Renfrewshire Council

Nursery or childcare for three and four-year olds

All children aged three and four can get free nursery places or childcare funded by the Scottish Government. 

How much free nursery or childcare hours you can get

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

Apply for a free nursery or childcare place

Nursery or childcare for two-year olds

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

• they are looked after 
• under a kinship care order
• with a parent appointed guardian at any time since their second birthday
• they are the child of a parent who is or has been previously looked after, in foster care or in kinship care
• their household gets a qualifying benefit.

You can find out who can get funded nursery or childcare places for two year olds on the Scottish Government website. 

How much 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 or childcare for children aged 0 to 2 years

There are some nursery places or childcare available for children aged 0 to 2 years, however, they are not entitled to free early learning 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 [124KB] . You should speak to your local nursery to find out if a place is available.