16 January 2020
Apply for funded early learning and childcare with Aberdeenshire Council
You can apply online for early learning and childcare places funded by Aberdeenshire Council from Monday 20 to Friday 31 January 2020.
From August 2020, all children aged three and four will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare per year, from the term after their 3rd birthday. This equates to up to 30 hours per week during term-time or less if spread across the year.
Children who are aged three by 31st August 2020 will be eligible for a funded place in August 2020, children who are three by 31st December 2020 will be eligible from January 2021, and children who are three by 28th February 2021 will be eligible for funding from April 2021.
Parents/carers can choose whether these hours are accessed in a local authority nursery or within a playgroup or private day nursery or with a childminder, commissioned by Aberdeenshire Council. All of our partner providers have been able to access the extended early learning and childcare hours alongside a number of our school nursery settings since April 2019 but if your child continues to be eligible for the next academic session (from August) you must re-apply.
More information and the online application form will be available from 20th – 31st January 2020 at: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/childcare-and-early-learning/ This will include information about the operating hours of school nursery settings. If you are applying for a place with a funded partner provider, please discuss with them what is on offer and secure a place with them before applying online.
Parents and carers of eligible two-year-olds, whose date of birth falls between 01.03.18 - 28.02.2019, should also apply during the admissions period. Families in receipt of one or more of the following benefits are invited to apply online:
· Income Support
· Job Seekers allowance (income based)
· Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement allowance
· State Pension Credit
· Any income related element of the Employment & Support Allowance
· Child tax credit but not working tax credit and your income is below £16,105
· Both maximum CTC & WTC with income Less than £7,320.
· Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
· Universal credit and your household take-home pay is £610 a month or less. Your award letter will tell you how much take-home pay is for the claim period.
Two-year-olds who are looked after and accommodated or are under a kinship or guardianship order are also eligible for funding and will be supported through the applications process by a social worker. Health visitors who have evidence to support an application can also make a referral via the website - please email eligible2andcensus@aberdeenshire.gov.uk for more information about applications for eligible two-year-olds.