2 Year Old Places

Funded Early Learning and Childcare for Eligible 2 Year Olds

If you are a parent of a two-year-old child and are in receipt of certain benefits you could qualify for Funded Early Learning and Childcare.

Do I meet the criteria?

Children will be allocated places according to the criteria listed below. (N.B. eligibility criteria are subject to change in line with any amendments to the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014):

Eligibility Criteria for 2 Year Olds

Your child can access 1140 hours of funded ELC at the eligible intake date after their 2^nd birthday, if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

Income Support
Job Seekers Allowance (income based)
Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
Incapacity or Severe Disablement Allowance
State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit (Earning threshold applies)
Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit (Earning threshold applies)
Support under Part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Universal Credit Statement (Take home pay threshold applies)

For more information on the eligibility criteria, earnings and take home pay thresholds please see information on the right “Other Websites”

Or if the child is age 2 or over and is or, since they turned 2 has been (in terms of legal status):

‘Looked After’ by a local council
The subject of a ‘Kinship Care Order’; or
The subject of a ‘Parent Appointed Guardianship Order’; or
Has a care experienced parent – (Parent has been in residential care, foster care, kinship care, or has been looked-after at home with a supervision requirement at any stage in their life)

How do I apply?

You can apply for a 2 Year Old Entitled Early Learning & Childcare Place in line with the 2 year old application timeline below.

2 Year Old Entitled Early Learning & Childcare Application and Admissions Timeline
Birth Date	Application Month	Supporting Universal Credit Evidence must be within the month of:	Intake Month
1^st March – 31^st August	July	July	August / September
1^st September – 30^th September	August	August	October
1^st October – 31^st October	September	September	November
1^st November – 30^th November	October	October	December
1^st December – 31^st December	November	November	January
1^st January – 31^st January	December	December	February
1^st February – last day February	January	January	March
PARENTS WHO ARE IN RECEIPT OF Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit (Earning threshold applies) or Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit (Earning threshold applies) MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF THEIR MOST CURRENT AWARD STATEMENT IN LINE WITH THE ABOVE TIMELINES
PARENTS WHO ARE IN RECEIPT OF INCOME SUPPORT SHOULD TAKE THE APPLICATION FORM TO JOB CENTRE PLUS TO BE STAMPED AND VERIFIED IN LINE WITH THE ABOVE TIMELINES

Application forms are available at any Inverclyde Council establishment, an approved funded provider private voluntary or independent (PVI) nursery that offer entitled ELC 2 year old places or an approved funded provider childminder’s that offers entitled ELC 2 year old places. Please contact your local authority nursery, approved funded PVI nursery or approved funded provider childminder directly. You must complete the application form fully and all supporting evidence must be submitted at the time of your application.

What happens next?

Your application will be sent to Education Headquarters to be processed:

If your application is declined the Inverclyde Council establishment, approved funded provider private voluntary or independent (PVI) nursery or the approved funded provider childminder’s you applied to will inform you of the decision.
If you application for a 2 year place is approved an email will be sent to you informing you of your allocation and model of attendance.

*This allocation is for your child’s 2-3 years place only – this allocation will not automatically transfer when your child is eligible for a 3 – 5 year place. You will be asked to complete a 3-5 year application form for your child’s funded 3 year old place.

3 – 5 Year Old Places

APPLYING FOR 3-5 YEAR OLD PLACE

Application forms are available from an approved provider.

The application period for 3-5 years opens at the start of term in January each year. An application form must be completed and submitted to your first choice establishment along with proof of your residing address (in the form of council tax invoice) and proof of your child’s date of birth in the form of your child’s birth certificate. ELC establishments will not accept your application form if you do not produce the proof at the time of submission.

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.

ADMISSION INTAKE TIMELINE
Birthday Dates	Intake – first available Monday in the month
1^st March – 31^st August (must be 3 years before they can start)	August / September
1^st September – 30^th September	October
1^st October – 31^st October	November
1^st November – 30^th November	December
1^st December – 31^st December	January
1^st January – 31^st January	February
1^st February – last day February	March

Places are available from the first Monday of the month after the third birthday (Tuesday if there is a public holiday). However, staggered entry dates may be required due to the number of eligible children in any given month. Where this applies, early years providers will admit all eligible children as quickly as possible.

Deciding priorities for admission

Inverclyde council always aim to ensure preferred choices are allocated, however, there is no guarantee of this. Applicants may find that the preferred establishment / operating model is full. In this situation, in ensuring the authority meets its statutory duty, an alternative place will be offered that is not stated on the application form submitted. Every attempt will be made to offer a suitable place within the Early Learning and Childcare defined area however this is not guaranteed

All places for children aged 3 – 5 years are allocated through a central process and in line with Inverclyde Council’s early learning and childcare admissions policy.

If a provider is oversubscribed, a ballot will take place to allocate places and/or models of hours.

Late applications received will receive their allocation as soon as possible after the Post Admissions Panel is concluded.