Applying For a 2-3 Year Old Place
If you are in recipt the following benefits you may be eligable for 1140 hours a year of free early learning and childcare.
- Income Support (IS)
- Jobseekers Allowance (income based)
- Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance State Pension Credit Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit.
The income thresh hold for Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit can vary annually.
OR they are :
- Looked after by the local council (children aged two or over or have been at any point since turning two)
- Under a kinship care order by the local council (children aged two or over or have been at any point since turning two)
- With a Parent Appointed Guardian (children aged two or over or have been at any point since turning two)
If you think you qualify under the related benefits criteria you can contact an Early Years Establishment or Early Years Services to find the Establishment within the authority who offer this service. You then have to provide proof of benefit’s in the form of an award letter or authorise Inverclyde Council to verify your qualifying benefits before any place will be allocated or commence. We will always try to allocate your child a place in the area closest to your home however this cannot always be possible or guaranteed.
3-5 Admissions
Applying for a place
To apply for a Early Learning and Childcare place, you should complete an application form, around the time your child turns two years old or before 31st January each year. The nursery application form is available from any Inverclyde Council nursery or partner establishment and on Inverclyde Council Website. All children who are eligible for a nursery place are asked to list, in order of priority, up to three nursery choices. Only one application form must be submitted. Although children are guaranteed a place within either a council establishment or within a partnership establishment we cannot guarantee your choices or your pattern of attendance. Once completed forms should be submitted to your first choice nursery.
Proof of your child’s date of birth in the form of their birth certificate and address must be produced when submitting your application. Forms submitted without this evidence will not be accepted at any establishment.
All applications must be presented at an admission panel before any place will be allocated. If your circumstances change which affect the application you must inform the Head of Centre.