Rejected from Scottish nursery - please help!

In Scotland, the government pledges 1140 hours of funded ELC for all 3–4 year olds to support child development and parents’ ability to sustain work. Children are automatically zoned into their local catchment for school, and I assumed (reasonably I think, albeit incorrectly) that this applied to nursery too. I got myself upset thinking because DD had been rejected from a local nursery spot that it might also mean missing out on a local school spot, but I now understand that isn’t the case. Still, being offered a place 10 miles away, in the opposite direction of work, hardly supports working parents, one of the main aims of ELC.

Some have suggested I should have put her on a waiting list from birth. That might make sense if she had been in private nursery for childcare anyway, but she hasn’t. My husband and I have managed childcare between us up to now. The reason she is going at this stage is because she is entitled to ELC funding, and I believe she’s at an age where it will be developmentally beneficial, as the scheme intends, rather than just a form of childcare. There was nothing more I could have done to secure a nursery place other than apply during the opening window, which I did.

It feels unfair to call parents “entitled” for expecting local ELC. The government has pledged these hours, and local authorities are responsible for ensuring spaces exist. While nursery isn’t compulsory like school, the entitlement still stands. So how can housing developments keep being approved and ever increasing numbers of children deferring primary school, without new nurseries to meet demand? It seems unreasonable to claim LAs couldn’t foresee increased numbers when the village has been so heavily expanded.

It’s also disheartening to read comments suggesting “I struggled, so you should too.” The whole point of these pledges is to support families and make work more sustainable. Parents shouldn’t have to run themselves into the ground just to access something their children are entitled to.

Perhaps I should have stated in my original post that this is a local authority nursery. It’s a case of applying when the window opens each year.

Surely the council have an obligation to ensure there are adequate early years education facilities to accommodate local residents? If the LA cannot accommodate these children in nursery, how are they going to accommodate them in primary school?

In Scotland, the government pledges 1140 hours of funded ELC for all 3–4 year olds to support child development and parents’ ability to sustain work. Children are automatically zoned into their local catchment for school, and I assumed (reasonably I think, albeit incorrectly) that this applied to nursery too. I got myself upset thinking because DD had been rejected from a local nursery spot that it might also mean missing out on a local school spot, but I now understand that isn’t the case. Still, being offered a place 10 miles away, in the opposite direction of work, hardly supports working parents, one of the main aims of ELC.

Some have suggested I should have put her on a waiting list from birth. That might make sense if she had been in private nursery for childcare anyway, but she hasn’t. My husband and I have managed childcare between us up to now. The reason she is going at this stage is because she is entitled to ELC funding, and I believe she’s at an age where it will be developmentally beneficial, as the scheme intends, rather than just a form of childcare. There was nothing more I could have done to secure a nursery place other than apply during the opening window, which I did.

It feels unfair to call parents “entitled” for expecting local ELC. The government has pledged these hours, and local authorities are responsible for ensuring spaces exist. While nursery isn’t compulsory like school, the entitlement still stands. So how can housing developments keep being approved and ever increasing numbers of children deferring primary school, without new nurseries to meet demand? It seems unreasonable to claim LAs couldn’t foresee increased numbers when the village has been so heavily expanded.

It’s also disheartening to read comments suggesting “I struggled, so you should too.” The whole point of these pledges is to support families and make work more sustainable. Parents shouldn’t have to run themselves into the ground just to access something their children are entitled to.

100%

And also creating huge age gaps within the same year group, and making parents defer 'just in case'. With p1 and p2 being play based, I don't think we also need so many deferrals as a right. People are often deferring as they want their kid to have an advantage, not because the child 'isn't ready' for play based p1. I think there needs to be a clearcut cut off (e.g.5) and that's it, except in exceptional cases. Now we have kids not getting into nursery at the appropriate ages (like the OP)and some kids nearly 6 in early years, who will therefore be doing play based learning at nearly 8!

@EvaShoe yes. They can now have a bonus year at pre school but there's no extra places.

And with 30 hours no incentive for parents to get them in school.

While some kids may benefit, these could always be considered so don't understand why it has to become universal.

I also don't think they've considered the knock on at the other end of almost 13 year olds still in primary. My 12 year old wasn't one of the most ready in p1 (in the middle in terms of birthday) but my god he's grown about a foot in the last six months and (despite being young for his age) has grown up such a lot, physically and emotionally.

I don't think primary schools are set up to be dealing with kids of this size and associated behaviours, especially in rural schools with composite classes across many year groups.

I dreaded secondary but it's been great for him and I can see he was in need of it, despite being one of those you wouldn't call advanced for his age in any respect.

Which local authority are you in?

In Scotland, srate nurseries don't have catchment areas. Is there a state nursery near your work?

Primary school education is different. All children must go to school so the LA must provide facilities for all.

No, all children must be educated, but they don’t need to go to school.

Scottish Govt changed ruled on school deferrals meaning any child turning 5 from August onwards in their p1 year could defer school. No plans in place to support LAs with funding for the extra spaces this would require, nor any consultation. It is the repercussion of a poorly thought out SG policy.

Perhaps I should have stated in my original post that this is a local authority nursery. It’s a case of applying when the window opens each year.

Surely the council have an obligation to ensure there are adequate early years education facilities to accommodate local residents? If the LA cannot accommodate these children in nursery, how are they going to accommodate them in primary school?

Local Authorities administer EY. Not the SG.

There is no such thing as a reception place in Scotland.

She’s applying for a nursery place, not a reception place.