Nursery places for 2 year olds

How to apply

You can apply 2 months before your child turns 2.

Download an application form for nursery places for 2 year olds [207.74KB].

Qualifying for a funded nursery place

Your child may get a funded nursery place if you get one of these benefits:

• Income support
• Job Seekers Allowance (income based)
• Employment Support Allowance (income based)
• Incapacity benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £16,105
• Both maximum Child Tax Credit and maximum Working Tax Credit, and your income is lass than £6,420 (subject to change)
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The child is looked after. This includes under a kinship care order or with a parent appointed guardian
• A need is identified (allocated through Early Years Intervention Group)
• You have older children who get free school meals you may also qualify for a funded nursery place if you have a 2 year old

We'll ask you to provide proof of your benefits so that we know that you're eligible. This should be included with your application form.

What you qualify for

If your child qualifies for a funded place, you get 1140 hours of nursery care a year from August 2020.

This works out at 30 hours a week during term time available in our nursery classes, or 23 hours and 45 minutes per week over 48 weeks available in our family centres.

Funded providers like private nurseries and childminders may be able to offer more flexible ways to use these hours.

Nursery start date

Your child should start in the term following their 2^nd birthday. The nursery will confirm this date nearer your child's birthday.

What happens next?

We'll assess your application against admissions criteria.

As places for 2 year olds are limited we allocate places in line with priority groups. 

If you're applying for a paid place you may also wish to consider applying directly to a childminder or private nursery who may be able to accommodate your child, each provider will have their own daily/hourly rate.

Priority groups

Offer of nursery place

We'll write to you to tell you if we can offer you a nursery place.

If we can, we'll ask you to take these documents to the nursery:

• Proof of child's age
• Proof of current address

Family centres

We have 6 family centres which provide early learning and childcare for 2 year olds.

• Arthurlie Family Centre
• Cart Mill Family Centre
• Glen Family Centre
• Isobel Mair Family Centre (children with additional support needs only)
• Madras Family Centre
• McCready Family Centre

Funded providers

We work in partnership with some private and voluntary nurseries and childminders. We may offer you a place at one these partnership providers.

Contact us

Email: earlylearningandchildcare@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk

Phone: 0141 577 3288