Nursery Places

Aberdeen City Council has a statutory duty to provide pre-school education places. These may be free places at local authority nurseries or funded places at registered pre-school education centres in the private, voluntary and independent sectors.

A child may start nursery in the school term after his/her third birthday. The Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000 defines the three school terms as follows:

• Autumn term: August to December
• Spring term: January to March
• Summer term: April to July

Children in their immediate pre-school year are entitled to a whole year of pre-school education. Children in their ante pre-school year are entitled to a place in the school term following their third birthday as follows:

Month of Birth	Entitled to a place from
January to February	April – after the Easter holidays
March to August	August – after the Summer holidays; children may start once they have reached the age of three
September to December	January – after the Christmas holidays

If you want to apply for a local authority nursery place, a place at a private nursery or a playgroup, you should contact the pre-school centre of your choice directly.

Places at Aberdeen City Council nurseries are allocated according criteria set out in the Council's Nursery Admissions Policy. The policy document and an information leaflet for parents are available to download from this web page.

A list of registered pre-school education centres, including partner providers, is available in the Nursery Admissions Policy.

If you require further information, please contact the Early Years Team at the address below.

Back to the Schools home page.

Contacts

• Early Years Team
  Balgownie 1
  Conference Way
  Bridge of Don
  Aberdeen
  AB23 8AQ
  Phone: 01224 814654
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I find a pre-school place for my child?
• How much will it cost to send my child to nursery?
• What are the hours in a local authority nursery?