Blended placements
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.
- for children attending 38 weeks - your child will attend three full days (6.5 hours per day) at the council setting, and one 10 hour day with a funded provider (partner nursery, childminder or playgroup) over 40 weeks of the year
- for children attending 48 weeks (2 Day Model) - your child will attend two full days (9.5 hours per day) at the council setting, and
- if your child attends on Monday/Tuesday at the council setting – up to 5 hours per week over 50 weeks or up to 25 x 10 hour sessions (250 hours) at the funded provider
- if your child attends on Wednesday/Thursday at the council setting – up to 4 hours per week over 50 weeks or up to 20 x 10 hours sessions (200 hours) at the funded provider
- for children attending 48 weeks (3 Day Model) - your child will attend two days at the council nursery, and up to 7 hours per week over 50 weeks, or up to 35 x 10 hour sessions (350 hours) at the funded provider
- for children attending 48 weeks (4 Day Model) - your child will attend three days at the council nursery, and up to 5 hours per week over 50 weeks, or up to 25 x 10 hour sessions (250 hours) at the funded provider
Some funded providers will offer different funding models. Please contact them directly to find out the model offered before making your decision.
East Lothian Council’s model of funded blended placements cannot make adjustments for individual circumstances. The funded models offered are in line with the Scottish Government guidance which states that although funding follows the child this does not however mean unfettered choice for parents. There is no expectation that local authorities or any individual provider will tailor bespoke packages for every individual child.
If you would like to request a blended placement, please refer to the blended models above, discuss this with your current funded provider and arrange to complete the necessary funding paperwork with them.