APPLYING FOR A NURSERY PLACE FOR YOUR CHILD

From August 2020 the number of funded hours of early learning and child care for all three and four year olds as well as eligible two year olds almost doubled to 1140 hours a year. This provides families with greater choice and flexibility over how their child care needs are met. In order to ensure every three and four year old child has a nursery place, every child attending nursery between August 2020 and July 2021 needs to submit an application to their preferred preschool setting/s between 6th and 31st January 2020.

Three and four year old intakes

What are my options for early learning and childcare?

Fife Council are providing the following three options in your local area.

1. Term time (38 weeks a year) – 5 days a week, Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
2. Full Year (46 weeks a year) – 2 ½ days a week, Monday/Tuesday full days from 8:00am to 6:00pm, and Wednesday morning ½ day from 8:00am to 12:48pm or Wednesday afternoon ½ day from 1:12pm to 6:00pm, and Thursday/Friday full days from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
3. Full Year – (49 weeks a year) – ½ day sessions – Monday to Friday morning sessions from 8:00am to 12:40pm or Monday to Friday afternoon sessions from 1:20pm to 6:00pm.

You may also access your funded 1140 hours early learning and child care from a private nursery or play group or childminder in partnership with Fife Council. It will also be possible to share hours between different early learning and child care providers.

Extended and wraparound early learning and childcare will also be available in some nurseries where there is capacity. You will be informed if this is available in your nursery once you have accepted a place for your child. You can then choose to pay for additional hours over and above your entitlement, where this service is available.

You are asked to provide five choices on your application form as some nurseries or session times may be oversubscribed. In the event we are unable to offer you your first choice, we will then look at your other nursery choices to see if we can offer you one of these.

An admissions policy is in place to ensure fairness when allocating places – this can be found at www.fife.gov.uk

Applications for Fife Council nurseries for three and four year olds must be received by the 31st January 2020 in order to be included in the process which allocates places for the following academic year. Late applications received on or after the 1st February 2020 will not be considered until after the full application process has taken place for this age group.

Applications for private nurseries, play group and childminders in partnership with Fife Council should be made directly with individual establishments and services.

Families with children who currently attend nursery and are due to return for their preschool year in August 2020 will be eligible for 1140 hours of funded early learning and child care. Therefore, families who wish for their child to attend a Fife Council nursery will be required to make a new application for their child in January 2020.

When should my child start nursery?

Nursery intakes take place three times during the academic year. If your child was born between 01/03/2017 and 31/08/2017, they will be eligible to access funded ELC from August 2020.

If your child was born between 01/09/2017 and 31/12/2017, they will be eligible to access funded ELC from January 2021.

If your child was born between 01/01/2018 and 28/02/2018, they will be eligible to access funded ELC from April 2021.

Applications for any of the above intakes must be made in January 2020.

How to apply

Application forms are available from all Fife Council nurseries, local council offices or online at www.fife.gov.uk. Applications should be returned to your first choice nursery, along with any proof requested. Applications must be received by 31st January 2020 for any child who will be attending a Fife Council nursery between August 2020 and July 2021. You will be notified in April by the school or nursery to advise you of where you have been offered a place.

Two Year Old Intakes Eligibility Criteria for 2-Year Olds

Your child can also access 1,140 hours of funded ELC in the term after their 2nd birthday if you meet one or more of the following criteria set by the Scottish Government.

Income Support

Job Seeker’s Allowance

State Pension Credit

Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance

Incapacity or Severe Disablement Allowance

Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit (WTC) and income is £16,105 or less

Child Tax Credit (CTC) AND Working Tax Credit (WTC) and income is £7,320 or less

Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999

Universal Credit with household take-home pay of £610 a month or less Funded ELC is also available if your child is 2 and is:

Looked after by a local council.

Looked after by a local council.

The subject of a kinship care order.

The subject of a guardianship order.

Nursery intakes for eligible 2 year olds happen three times during the academic year.

If your child is eligible and was born between 01/03/2018 and 31/08/2019, they will be eligible to access funded ELC from August 2020.

If your child is eligible and was born between 01/09/2018 and 31/12/2018, they will be eligible to access funded ELC from January 2021.

If your child is eligible and was born between 01/01/2019 and 28/02/2019, they will be eligible to access funded ELC from April 2021.

Applications for two year old places can be made a maximum of two months before a child’s anticipated start date. Application forms are available from all Fife Council nurseries, local council offices or online at www.fife.gov.uk.