How will I know if my child is eligible?
Your child will be eligible if they are three or four years old and receiving free early years education with any Ofsted-registered early years provider, and you are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits (these are the same criteria as free school meals):
- Income Support.
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance.
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
- Support under Part 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit.
- Child Tax Credit (unless you’re also entitled to Working Tax Credit, and earn no more than £16,190).
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop receiving Working Tax Credit).
- Universal Credit.
Your child will be eligible if they have:
- been in local authority care for one day or more in England or Wales
- been adopted from care in England or Wales
- left care under a special guardianship order or child arrangements order in England or Wales.
If your child qualifies through one of these criteria, you'll need to provide evidence of this when you apply.