Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Rejected from Scottish nursery - please help!

211 replies

PartyRingaRosie · 20/09/2025 11:47

X posting for traffic..

My DD has just been rejected from our local nursery (literally a 2 minute walk from home) due to capacity. I called to ask about alternatives and was told the 2 other nurseries in our village are also full. The only option the could offer was a nursery 10 miles away.

I’m really upset and worried about this. It’s not at all practical for us to be driving 10 miles each way before work every morning, and I’m also anxious that if she can’t get into a local nursery now, she may struggle to get into the local primary when the time comes.

Has anyone been in this situation? What did you do? Is there anything I can do to challenge this and push for a place locally?

OP posts:
Differentforgirls · 21/09/2025 06:53

EvaShoe · 20/09/2025 16:47

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.

Edited
Show quote history

Very few parents defer.

Rainbowdays123 · 21/09/2025 09:20

Sorry you feel you I’ve been given a hard time on this thread. You have. But in truth as a poster said above this is the kind of stuff that most people research when they are thinking of having children or are pregnant.

Also, the 30 hours funded is a bit of a misnomer. Most people couldn’t use what the local authority provide in School nurseries because it is school hours only, with no coverage in the holidays. There is one primary school near me that offers wraparound care for the nursery, but that’s a rarity.

This means school nurseries are largely useless for people who work in office jobs unless you can find childminders who will do the wraparound care. In our area that is almost impossible.

For this reason, even though I have one child in the primary school my younger child will not go to the nursery there because the logistics don’t work for us. This means I have to do two drop-offs and pick ups for an extra year but it is worth it to have the full working day covered.

Original poster
PartyRingaRosie · 21/09/2025 10:26

I can see why my first post read as if I only started thinking about nursery at 3, but that’s not the case. I looked into it when I was pregnant, but we decided against private nursery. Then I checked out LA nurseries and saw you can only apply via the council and once your child is nearly 3. Because they’re attached to primaries, I assumed (wrongly) that it worked the same way as school places and would be based on catchment.

The only other option would’ve been to sign DD up to a private nursery years before we actually needed it, pay eye watering fees for childcare we didn’t need, just to hold a space for when the ELC funding started. Maybe that’s “how it works”, but honestly I don’t think it should be.

Saying LAs can’t predict demand doesn’t wash with me. Every job/sector has fluctuating demand but planning still happens. The reality is there aren’t enough places, so loads of parents (usually women) end up cutting back or quitting work. If we had proper, affordable ELC in place, more parents could stay in work. Look at the Nordics, huge uptake from age 1 because it’s well funded and accessible. Here, the costs are sky high and access is patchy, so the cycle continues.

And judging by replies here, the “choice” for a lot of families seems to be either run yourself into the ground financially/physically to hang onto your job, or step out of the workforce to look after your child. That’s exactly what ELC is meant to prevent, which is why I think it’s completely fair to expect LAs to make it more accessible.

We absolutely should be challenging this or nothing will improve. It’s no wonder the birth rate is declining.

OP posts:
Nearly50omg · 21/09/2025 10:55

They say they are full but they aren’t actually full they have spaces they are holding for when the council tells them to accept a child for whatever reasons. I would contact the local council and ask them to help you with this

Differentforgirls · 21/09/2025 11:07

helpfulperson · 21/09/2025 10:03

It has increased significantly since the rules changed. Deferred entry to primary school: statistics - gov.scot

Show quote history

Thanks but those stats are to 2018. The law changed in 2019.

PurpleFlower1983 · 21/09/2025 11:13

You are entitled to the 30 hours but the onus is on you to find this. Many primary school nurseries only offer mornings or afternoons and not the full 30 hours. Some providers offer the 30 hours over 3 days or some do normal school hours. This was a question for debate at the time - how will there be enough capacity when everyone is entitled to 30 hours. There just isn’t. Compulsory school age is the term of her 5th birthday if Scotland is the same as England. Ratios in nursery are 1:13.

Blueberry911 · 21/09/2025 11:29

PartyRingaRosie · 21/09/2025 10:26

I can see why my first post read as if I only started thinking about nursery at 3, but that’s not the case. I looked into it when I was pregnant, but we decided against private nursery. Then I checked out LA nurseries and saw you can only apply via the council and once your child is nearly 3. Because they’re attached to primaries, I assumed (wrongly) that it worked the same way as school places and would be based on catchment.

The only other option would’ve been to sign DD up to a private nursery years before we actually needed it, pay eye watering fees for childcare we didn’t need, just to hold a space for when the ELC funding started. Maybe that’s “how it works”, but honestly I don’t think it should be.

Saying LAs can’t predict demand doesn’t wash with me. Every job/sector has fluctuating demand but planning still happens. The reality is there aren’t enough places, so loads of parents (usually women) end up cutting back or quitting work. If we had proper, affordable ELC in place, more parents could stay in work. Look at the Nordics, huge uptake from age 1 because it’s well funded and accessible. Here, the costs are sky high and access is patchy, so the cycle continues.

And judging by replies here, the “choice” for a lot of families seems to be either run yourself into the ground financially/physically to hang onto your job, or step out of the workforce to look after your child. That’s exactly what ELC is meant to prevent, which is why I think it’s completely fair to expect LAs to make it more accessible.

We absolutely should be challenging this or nothing will improve. It’s no wonder the birth rate is declining.

No one is saying to use nursery before you needed it and to pay eye watering fees before you wanted it, but people do join waiting lists for private nurseries in advance of needing them. I joined a waiting list to secure a nursery 1 year and 3 months before I needed it. I paid a deposit.

Blueberry911 · 21/09/2025 11:36

Also private nurseries often offer better hours than LA nurseries from my understanding. Both you can use funded childcare for.

Wemetatascoutcamp · 21/09/2025 11:40

PartyRingaRosie · 21/09/2025 10:26

I can see why my first post read as if I only started thinking about nursery at 3, but that’s not the case. I looked into it when I was pregnant, but we decided against private nursery. Then I checked out LA nurseries and saw you can only apply via the council and once your child is nearly 3. Because they’re attached to primaries, I assumed (wrongly) that it worked the same way as school places and would be based on catchment.

The only other option would’ve been to sign DD up to a private nursery years before we actually needed it, pay eye watering fees for childcare we didn’t need, just to hold a space for when the ELC funding started. Maybe that’s “how it works”, but honestly I don’t think it should be.

Saying LAs can’t predict demand doesn’t wash with me. Every job/sector has fluctuating demand but planning still happens. The reality is there aren’t enough places, so loads of parents (usually women) end up cutting back or quitting work. If we had proper, affordable ELC in place, more parents could stay in work. Look at the Nordics, huge uptake from age 1 because it’s well funded and accessible. Here, the costs are sky high and access is patchy, so the cycle continues.

And judging by replies here, the “choice” for a lot of families seems to be either run yourself into the ground financially/physically to hang onto your job, or step out of the workforce to look after your child. That’s exactly what ELC is meant to prevent, which is why I think it’s completely fair to expect LAs to make it more accessible.

We absolutely should be challenging this or nothing will improve. It’s no wonder the birth rate is declining.

But people who pay private nurseries/childminders for childcare before 3 normally do it because they need to, not to reserve a funded place.
Councils can predict all they like but all it takes is for a family or 2 to move into the area or a parent or 2 to decide to defer entry until the following year and the planning is out the window. Councils can’t afford to have extra spaces just in case- private nurseries even less so.

Empuffin · 21/09/2025 11:54

Nearly50omg · 21/09/2025 10:55

They say they are full but they aren’t actually full they have spaces they are holding for when the council tells them to accept a child for whatever reasons. I would contact the local council and ask them to help you with this

Unlikely; usually the only reason they are not full currently is because a space has been allocated to a child who hasn’t started yet e.g. January intake. The only time spaces might be kept is for the two year old funding or in certain nurture centres.

Empuffin · 21/09/2025 11:55

PurpleFlower1983 · 21/09/2025 11:13

You are entitled to the 30 hours but the onus is on you to find this. Many primary school nurseries only offer mornings or afternoons and not the full 30 hours. Some providers offer the 30 hours over 3 days or some do normal school hours. This was a question for debate at the time - how will there be enough capacity when everyone is entitled to 30 hours. There just isn’t. Compulsory school age is the term of her 5th birthday if Scotland is the same as England. Ratios in nursery are 1:13.

Ratios in Scotland are 1:5 for two year olds and 1:8 for 3-5

Rae36 · 21/09/2025 11:58

I feel like the ScotGov dangle these wonderful free nursery hours in front of parents but make it very hard for many people to access them by not providing enough LA places. Looks like you're finding that out the hard way. I'm sorry.

They should hand out an info sheet on nursery funding and registration when you first get pregnant. Then you've got enough time for reading, understanding, applying and finding a place that works for you when your child turns 3.

My dc also didnt get a place at any local school nursery because they were all full. Luckily there was a private nursery nearby that did have space. Not quite what we wanted but enough to muddle along for a couple of years.

But they did get into the catchment school no problem so at least you don't have to worry about that.

It's shit op. I hope you can work something out.

Needspaceforlego · 21/09/2025 12:13

The other crazy thing I've heard of with council nurseries is doing sessions 8am-1pm and 1pm-6pm.
So they are offering 25 hrs a week but hours that don't really suit working parents unless you have someone else able to facilitate wrap around care.

Bobiverse · 21/09/2025 13:49

PartyRingaRosie · 21/09/2025 10:26

I can see why my first post read as if I only started thinking about nursery at 3, but that’s not the case. I looked into it when I was pregnant, but we decided against private nursery. Then I checked out LA nurseries and saw you can only apply via the council and once your child is nearly 3. Because they’re attached to primaries, I assumed (wrongly) that it worked the same way as school places and would be based on catchment.

The only other option would’ve been to sign DD up to a private nursery years before we actually needed it, pay eye watering fees for childcare we didn’t need, just to hold a space for when the ELC funding started. Maybe that’s “how it works”, but honestly I don’t think it should be.

Saying LAs can’t predict demand doesn’t wash with me. Every job/sector has fluctuating demand but planning still happens. The reality is there aren’t enough places, so loads of parents (usually women) end up cutting back or quitting work. If we had proper, affordable ELC in place, more parents could stay in work. Look at the Nordics, huge uptake from age 1 because it’s well funded and accessible. Here, the costs are sky high and access is patchy, so the cycle continues.

And judging by replies here, the “choice” for a lot of families seems to be either run yourself into the ground financially/physically to hang onto your job, or step out of the workforce to look after your child. That’s exactly what ELC is meant to prevent, which is why I think it’s completely fair to expect LAs to make it more accessible.

We absolutely should be challenging this or nothing will improve. It’s no wonder the birth rate is declining.

You’re still not making sense. Loads of kids don’t start private nursery or childminder until they turn 3, when funding kicks in. You still go and get on the waiting list. You know what term your child will start if you want to wait for the term after they turn 3, so you have them on the waiting list for that term. You wouldn’t have them start earlier?

DaisyDandelion · 21/09/2025 13:52

Could you try a childminder?

Bobiverse · 21/09/2025 13:57

PartyRingaRosie · 21/09/2025 10:26

I can see why my first post read as if I only started thinking about nursery at 3, but that’s not the case. I looked into it when I was pregnant, but we decided against private nursery. Then I checked out LA nurseries and saw you can only apply via the council and once your child is nearly 3. Because they’re attached to primaries, I assumed (wrongly) that it worked the same way as school places and would be based on catchment.

The only other option would’ve been to sign DD up to a private nursery years before we actually needed it, pay eye watering fees for childcare we didn’t need, just to hold a space for when the ELC funding started. Maybe that’s “how it works”, but honestly I don’t think it should be.

Saying LAs can’t predict demand doesn’t wash with me. Every job/sector has fluctuating demand but planning still happens. The reality is there aren’t enough places, so loads of parents (usually women) end up cutting back or quitting work. If we had proper, affordable ELC in place, more parents could stay in work. Look at the Nordics, huge uptake from age 1 because it’s well funded and accessible. Here, the costs are sky high and access is patchy, so the cycle continues.

And judging by replies here, the “choice” for a lot of families seems to be either run yourself into the ground financially/physically to hang onto your job, or step out of the workforce to look after your child. That’s exactly what ELC is meant to prevent, which is why I think it’s completely fair to expect LAs to make it more accessible.

We absolutely should be challenging this or nothing will improve. It’s no wonder the birth rate is declining.

They really cannot plan for numbers. They just can’t. You do realise that loads of kids do not go to nursery at all, even though funded hours are available.

Some go to childminders, some are cared for by family, some go to private nurseries.

They council know how many toddlers are in each area but they have absolutely no way of knowing the caring arrangements for those kids. They cannot provide enough nursery spaces because there is no way of knowing who will use it.

This really is down to you. You could have been on the waiting list for a private nursery or childminder with a start date of your funded term. You made the choice not to. Everyone knows that council nursery places are limited so you don’t rely on that.

You did. You missed out. Look elsewhere. You’ve just got no idea how nurseries, childminders or even school places work.

Original poster
PartyRingaRosie · 21/09/2025 15:16

Bobiverse · 21/09/2025 13:57

They really cannot plan for numbers. They just can’t. You do realise that loads of kids do not go to nursery at all, even though funded hours are available.

Some go to childminders, some are cared for by family, some go to private nurseries.

They council know how many toddlers are in each area but they have absolutely no way of knowing the caring arrangements for those kids. They cannot provide enough nursery spaces because there is no way of knowing who will use it.

This really is down to you. You could have been on the waiting list for a private nursery or childminder with a start date of your funded term. You made the choice not to. Everyone knows that council nursery places are limited so you don’t rely on that.

You did. You missed out. Look elsewhere. You’ve just got no idea how nurseries, childminders or even school places work.

Show quote history

So nurseries are packed year after year, so much so everyone anticipates this and knows to get on the waitlist early because spots are so scarce - everyone except the LAs of course who apparently have no way of anticipating this demand. They just keep building houses without expanding services and we all just pretend there is no solution, no other country with a better childcare model the UK could adopt. Naturally, the only option is for parents to fight it out for the few accessible spots while birth rates tank. Gotcha! Logging off.

OP posts:
Blueberry911 · 21/09/2025 15:41

PartyRingaRosie · 21/09/2025 15:16

So nurseries are packed year after year, so much so everyone anticipates this and knows to get on the waitlist early because spots are so scarce - everyone except the LAs of course who apparently have no way of anticipating this demand. They just keep building houses without expanding services and we all just pretend there is no solution, no other country with a better childcare model the UK could adopt. Naturally, the only option is for parents to fight it out for the few accessible spots while birth rates tank. Gotcha! Logging off.

Show quote history

No, everyone just puts their name down on the waiting lists at private nurseries early enough.

Holidaytimeyay · 21/09/2025 15:43

MidnightPatrol · 20/09/2025 12:18

Can you share the sources saying the local authority have a duty to provide a nursery space for you…?

You are entitled to claim the 30 hours at the relevant age… but that doesn’t mean the local authority is obliged to provide a nursery space for you. Most people will be using the funding at private nurseries.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes, I am not sure if it’s the same situation as I had but I tried to claim free hours when my twins became eligible as their dad was dying and it would have helped with me caring for him etc. I couldn’t get a place anywhere as I was told that parents pay for the places in advance and have the children already in nursery when the free hours kick in. This is not something that we would have been able to do financially so they didn’t go.
I have heard that even if you do get a place there are generally top up fees as their government funding is low.

Mumstheword1983 · 21/09/2025 17:36

RaraRachael · 20/09/2025 19:59

Have P1 and P2s all across Scotland become play based?

I don't think so as much daughter is in a P2/3 class and has never had this. I do know of other local schools that do. We don't have play based learning as yet.

Helena231 · 21/09/2025 17:58

Is your little one 2 or 3? And did you apply when the window first opened ? And is it for a January start?

Also, you would be pretty much guaranteed a place within your zoned primary school when the time comes. Totally different if you live outwith the zone.

SeriouslyNot · 21/09/2025 18:03

Hi. You will be entitled to a space at catchment school., don't worry. Nursery is a bit different though. Is there a private nursery near you? You can use her funded hours in a private nursery as well. I know it's not ideal but stay on the waiting list in the meantime! I'm also in Scotland.

Lovehascomeandgone · 21/09/2025 18:05

Nursery where I live is something you book years in advance. Did you make last minute arrangements? It’s first come first served so you have missed out I’m afraid and will have to make other arrangements.

Pinkdhalia · 21/09/2025 18:17

Have you looked into child minders maybe the local Parents group might know people.
I’ve added a few links hope they aren’t against Mumsnet regs .

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=www.gov.uk/find-registered-childminder&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwi-gu3lrOqPAxUCUUEAHQOcHuAQFnoECA8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw3tiKIgUODr9L1AvIEyFnq8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=www.gov.uk/find-registered-childminder&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwi-gu3lrOqPAxUCUUEAHQOcHuAQFnoECA8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw3tiKIgUODr9L1AvIEyFnq8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk
<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=www.gov.uk/find-registered-childminder&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwi-gu3lrOqPAxUCUUEAHQOcHuAQFnoECA8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw3tiKIgUODr9L1AvIEyFnq8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Find a registered childminder

https://www.childcare.co.uk/

Welcome to GOV.UK

GOV.UK - The best place to find government services and information.

https://www.gov.uk