The 2 Year Old Offer: Helping you to support your child’s development

What is the 2 Year Old Offer?

This is an offer that allows eligible children to receive free early years education from the term after their second birthday. This is part of a national initiative by the Department for Education (DfE) and has been developed to improve outcomes for identified two year olds who would benefit from accessing high quality early years and childcare provision. It will also help to tackle challenging circumstances, through family support.

What is free early years education?

Early years education takes place in pre-schools, day nurseries and with childminders. If you are eligible to receive this offer you will be able to choose from a list of groups and childminders who have been approved by Hampshire County Council as high quality providers. If accepted onto the offer, your child will be offered a place for up to 15 hours per week (a total of 570 hours per year) which may be "stretched", i.e. he/she can attend during school holidays. Your child will be able to attend from the term after he/she is two, up until the end of the term that he/she reaches three. At this point, your child will be part of the usual early years education offer.

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What are the eligibility criteria for families?

Both criteria A and B must be met.

Criterion A – Families who are claiming either:

Income Support (Further details Income Support)
Income based Job Seekers Allowance (Further details Job Seekers)
Child Tax Credit only (not also receiving Working Tax Credit) at a rate higher than the Family Element (£545 per year)
Extra Tax Credit relating to a disability (Further details Tax Credit Rates)
Pension Credit (Further details Pension Credit)

Criterion B – and has one or more other characteristics known to affect family life as listed below:

Parental characteristics	Child characteristics	Family characteristics
Three or more children under five	Speech and Language needs/ EAL	Asylum seeking/ refugee families
Teenage parents	Child with developmental/ learning delay	Black Minority Ethnic (BME) families
Parents with health issues/ disability	Child with disability
Experienced domestic violence	Experiencing emotional/ behavioural problems
Experienced substance misuse issues	Child in temporary accommodation
Lone parent*	Child involved with Social Services
	On Child Protection Register
	Children in Care**

* ‘Lone parent’ as a solo secondary criteria will not guarantee a placement on the 2 Year Old Offer, please provide additional information on the form as to how/why this impacts on the child.

** Children in Care will be able to access the 2 Year Old Offer without needing the benefits criteria to be met.

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How will my child benefit?

Children like to explore the world around them, play with other children and have fun. Good early years education from a young age can help to boost child development and that is why we are offering families a chance to get a head start for their children.

Will I have to take all the hours available?

No, you can begin with a few hours each week for the first term and build up to the number of hours the provider has available over the year if you wish (to total no more than 570 hours). You will, however, need to stick to the same number of hours each week over one term.

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Would I have to stay with my child?

To begin with, you may wish to stay with your child for part of the first few sessions to help your child settle into the early years provision. All the groups and childminders have been carefully chosen, based on their experience and good practice, so that you can feel confident that you are leaving your child in a safe and nurturing environment.

Is the early education really free?

Yes, the early years provision will receive payment for the time that your child is in the group or with the childminder. You will be asked to take your offer Acceptance Letter to the provider, agree the hours that your child will attend and complete the Parent Early Years Education (EYE) Form. The provider will submit a claim form to Hampshire County Council to receive their funding for your child.

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Can I take extra hours?

You will need to speak to the early years provision to find out if any extra hours are available. If you would like your child to stay for more than the maximum of 570 hours over a year you will have to pay the extra fees. If you work, you may be eligible to claim the 'childcare' element of Working Tax Credit, or your employer may provide a Childcare Voucher scheme to help you with the cost of your childcare fees.

What support will there be for my family?

Family support can be available as part of the offer. You can choose whether or not you want this help. Family support will be offered through your local children's centre and involves sharing information about other services within the community such as Jobcentre Plus and health services that may be of help to you.

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How can I get this support?

If you think your family and child might be eligible to receive this offer, please talk to your health visitor or other agency who may be working with your child or family, or contact your local children's centre. You will be asked to give consent to share information on the Request Form so that other services you use know that you are accessing the 2 Year Old Offer.

Contact us for more information

Click here to find your local children's centre.

For general enquiries contact the Services for Young Children Information Support Team on 01962 847070 or email childcare@hants.gov.uk.

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