Care and support

Free places for two, three and four year olds

Is your child three or four years old?

If so, you can get a free or funded place in a pre-school, a state nursery school or class, or a private nursery. All three and four year olds can get five free sessions* a week, during term time, starting the term after their third birthday. To begin with, the free place is normally available only in a pre-school or private nursery, as children normally start state nursery school or class a bit later.

Is your child two years old?

If so, you might be able to get a free or funded place in a pre-school or private nursery depending on your income. To qualify, your family must receive certain benefits or tax credits. The benefits that count are: income support, income based job seekers allowance, housing benefit, council tax benefit (excluding the single adult and second residence rebates), child and/or working tax credit of the family income for tax credit purposes is £25,521 or less. If you qualify, your two-year-old can get three free sessions* a week starting the term after their second birthday, in pre-school or private nursery.

*A free session normally lasts 2.5 hours; you will have to pay for a longer session or extra care.

To find out more about these free and funded places please download the leaflet below. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view this document.