Free childcare and early learning for 2, 3 & 4 year olds - free 15 hours, free 30 hours
Quick links to apply for free early education and childcare:
15 hours free for some 2-year-olds
15 hours free for all 3- and 4-year-olds
30 hours free for some 3- and 4-year-olds
Some families can get 15 hours free childcare and early education, per week for 38 weeks of the year (570 hours) for 2 year olds. If you are eligible, you can get 15 hours a week free during term time, at a nursery, children's centre, childminder or some Islington Primary Schools. Further details about eligibility on Islington's website.
All three and four year olds are eligible for 15 hours free early education - at a nursery or with some childminders - each week during term time (38 weeks), beginning the term after the child's third birthday.
Some families can get an additional 15 hours free childcare and early education (30 hours per week, or 1140 hours in total). See the childcare choices website for details of how to apply and watch a video guide to help you apply.
From April 2024, childcare support will start to be available to more parents.
The expanded childcare programme will be rolled out in stages over the next two years:
- From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds can access 15 hours free per week
- From Sept 2024, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to 3-year-olds can access 15 hours free per week
- From Sept 2025, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to 3 years old can access 30 hours free per week
Further announcements about the eligibility criteria and application process will be updated at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
For further information about free childcare and early education see Islington's Free Early Learning webpage, or contact the Family Information Service, 020 7527 5959.
You can also watch a short video of local parents sharing their experience, to hear how they and their children have benefitted from free early learning in Islington.
Video of English-speaking parent, Richard, speaking about his experience of free early learning.
Video of Turkish-speaking parent, Hülya, speaking about her experience of free early learning.
Video of Somali-speaking parent, Faisa, , speaking about her experience of free early learning.
