Two-year-olds who live in Wirral may be eligible for 15 hours free childcare per week, which adds up to 570 hours per year.
Families in receipt of some form of additional government support may be eligible for 15 hours of funding. To see the qualifying criteria and apply please see below.
Working families who earn at least £167 per week may also be eligible for 15 hours of funding. To see the qualifying criteria and apply please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
The funding can be used in a day nursery, a pre-school, or with a childminder rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’, (Parents accessing the working parents entitlement can use their funding in a setting rated ‘Requires Improvement’ or above).
If your child meets eligibility, the funding can be used the term after their second birthday. Please see below for term dates.
Families accessing the working parents funding entitlement, must have a working parent eligibility code that is valid before the start of the term. Term start dates are 1 September, 1 January and 1 April.
Applications can only be made from the term before your child would be eligible.
When you can claim
Applications can be made the term before your child would be eligible to claim. For those applying for the working parent entitlements, applications can be made up to 16 weeks before the child’s 2nd birthday.
- children become eligible from the term after their second birthday.
- children born between 1 January and 31 March become eligible in April (Summer Term – Apply from 1 January)
- children born between 1 April and 31 August become eligible in September (Autumn Term – Apply From 1 April)
- children born between 1 September and 31 December become eligible in January (Spring Term – Apply from 1 September)
If you make a successful claim then you do not need to reapply. Except for those accessing the working parent entitlement, you must reconfirm every 3 months with HMRC.
You will need to tell HMRC when you get free childcare. Call the Tax Credit Helpline.
For further information contact fis@wirral.gov.uk or 0151 666 3980.
Apply
Applications can be completed by the parent or carer of the child or a professional working with the family. Please note you will need to know the parent or carer's details.
Who is eligible for funding?
Your two-year-old will be eligible for funding if you receive:
- Universal Credit, if a parent is entitled to Universal Credit you must have a household annual income equivalent to and not exceeding £15,400, assessed on up to three of the parent's most recent Universal Credit assessment periods.
- Tax Credits, provided you have a household annual income not exceeding £16,190
- support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- your two year old may also be eligible for funding (depending on your household income) if you receive:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Children are also eligible if:
- they have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- they’re looked after by a local council
- they’ve left care in England or Wales through an adoption order, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
- Children of Zambrano Carers with a net household income not exceeding £15,400
- Children of families with no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR);
- Children of a subset of failed asylum seekers (supported under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 – ‘the 1999 Act’)
For further information contact fis@wirral.gov.uk or 0151 606 2000.