All information from Inverclyde Council Website
3 – 5 Year Old Places (Kilmacolm Nursery Class only has 3-5 Placements)
https://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/education-and-learning/early-years/3-5-yr-old-places
Applying for 3-5 Year Old Early Learning and Childcare Places (ELC) NEW SESSION 2025 / 2026
All 3 and 4 year olds, and eligible 2 year olds, in Scotland have a statutory entitlement of up to 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare the term after their 2nd or 3rd birthday.
If your child turns 3 between 01 March 2025 and 28 February 2026 you should be applying within the following application windows.
ANNUAL ADMISSIONS
- Application window to be presented at the Annual Admissions Panel for 3 – 5 years is;
- ELC Application window opens: 6th January
- ELC Application window closes: 17th January
ELC ALLOCATIONS RELEASED TO PARENTS ON 19 MARCH 2025
Applications received after 17th January will be considered as a late application and will be presented at the post admissions panel.
POST ADMISSIONS
Application window to be presented at the Post Admissions Panel
- ELC Application window opens: 18 January 2025
- ELC Application window closes: 4 April 2025
ELC ALLOCATIONS RELEASED TO PARENTS ON 22 May 2025
Any applications received after 4 April 2025 will receive their ELC allocation as soon as possible after the Post Admissions Panel is concluded.
HOW DO I APPLY ?
- Application forms are available at any ELC local authority establishment, approved childminder or private / voluntary or independent nursery.
- Application forms must be completed and submitted to the first choice provider along with;
- Proof of Residing Address – Either Council Tax Invoice / Gas or Electric bill to confirm your child’s residing address.
- Birth Certificate to confirm your child’s date of birth.
We will not accept any application form without the necessary proof of documents
FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN DOCUMENT SECTION – ELC Completing application guidance 2025 / 2026
| BIRTHDATE | INTAKE TERM |
| 1 March – 31st August | New term in August
(must be 3 years old when starting) |
| 1 September – 31 December | January |
| 1 January – last day in February | April |
ALLOCATION OF ELC PLACES
All ELC places are allocated in line with Inverclyde Council ELC Admission Policy. (Available in the document section)
We will always try and allocate a place based on your preference(s) from your submitted application form); however, this is not guaranteed. If your preferred option(s) is full, a ballot may be necessary to allocate places alternative provider.
This can occur in the following scenarios:
- Oversubscription of applications for 3-5-year-olds.
- Oversubscription for certain delivery models.
- Oversubscription for specific establishments or childminder or PVI provider.
If your preferred choices are unavailable, you will be offered a place in an ELC establishment within your ELC Defined Area based on your residing address. Childcare arrangements that are in place are not classed as a residing address.
Please note:
Having a sibling in the associated primary school does not provide any extra priority for ELC admission. ELC places and School places have no association.
