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Free Early Education for two year olds in Kent is known as the Free for Two Scheme (FF2).

This is not a universal offer - parents/providers must apply for it, but this can be done at any time and, if successful, the child can start straight away.  A child’s eligibility is based on whether the family receive one of the following benefits or credits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit - if a parent is entitled to Universal Credit and they have an annual net earned income equivalent to and not exceeding £15,400, assessed on up to three of the parent’s most recent Universal Credit assessment periods.  The earned income threshold applies for places starting on or after 1 April 2018.
• Tax credits and they have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Support through Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• The Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment parents receive when they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

A child can also receive Free Early Education and Childcare if any of the following apply:

• The child is looked after by a LA
• The child has a current statement of special education needs (SEN) or and education, health and care (EHC) plan
• The child is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• The child is no longer looked after by the LA, as a result of an adoption order, a special guardianship order or a child arrangement order