Applying for an Early Learning and Childcare place in South Lanarkshire

Primary School nursery classes 

• offer term time spaces while schools are open
• Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm spaces
• You can request wraparound hours from 8.30am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm.
• You can apply to any nursery class - there are no catchment areas. Please remember that nursery enrolment does not give priority for a place at the primary school. You still need to enrol your child separately for Primary 1.

Local Authority nursery centres / ELC centres

Generally open from 8am to 6pm and may offer places throughout the year.

Common attendance patterns include: 

• long mornings, 8am to 12.35pm
• long afternoons, 1pm to 5.35pm
• start of week, Monday and Tuesday (full days) and Wednesday morning
• end of week, Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday (full days)

Hours not covered by 1140 hours entitlement are chargeable at £4.32 per hour (or part thereof), unless you are exempt from charges which can be assessed by completing the ELC exemption from charges online form.

Funded Provider nurseries and childminders

These are private, voluntary and independent nurseries or childminders who meet the same National Standards as council settings. They offer a range of hours across 38 to 51 weeks of the year. Parents must contact funded providers directly for availability and details of the models they offer. Hours not covered by 1140 hours entitlement are chargeable by providers at their own rate of charge.

Blended placements

You can split your child’s 1140 hours between two nurseries or childminders. To do this, complete a blended model request form available from your ELC provider.

Gaelic Nursery Provision is available at Mount Cameron Primary School Gaelic Unit, East Kilbride and follows the same attendance pattern as other primary school nursery classes. Children learn through total Gaelic immersion in nursery and the first three years of the primary school.

Before you apply

• Application deadline: If your child will be eligible for an ELC place in the new academic session starting in August, please contact your preferred ELC provider to complete an application form no later than 28 February. Most places will be allocated in March and April. Letters notifying parents/carers of ELC placement decisions will be issued throughout May.
• Documents needed to complete your application: a copy of your child's full birth certificate and two pieces of recent official documentation both containing your permanent home address, for example, a utility bill, Council Tax statement, housing rent card, child benefit documentation. You cannot complete your child’s application without these documents, if you are missing something please speak to your ELC provider for advice.
• How allocations work: Places are allocated using the Early Learning and Childcare Admissions Policy. When making your application for a 3 to 5 year-old space, you are asked to include your first, second, and third choice of setting as we cannot guarantee parent’s will be given a space in their first-choice setting, so we try the two other choices you select. If your three choices are very popular and demand exceeds availability you will be offered a space where one is available as a fourth choice.
• What happens if you apply late: Applications received after 28 February will be considered as late applications and processed in due course.

Apply by your child’s age

3 to 5 years - Funded Early Learning and Childcare (up to 1140 hours)

• available to all 3 to 4 year-olds and children with deferred entry to school
• all establishments, including childminders offer funded 3 to 5 spaces.
• complete an application for your child at your chosen provider from the list above.

Eligible 2-year-old applications

• only available in selected settings (contact Early Years to find out which settings offer this provision)
• complete an application for your child at your chosen provider from the list above
• complete an eligibility assessment form

Your child cannot be considered for an eligible 2 year-old funded space until both an application at your chosen provider and your online eligibility assessment have been completed and approved.

Eligibility applies for 1 academic year, and you must re-apply at the start of each new August term it is required.

0 to 2 year-old applications

• there is no automatic entitlement to these spaces. The council Charging Policy applies unless you are exempt from charges
• only available in selected Local Authority ELC establishments (contact Early Years to find out which settings offer this provision)
• complete an application for each child at your chosen setting from the list above

When does my child start nursery funding?

Start dates for 3 to 5 year-olds in South Lanarkshire

• if your child’s 3rd birthday falls between 1 March and the start of term in August - their funding is available from the start of term in August
• if your child’s 3rd birthday falls after the start of term and by the last day of the following February - their funding is available from the Monday after their 3rd birthday. Please note: If your child’s third birthday falls on a Monday the start date will be the following Monday

Start dates for eligible 2 year-olds in South Lanarkshire

• if your child’s 2nd birthday falls between 1 March and the start of term in August - their funding is available from the start of term in August
• if your child’s 2nd birthday falls after the start of term and by the last day of the following February - their funding is available from the Monday after their 2nd birthday. If your child’s 2nd birthday falls on a Monday the start date will be the following Monday.