Funded early learning and childcare for 3 to 5 year olds
3 to 5 year olds can get up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare a year. This is around:
- 22 hours a week if used all year
- 30 hours a week if used only during school term time
Some 2 years can get funded early learning and childcare.
Funded early learning and childcare is free to you.
How to get a place
Local councils offer funded early learning and childcare.
They also work with private nurseries and childminders who offer funded early learning and childcare.
Get help to find a place from your local council
- Aberdeen City Council
- Aberdeenshire Council
- Angus Council
- Argyll and Bute Council
- Clackmannanshire Council
- Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
- Dumfries and Galloway Council
- Dundee City Council
- East Ayrshire Council
- East Dunbartonshire Council
- East Lothian Council
- East Renfrewshire Council
- Edinburgh Council
- Falkirk Council
- Fife Council
- Glasgow City Council
- Highland Council
- Inverclyde Council
- Midlothian Council
- Moray Council
- North Ayrshire Council
- North Lanarkshire Council
- Orkney Islands Council
- Perth and Kinross Council
- Renfrewshire Council
- Scottish Borders Council
- Shetland Islands Council
- South Ayrshire Council
- South Lanarkshire Council
- Stirling Council
- West Dunbartonshire Council
- West Lothian Council
There are different childcare schemes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
When your child can start
This depends on:
- where you live
- the type of childcare
Many local council nurseries get children to start at the beginning of a school term.
If your child turns 3 between | When they can start at a local council nursery in |
---|---|
1 March and 31 August | August (autumn term) |
1 September and 31 December | January (spring term) |
1 January and 28 or 29 February | March or April (summer term) |
Contact your local council if you're not sure when your child can start.
Moving from nursery to school
If your child is 4 years old on the day they are due to start primary school, you can defer their entry.
Deferring means delaying your child starting school.
If you defer you can keep getting funded early learning and childcare.
Find out more about starting school.
Parent Club advice on childcare
You can get more information about childcare on Parent Club.