TranslateEarly learning, childcare enrolment
Funded early learning and childcare (ELC) is available to:
- all 3 and 4 year olds
- eligible 2 year olds
Entitlement is 1140 hours per year.
There are no 'catchment areas' for early years establishments. You will be asked to choose 3 suitable establishments. These may be close to your home, or place of work.
Details of early years establishments:
- North Ayrshire Council early years establishments
- early years funded providers
- lists of early years funded childminders
Applications are for placements that involve North Ayrshire Council establishments, including blended placements. You may choose a private, or voluntary funded, provider establishment or childminder. Contact them directly for availability of places.
You may access funded ELC from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday.
Check your child's entitlement
| Child turns 3 years old between | Eligible from |
|---|---|
| 1 March to 31 August inclusive | August - Term 1 (Autumn Term) |
| 1 September to 31 December inclusive | January - Term 2 (Spring Term) |
| 1 January to 29 February inclusive | April - Term 3 (Summer Term) |
Apply for 3 and 4 year old place
Registration for the August 2026 to 2027 academic year is now closed. Applicants will be advised of the outcome no later than the end of April.
A late application window was open from Monday 20 April until Sunday 26 April 2026. Late applicants will be advised of the outcome no later than the end of May.
Request to move or failure to register
You may request a move or apply for a local authority early learning and childcare nursery place out with the registration period if you meet one of the following criteria:
- Priority 1. Child safeguarding concern
- Priority 2. Family crisis (e.g. bereavement, domestic violence, homelessness)
- Priority 3. Recent relocation into the North Ayrshire Council area
- Priority 4. Moving to another area within the local authority
- Priority 5. Cross-boundary move back into North Ayrshire Council
- Priority 6. Discretionary decision (e.g. parental choice)
- Priority 7. Failed to register
Please complete the application form:
Request to move formYour application will be reviewed at a monthly admissions panel (typically the second week of each month) and if approved, allocated to an appropriate nursery. The receiving nursery will contact you directly.
Not all 2 year old children are eligible for funded ELC. Before we can confirm and allocate a place, we must carry out eligibility checks.
Check the eligibility criteria below:
Universal Credit
If you work, your monthly household take-home pay must be £885 or less.
Other benefits
Your 2 year old can get funded early learning and childcare if you get one of these benefits:
- Income support
- Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- State Pension Credit
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Support for Asylum Seekers)
Experience of care
Your 2 year old can get funded early learning and childcare if you or your child has experience of care. Experience of care means being looked after by either:
- a local council
- a kinship carer or guardian, like a family member or a close friend
Application dates
If your 2 year old is eligible for a funded place, ELC will start in the term after their 2nd birthday. Please consult the dates below as any applications made too early will be closed.
| Birth date | Eligible from | Application dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March to 31 August inclusive | August - Term 1 (Autumn Term) | No sooner than 1 July |
| 1 September to 31 December inclusive | January - Term 2 (Spring Term) | No sooner than 15 November |
| 1 January to 28 February inclusive | April - Term 3 (Summer Term) | No sooner than 1 March |
Apply for eligible 2 year old place
You will be asked to provide up to date evidence of benefits or details of care.
Apply for 2 year old formNorth Ayrshire-based providers of early learning and childcare services (including private, voluntary, third sector settings and childminders) can apply to become a funded provider.
Providers must meet the criteria set out in the Scottish Government National Standard for Early Learning and Childcare Providers and be willing to enter into a contract with North Ayrshire Council.
Providers wishing to apply will be required to register on Public Contracts Scotland to complete an application process.
For queries about the funded provider application process, email procurement@north-ayrshire.gov.uk (this email should only be contacted for enquiries related to becoming a funded provider - all other ELC enquiries should go to the email at the bottom of the page).
If successful, applicants will be included on North Ayrshire Council's Early Learning and Childcare Flexible Framework Agreement until its expiry on the 31 July 2030.
Funded providers contracted to the council will ensure high quality early learning and childcare provision. If, for any reason, including not meeting set standards or if a funded provider cannot provide placements, they must fully cooperate with the council. This will be to ensure children’s requirements continue to be met, and parents and carers are fully informed in relation to securing alternative arrangements for delivery of funded entitlement.
The council will meet regularly throughout the contracted period with funded providers and will provide support, advice and training opportunities.
Contact Customer Services on the number below for help with making an application or providing benefit evidence. For all other enquiries, please email earlylearningchildcare@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.