Early Learning and Childcare in East Lothian

You can choose to take your funded hours with more than one provider. This is known as a blended placement.

The model will depend on whether your child is attending a council setting for 38 or 48 weeks per year.

The models have been calculated to allow families the flexibility of using funded hours with a school nursery and funded provider (private nursery settings and childminders who are in partnership with us). Funded Providers may not offer all these options so you should contact them directly to find out which models are offered before making your decision. We endeavour to offer as much flexibility and choice to parents as possible but cannot make adjustments for individual circumstances. Our funding models are in line with Scottish Government guidance that states that "there is no expectation that local authorities, or indeed any individual provider, will be able to provide tailored Early Learning and Childcare packages for every individual child".

If your child attends a school year (38 week) school nursery

If your child attends a school year nursery, you have the flexibility to choose which days they attend. Please be aware that selecting a Monday or Friday may result in your child not receiving their full entitlement of hours due to holidays and in-service days typically falling on these days.

If your child attends a full year (48 week) school nursery

In the full year nursery model, allocated attendance days (Monday and Tuesday or Wednesday and Thursday) are fixed. These models, therefore, account for closures that may occur on Mondays or Fridays due to public holidays or in-service days. The funded hours are distributed evenly across the year, ensuring that every child receives their full entitlement regardless of which days they attend.

Preston Tower Nursery only