Online applications for Early Learning and Childcare places to go live next week
18 January 2021
Parents and carers will be able to apply online from next Monday (25 January) for 2021/2022 Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) places for their young children at Aberdeen City Council nurseries.
From August 2021 parents/carers will be able to access up to 1140 of funded hours of ELC. The increase to 1140 hours means around 30 hours per week during school term or around 22 hours if taken through the year.
The online system will be hosted on Aberdeen City Council’s website: https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare/apply-nursery-school-place-202122
To apply for a funded place at a local authority nursery, parents and carers, including those of children who are continuing with ELC, will be asked to complete an online application, with their child’s uploaded birth certificate and photograph, by Thursday 18 February.
Applications to a funded provider such as a childminder, playgroup or private nursery, should be made directly to the provider.
Parents and carers will be asked to nominate their first, second and third preferred nursery choices. Parents and carers will also have the choice of blending their funded hours between 2 ELC providers: school/childminder or school/private provider.
Councillor John Wheeler, Aberdeen City Council’s Education Operational Delivery Convener, said: “As with our Primary 1 school places registration which is already underway, the use of online innovation for ELC applications means that parents and carers no longer have to attend in person at their preferred nursery setting.
“In addition to being convenient, the new process also helps ensure people’s safety while we contend with the coronavirus. Digital technology is one of several work strands we have embarked upon, including a bold £23 million investment in new nursery settings, as we build towards our ELC expansion that will see each child benefit from 1140 hours of learning per annum.”
The multi-million pounds investment in revamped and newly built nurseries across 27 sites in Aberdeen, will also include innovative outdoor learning facilities at Duthie Park and Hazlehead Park.