Two-Year-Old – Information

We offer nursery places across two sessions for our 2-year-olds: a morning session from 8:45am to 11:45am, and an afternoon session from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. We offer children 15 hours per week, term time only. The 2-year-olds share the provision space with our 3- to 4-year-olds and have a dedicated member of staff to support their learning journey. 

Who Can Apply? 

Anyone can apply for the 2-year-old provision. Since April 2024, Athelney Primary School has been offering eligible 2-year-olds a 15-hour place. We accept children starting the term after they turn two, with three intake periods each year:

• September
• January
• April

There are two types of eligibility: either through working parents or by receiving certain benefits.

Free early education for two-year-olds

There are two types of eligible criteria:

• Parents/Carers who are working
• Free education and childcare for 2-year-olds if you claim certain benefits

You can find out if you are eligible by completing the short survey here. 

You can apply for Free Early Education for Two-Year-Olds if any of the below apply:

• income support
• income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA)
• income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
• universal credit – if you and your partner have a combined income from work of less than £15,400 a year after tax, not including benefit payments
• tax credits, working tax credit, or both (with an annual income of £16,190 or less before tax)
• the guaranteed element of state pension credit
• working tax credit four-week run-on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for working tax credit).

Extended criteria

Your two-year-old can also get free childcare if any of the following apply:

• they are looked after by a local authority
• they have an education, health and care plan (EHCP)
• they get disability living allowance
• they have left care under a special guardianship order; child arrangements order or adoption order

Please find more information on Lewisham's website here 

If you’re a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits

If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’, you may still get free childcare for your 2-year-old. You must live in England and your household income after tax must be no more than:

• £34,500 for families within London with one child
• £38,600 for families within London with two or more children
• You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

We will be reviewing the extended criteria set out by the Government to expand the eligibility for 30-hour places for 2-year-olds from September 2025. We will update our website and admissions policy if we plan to offer this provision in Summer 2025.