2 Year Old Places
Funded Early Learning and Childcare for Eligible 2 Year Olds
Eligibility Criteria for 2 Year Olds
Your child can access up to 1140 hours of funded ELC at the eligible intake date after their 2nd birthday, if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Income Support
- Job Seekers Allowance (income based)
- Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
- Incapacity or Severe Disablement Allowance
- State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit (Earning threshold applies)
- Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit (Earning threshold applies)
- Support under Part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit Statement (Take home pay threshold applies)
For more information on the eligibility criteria, earnings and take home pay thresholds please see information on the right “Other Websites”
Or if the child is age 2 or over and is or, since they turned 2 has been (in terms of legal status):
- ‘Looked After’ by a local council
- The subject of a ‘Kinship Care Order’; or
- The subject of a ‘Parent Appointed Guardianship Order’; or
- Has a care experienced parent - (Parent has been in residential care, foster care, kinship care, or has been looked-after at home with a supervision requirement at any stage in their life)
Applying for an Eligible 2 Year Old Early Learning and Childcare Places (ELC)
Eligible 2 year olds, in Scotland have a statutory entitlement to up to 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare in each year of their entitlement the term following their 2nd Birthday.
2 YEAR OLD INTAKE – TERM AFTER 2nd BIRTHDAY
|
Birthday Month |
Intake Term |
|---|---|
|
1st March – 31st March |
August Term (must be 3 years old) |
|
1st April – 30th April |
|
|
1st May – 31st May |
|
|
1st June – 30th June |
|
|
1st July – 31st July |
|
|
1st August – 31st August |
|
|
1st September – 30th September |
January Term |
|
1st October – 31st October |
|
|
1st November – 30th November |
|
|
1st December – 31st December |
|
|
1st January – 31st January |
April Term |
|
1st February – last day of February |
WHEN CAN YOU APPLY FOR A 2 YEAR ELC PLACE FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2025 / 2026 - (Start of new term in August)
ELC APPLICATION TIMELINE FOR 2 YEAR OLD PLACES WILL BE CONFIMRED IN FEBRUARY 2025
A 2 year old allocted ELC does not automatically transfer when your child is eligible for a 3 - 5 year place. You must complete and submit a new 3-5 year application form.