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)
Universal Credit and have a net annual household earnings below £15,400 (this means your take-home pay from any paid employment, after Income Tax and NI contributions have been deducted)

Two year olds are also eligible if they:

Have a current statement of SEN or an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC)
Attract Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
They are Looked after by their Local Authority
Have left care through special guardianship or through an adoption or residence order
are children of Zambrano Carers
are children of families with no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private / family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
Children of a subset of failed asylum seekers (supported under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 – ‘The 1999 Act’)
are excluded from claiming public funds as a consequence of their immigration status, or their lack of immigration status; and
are in receipt of support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

Please note: If your circumstances change your funded place will not be taken away.

If your child already has a place on the Think2 pilot scheme you will be automatically eligible and need do nothing more.

Click on the link for more information on how to apply

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Children-and-early-years/Childcare/think2/fundedplacesfortwoyearolds.aspx

What’s on offer in Telford & Wrekin?

Talking 2’s

Telford & Wrekin Council offer free early education and childcare places to eligible 2 year olds.

Your 2 year old can get a funded childcare place if you live in England and get one of these following benefits:

income support
income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
income-rated Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
universal credit and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax and 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)
you are looked after by a local authority
have a statement of special educational needs, or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
receive Disability Living Allowance
have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order.

You may have to pay for extra costs such as meals, nappies and trips.