The Rainbow Room can accommodate up to 48 children aged 3-5 years old. The playroom is currently, staffed by 7 early years education and childcare officers and 2 Early Years Support Assistants.  We also have 2 Modern Apprentices who are working with us while they work towards their qualifications.

As of August 2020, children aged 3-5 years are entitled to 1140 hours of early learning and childcare (ELC).

Places are allocated in line with Inverclyde Council’s Admissions Policy, which can be accessed here: 3 – 5 year old places – Inverclyde Council

Our main model of delivering your child’s ELC entitlement is:

• A Model 1 place which consists of Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am and 3pm over 38 weeks per year (term-time).

We can also deliver your child’s entitlement using the following approaches:

• Blended approach with a childminder and a nursery.
• With a funded provider (Private / voluntary / independent nursery) that meets the new national standards set by the Scottish Government.

Four year olds

If your child’s date of birth is on or between 1 March 2019 and the 28 February 2020 he/she will be eligible for a funded early learning and childcare place from August 2022.

Three year olds

If your child’s date of birth is on or between 1 March 2020 and the 28 February 2021 he/she will be eligible for a funded place as set out below.

Admissions Timeline

The timeline below indicates when your child will be eligible to begin their early learning and childcare place

Inverclyde Council – Admissions Timeline
Child’s Birthday	Intake – first available Monday in the month.
1st March – 31st August	August/September
1st September – 30th September	October
1st October – 31st October	November
1st November – 30th November	December
1st December – 31st December	January
1st January – 31st January	February
1st February – last day February	March

How to apply for a 3-5 year-old place

An application form must be completed and submitted to your first choice establishment.  You will also need to provide proof of your residing address in the form of a council tax letter and proof of your child’s date of birth in the form of your child’s birth certificate.  We cannot  accept your application form if you do not produce this information when submitting your form.

Forms must be submitted by the last day in February each year to be presented at the Annual Admissions Panel which sit around April / May.  Any forms received after the last day in February will be classed as a late application and will be presented at the Post Admissions Panel in August.