All 3 and 4 year olds in Hartlepool are entitled to 570 hours per year of free nursery education, starting the term after their third birthday.
Some 2 year olds may also be eligible for free nursery entitlement. Eligibility starts the term after their second birthday.
Eligibility for 2 year olds
To check if your child is eligible, we’ll need:
- your National Insurance Number
- your date of birth
- your surname
You may be eligible for a 2 year old entitlement place if you receive one or more of the following:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payment
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
- the Working Tax Credit 4 week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit). Two year olds can also get funded childcare if they:
- are looked after by a local authority
- have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- get Disability Living Allowance
- have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
When can children access a free place?
| Child born between | Eligible from |
|---|---|
| 1 April – 31 August | 1 September following their birthday |
| 1 September – 31 December | 1 January following their birthday |
| 1 January – 31 March | 1 April following their birthday |
Where can children access a free place?
- Approved private nurseries
- Approved registered childminders
- Participating school nurseries
- Approved sessional care providers
All providers are Ofsted-inspected and approved by us using our quality rating system.
Apply for a nursery place
Apply online for a 2 year old nursery place