This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide on how to secure a full-time nursery in Scotland. With the increasing demand for childcare services and the importance placed on early education, finding a suitable East Kilbride nursery can be a challenging task for parents. However, by understanding the process and following the necessary steps, you can increase your chances of securing a full-time nursery for your child.
In this article, we will explore the various options available, the application process, and provide helpful tips to navigate through the system effectively. Whether you are a first-time parent or simply looking for a change in nursery settings, this article will equip you with the knowledge needed to successfully obtain a full-time nursery place in Scotland.
Scottish parents of 3–4-year old children are entitled to 1140 hours a year of government-funded early learning and childcare in nurseries, childminders, or playgroups.
Eligible children are given places according to their local authority’s admissions process. Many council areas experience high demand, and many use a ballot system to allocate places.
Free Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)
Scotland provides all three, four, and some two-year-olds with free early learning and childcare (ELC), which is government-funded. Families may apply for up to 1,140 hours a year of funded ELC at their preferred nursery; depending on individual circumstances, this could include up to an additional 1,140 hours in addition to full-time funded places elsewhere. Unfortunately, not all children can always guarantee themselves a space due to limited capacity in these places, though all three- and four-year-olds and some two-year-olds receive this benefit.
Starting August 2021, the Scottish Government will provide 1140 hours of free early learning and care services per year to eligible three- and four-year-olds, though many local authorities have begun providing this early. Parents can utilise these hours at nurseries, playgroups, or childminding services; additionally, a new funding framework dubbed Funding Follows the Child allows parents to distribute them across multiple settings.
For families with two-year-olds, you can apply for up to 30 hours a week of funded ELC; the exact amount may depend on household income and whether or not your child qualifies for free school meals. You can learn more about how to apply by visiting your local council’s website.
Instead, speak to your nursery manager, who should provide more details on how and what options exist for funded hours. In general, councils consult parents about ELC services via surveys, online surveys, focus groups, or meetings to ascertain what services parents require for ELC provision.
The Scottish Government is dedicated to expanding access to high-quality early learning and care (ELC), with an eye towards providing children with optimal results. To this end, they are introducing a quality framework and training for all staff working in ELC settings, in addition to increased funding so all ELC settings can pay at least the real living wage to staff, on top of what local authorities provide in terms of funded entitlement.
Childcare voucher schemes
All three- and four-year-olds in Scotland are entitled to at least 1,140 hours a year of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), funded by both local authorities and the Scottish government, for ELC purposes. This can take the form of a full-time nursery, part-time care at home, childminding services, playgroups, or out-of-school clubs; using it at any provider who accepts it will depend on individual circumstances and how many working parents in your family qualify for ELC schemes such as this one.
Additionally, 2-year-olds may also qualify for some funding for their care. This usually entails being granted a place in either their local authority nursery or with a private East Kilbride nursery that has signed a partnership contract with them to deliver these funded places. These funded places are highly popular and allocated based on local priority criteria; applications should be made as early as one year prior to when you would like your child to start attending this type of programme.
As an employee, your employer may offer a childcare voucher scheme that enables you to contribute funds into a government account and then use those funds towards childcare costs for your children. This payment has an additional impact on the overall costs incurred for childcare.
The new Tax-Free Childcare scheme has taken over and now works through your own ‘childcare account’ on the government website, where deposits will appear within 1-3 days as available funds to spend with nurseries or providers. Furthermore, grandparents or family friends can contribute directly to this account on behalf of your child.
Free school meals
Scottish officials are on track to meet their goal of offering free school meals to all primary school children by 2024, according to Shona Robison, deputy first minister. Robison confirmed this plan despite warnings of tough budget decisions being necessary.
Parents will welcome this great news, as it gives them peace of mind knowing their children will receive nutritious meals both at the nursery, preschool, and home. The policy was put in place to address concerns that too many Scottish children are overweight or obese; the deputy first minister also indicated that the Scottish government will invest further into improving school food standards and nutrition, in addition to fighting child poverty.
Families of children under 3 now have access to a new framework that enables them to utilise their funded hours at nurseries, childminders, playgroups, hub schools, and other eligible childcare providers, including childminders and playgroups, with local authority approval of their choice of provider(s). You can divide up the hours among multiple settings (called funding follows the child), but only one provider needs to be approved by them all at once. Choosing morning or afternoon/full day places as well as asymmetric week places between providers can make decisions easier! You may even use your hours between private schools, voluntary organisations, independent schools, and maintained schools.
Depending on your eligibility, your child can receive one free meal daily that counts towards the total number of hours they have been registered for at the nursery. This payment will come directly from your local council and usually occurs during registration periods in January or February, depending on which council area you live in. You can check here to see when this happens in your area.
Some nurseries and childminders may impose an additional sundries charge to cover any additional meals and snacks not covered by your funded hours. You should request a copy of their fee sheet, which will show any extra charges.
Remind your local council that your child needs to register with them in order to claim free school meals; this can be done online, and payments will start immediately once processed—not backdated! Apply as early as possible since most programmes won’t become available until primary 1–5 students enrol.
Tax-Free Childcare
As parents return to work in Scotland, many are seeking support with childcare costs. There are various schemes available, such as tax-free childcare and childcare vouchers, that may offer assistance. It is important that the eligibility criteria for each scheme be checked carefully, as some families do not receive the maximum support available to them. If in doubt about whether you qualify for assistance, please reach out to your local authority or visit the Family Fund website for additional guidance.
The Family Fund can provide up to £2,000 annually in UK Government top-up payments as additional support towards registered, approved childcare. Families eligible for this support can use their account to pay for all types of registered, approved childcare, such as nurseries, childminders, and after-school clubs, in addition to receiving free 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare from the Scottish Government for children aged 3 or 4 years old.
Families that do not qualify for this support may still be able to access assistance via Universal Credit, Pregnancy, and Baby Payment, which ranges between £300 and £600 depending on family circumstances. There are also other schemes designed to assist with childcare costs, like the Working Tax Credit and Employer Childcare Vouchers, that may help.
Some two-year-olds in Scotland can qualify for up to 30 hours of free childcare from the Scottish Government, provided both parents are working or one parent works and one is unemployed. Families will be invited to apply once their baby has been born, with it becoming active one month later after receiving an invitation. Parents can share accounts, but only one account per child will be active; partners in a relationship may claim up to the same limit per claimant.
Be sure to reach out to your local authority in order to find out when registration for council nursery places opens in your area, as it can vary significantly. Some local authorities only accept applications at specific times during the year; leaving too late can mean missing out on your ideal nursery choice!
When Can My Child Start Nursery in Scotland?
Children aged 2 and 3 have a legal entitlement to 1140 hours of early learning and childcare each year funded by local authorities; please see our page on funding entitlement for more details.
Some parents may feel overwhelmed when preparing to enrol their child in a nursery, and Twinkl has several resources that can make the process go more smoothly, such as our Starting Nursery Collection.
Free Early Learning and Childcare
The Scottish Government offers all three- and four-year-olds up to 1,140 hours a year of free early learning and childcare (ELC), accessible across the country through nurseries, council-run children’s centres, and childminders working with local authorities.
Children turning three between 1 August and 28 (or 29) February will begin funded Early Learning Centre services one calendar month post-birth, to allow a period of adjustment prior to their official starting date.
There are also private and voluntary nurseries and childminders offering Early Learning Centres (ELCs), so it’s advisable to contact these directly in order to find out their charges and policies. Please keep in mind that if your child qualifies for government-funded ELC, they will stay eligible even if either their parents’ employment status changes; this feature of the Funding Follows the Child policy ensures this stays the case.
Term start dates
Children aged three or four are entitled to at least 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare a year (approximately 30 hours a week in term time), with eligible two-year-olds also getting places in some settings. Families may qualify for additional hours. Find out more by visiting the Scottish government website.
School terms typically start in the second or third week of September and include breaks at Halloween, Christmas, and Easter. Most local authorities set their own term dates and publish them online.
Parents can delay the entry of their child to school and benefit from deferring it under Funding Follows the Child; by doing this, they will be eligible for an extra year of funded early learning and childcare, provided either their parent is working or receiving certain benefits such as Universal Credit.
Getting a Place
Children aged three and four and eligible two-year-olds can take advantage of up to 1140 hours of free early learning and childcare annually, which they can apply for through their local council.
Your application will be evaluated during a nursery panel meeting held near the end of the term to award places for the next term. Your application form allows up to three nursery choices; unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a spot at your first choice but will do everything possible to offer one.
All nurseries have an operating capacity limit, which will be discussed with you by your chosen nursery.
As part of their safety protocol, nurseries ask parents if there are other people who can collect their child from the nursery (to prevent children from being left with strangers). If that is the case, their name and number will need to be given.
Applying
All children aged three and four (and eligible two-year-olds) can access up to 1140 hours of early learning and childcare annually, including nurseries, playgroups, and childminders funded by both the Scottish Government and local authorities.
Simply apply for a place with your chosen provider around the time your child turns two. When making your application, be prepared to present proof of birth through their birth certificate copy.
Applying and getting a place can vary widely across Scotland; to make sure yours goes smoothly, contact your local authority for guidance. In most cases, applications will be accepted online, but some councils will accept them in person or through the mail. Once accepted by them, they will allocate places according to their own timelines and inform you as soon as the result has been decided. Any unexpected outcomes might require your child to undergo some period of settling in before going forward with studies.