Funded childcare in Edinburgh

[Lois345]

DS is turning three this summer. Does anyone know how to access the 600/1140 hours of free childcare that the Scottish government is offering for age 3 and above? Do I apply, does it happen automatically? I am sure I could find this information online myself, but City Council's website is not at all straightforward. Appreciate comments from people with experience here.

Have you tried this? Apologies if you have and it's not the answer!

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/nurseries-childcare/find-early-learning-childcare

@Namechangeforthis88 I have and I am afraid it is not the answer, but thanks for your suggestion!

On that link, at the top of the page click back so you are just in nurseries and childcare, then click three and four year old places. That tells you eligible dates, contains application form etc.

I'm Scotland albeit different area and I had to apply January for a place starting next January!!

If he turns 3 before mid August when the new term ends he will be entitled to hours. You need to apply to the provider you wish to use and see if they have space. For example my lg turns 3 in July. I applied for 4 days a week during school term time, hours of 9-3 at the school nursery (should be entitled to 5 days but only need 4). The school nursery was too full so they could only offer me 2 days a week. A second local nursery are giving us the other 2 days I need. So she will do 2 days per week at each location during school term time. I had to apply for all of this over a month ago to be ready for after school hols in August.

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/nurseries-childcare/nursery-places-three-four-year-olds

You contact your nursery of choice and apply for a place. Think the link above has the application form

Call the individual nurseries you'd like and get a form from them. It's quite late in the day to find spaces though as obviously having dc all day instead of 2 separate groups each day has reduced or halved capacity in most settings. I'm not sure how it works with private nurseries but people I know who have used them generally have to pay a top up as they charge more than the allowance or require more hours attendance for full time and don't want to lose out

Thanks everyone. DS is already at nursery, so I am basically looking to see if I can bring down our mortgage sized nursery payment. I will contact the manager of our current nursery and see what she says

I'd speak to your current nursery as they may do the funded hours

If you need nursery to work standard hours you are probably better finding out what your current provider or another private can offer - I'm surprised they haven't already discussed this with you as a current client. School nurseries will only offer their set hours which is usually 8 - 3 or something similar. Not much use to many working parents who need to work til 5