The UK Met Office has issued a Yellow warning of thunderstorms from 4am to 11am on Saturday 19 July.
If you see a highway emergency, such as a fallen tree or significant flooding, please call 0345 606 6171.
Find out more about this weather warning for Suffolk, including how to prepare.
Your 2-year-old child may be eligible for up to 15 hours funded childcare (also known as early education entitlement) a week at a day nursery, preschool playgroup, or with a childminder.
If you receive some additional forms of government support, or if your child is a child in care/need, has an EHCP or receives Disability Living Allowance.
If you are a working parent family, you may qualify under the new entitlements; to find further information and to apply visit the childcare choices website.
Guidance on how to use the Citizen Portal
We've published guidance for parents on how to check if your 2 year-old is eligible.
Please contact Suffolk Family Information Service if you need assistance in checking eligibility for 2 Year Funding and Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) on 0345 60 800 33 or email suffolkfis@suffolk.gov.uk giving a phone number we can call you back on.
A) You may be eligible if you receive any of the following:
Check your child's eligibility.
*Information about using the online checker:
If you experience any issues with your application, and believe that you meet the eligibility criteria listed above, you can take along paper evidence that proves this to your chosen childcare provider.
B) Your child may also be eligible based on the following (non-economic) criteria if:
Take proof to your chosen childcare provider if any of the above applies to your child.
C) 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 funded childcare for your 2-year-old. You must live in England and your household income must be no more than:
You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.
If you think you qualify, please contact the Suffolk Family Information Service by emailing: suffolkfis@suffolk.gov.uk
This information is taken from Help paying for childcare: Funded education and childcare for 2-year-olds - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
If you are a working parent family, who do not meet any of the criteria listed on this page, you may qualify for the expanded offer. You can find further information and how to apply by visiting the Childcare Choices website.
Your child can start receiving funding from the term after their second birthday.
| A child who turns 2 years between: | Can be considered for a place from the beginning of the: |
| 1 January and 31 March | Summer Term (April) |
| 1 April and 31 August | Autumn Term (September) |
| 1 September and 31 December | Spring Term (January) |
An early start helps to build children’s social and emotional capabilities enabling children to be happily engaged with others, to learn and fully develop.
Children benefit significantly and the funded hours can help improve families daily routines.
Your child will receive quality early learning opportunities which will help their:
For more information, you can:
To find childcare providers that offer funded early education places for 2-year-olds, you can either contact the FIS by emailing: suffolkfis@suffolk.gov.uk or go to our Family Services Directory website to search online for childcare providers by following these steps:
Suffolk County Council post Golden Tickets to some eligible families to let them know they qualify for funded childcare for their 2 year old, and to help make it easier for parents to apply with a childcare provider.
The non-transferable Golden Tickets include a unique reference number which parents can take to their chosen childminder, day nursery or preschool playgroup as proof that they are eligible to receive up to 15 hours funded childcare per week during term time (or fewer hours per week stretched over the whole year).
The Golden Tickets must be used with a childcare provider who is registered with Ofsted and rated either “Good” or “Outstanding”. (If parents want to attend a childcare provider that is rated “Requires Improvement”. Check if you can get free childcare for your 2-year-old.
The Golden Tickets should be taken to a childcare provider before the expiry date ends to apply for the funded childcare. The funded childcare will start from the term after your child's second birthday and it will continue up until your child starts school (see tab 2 - "When will my 2 year old start to receive the funded childcare" for details.) and once you have started receiving the funded childcare it will continue even if your circumstances change.
Parents may still be eligible for funded childcare for their 2 year old even if they did not receive a golden ticket in the post. You can still check if you are eligible by using our online 2 year old checker.