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 2 year olds receiving government support

15 hours free for all 3- and 4-year-olds

30 hours free childcare for eligible working families of 3- and 4-year-olds

Free childcare for eligible working families, new entitlements

For further information and to speak to our friendly Family Infomation Service team, call 020 7527 5959 or email fis@islington.gov.uk 

Some families, receiving government support, can get 15 hours free childcare and early education, a week for 38 weeks of the year (570 hours) for 2 year olds, beginning the term after the child's second birthday. 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. Eligible working 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 working families.

The expanded childcare programme for eligible working families 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

Find out if you are eligible and apply.

How to claim 15 hours free childcare blog.

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.

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