Inter-authority funding
Inter-authority (cross-boundary) ELC funding
The West Partnership has designed a cross-boundary funding protocol to support the implementation of the Funding Follows the Child. As well as the 8 local authorities that make up the West Partnership (Glasgow City, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire), neighbouring local authorities in Argyle & Bute and East, North and South Ayrshire Councils also operate in line with the protocol, however access and processes may differ in these authorities. This means that, where physical and financial capacity allows, these local authorities will work together to support families to access up to 1140 funded hours in a different local authority area from the one the family live in.
Application procedure and timeline
Children attending funded provider working in partnership with any of the Local Authorities above to make a request to the Council where they live for cross boundary funding. All requests made before the application deadline of the Host Authority are considered at a meeting in May each year. All cross-boundary funding will be paid from the term following the child’s third birthday, as outlined below
- Children who are 3 years old or over up to the end of August are eligible from the August Term
- Children who have their 3rd birthday between 1 September and 31 December are eligible from the spring term (January)*
- Children who have their 3rd birthday between 1 January and last day in February 2027 are eligible from the summer term (April)*.
Once a decision is made, families will be notified.
Key terms
- Resident Authority: authority parent/carer and child live in.
- Host Authority: authority in which your child attends/is seeking to attend Funded Provider setting.
- All Funded Providers: private, voluntary, third sector and childminders in contract with the host authority to provide funded ELC
Deferred entry cross-boundary funding
If you want to defer your child’s school start date, it is important you ensure you follow your resident authority application process on school deferrals. If you want to keep your child at nursery for another year, please read the information about deferred entry.
If you have applied for your child to defer their school start date, you should contact the provider you want your child to attend, and they will apply for funding on your behalf.
Parents/carers are required to provide evidence to establishments that the deferral has been approved by the home authority.
More information
To find out more about cross-boundary funding, contact your resident local authority.