Renfrewshire Council

Nursery and childcare places for three- and four-year-olds

From August 2024, an updated policy is in place for when children receiving free early learning and childcare entitlement will start their placements. This updated policy brings Renfrewshire in line with national guidance from Scottish Government.

When your child starts depends on when their third birthday is during the year.

The same schedule will apply for next year, with children who turn three in March 2025 due to start nursery or childcare in August 2025.

Children who meet priority 1 or 2 of the admissions policy will start earlier than the dates listed in the table above. The exact date will be agreed with you.

See nursery, early learning and childcare admissions policy [125KB].

You may be able to buy hours (known as wrapround care) at your child's nursery or childminder for your child to attend nursery or childminding in advance of your child's entitlement starting. Please talk to your child's nursery or childminder.

See Pay for additional hours of nursery or childcare (wraparound care).

Apply for a free nursery or childcare place.

Find out how many free nursery or childcare hours you can get.

Nursery and childcare places for two-year-olds

Two-year-old children can get free nursery places or childcare if:

• they are or have been looked after by a council, are subject to a supervision order, are in kinship or foster care, or are with an appointed guardian
• they are the child of a care-experienced parent
• their household gets a qualifying benefit as specified within the Scottish Government website.

You can find out who can get funded nursery or childcare places for two-year-olds (Scottish Government website).

Find out how many free nursery or childcare hours you can get.

If your child is eligible for a free nursery place or childcare, they can start nursery or childcare at the beginning of one of the school terms.

Which term your child will start depends on when their birthday is during the year.

Apply for a free nursery or childcare place.

Nursery and childcare places for children aged 0 to 2 years

There are some nursery places or childcare available for children aged 0 to 2 years. However, children these ages are not entitled to free nursery and childcare hours.

These placements are limited and prioritised for children who meet certain criteria, as outlined in our early learning and childcare admissions policy [125KB] .

Some private and voluntary nurseries and childminders may provide place for children aged two or under. Contact the individual nurseries or childminders to see what they offer.