How will the entitlement be offered to families?

1140 hours are equivalent to 30 hours per week over a school year (38 weeks) or 22.8 hours (22 hours and 50 minutes) per week over a full year (50 weeks). You can apply for a place at a local authority nursery, a private provider nursery in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council or a childminder who is in partnership with the Council.

Apply

You can now apply online for a nursery place using the form below.

Apply for a Nursery place

At a local authority funded Early Learning and Childcare Centre

You can take your child’s entitlement over 38 weeks (school term time). This works out as a daily 6 hour session. Or you could take your child’s entitlement over 50 weeks. This works out at a daily 4 hour 35 minute session; morning or afternoon. See details from page 12 – 16.

At a funded private provider Early Learning and Childcare Centre

You can take your child’s entitlement over 38 weeks (school term time). This works out as a daily 6 hour session. Or you could take your child’s entitlement over 52 weeks. This works out at a daily 4 hour 35 minute session; morning or afternoon. At a funded private provider you can also access flexible hours to suit your family needs. For example, you may want to take your child’s entitlement over two or three days. The entitlement can also be taken in ten hour daily blocks of time. As well as this you may want to purchase additional childcare hours, this can be arranged with the provider but it is not a condition to secure the 1140 hours placement.

At a Childminder

You can take your child’s entitlement using some of your child’s entitlement to 1140 hours and some at a local early learning and childcare centre. This is known as a blended model service. The childminder has to be in partnership with West Dunbartonshire and have a space available for your child.

Blended/Split Placements

Split placements with two funded providers can be arranged if a place is available.

The Communities

West Dunbartonshire Council early learning and childcare settings are organised into 6 communities, based on area and address. You are encouraged to apply to the early learning and childcare centres within your community. Nursery settings do not have catchment areas; you can apply to any nursery in your community. Within each community, each setting offers different provision.  When you make your application, you must choose, in order of preference which settings you would like to be considered for. You are asked to provide THREE choices within your community. We will do our best to allocate one of these however, there is no guarantee of this.

The Communities are:

  1. Duntocher, Hardgate and Faifley
  2. Clydebank
  3. Dalmuir 
  4. Old Kilpatrick, Bowling
  5. Dumbarton and Milton
  6. Balloch, Renton, Vale of Leven and Alexandria
  7. Gartocharn

When can three and four year olds start their entitlement?

All children who will be 3 years of age before 1 March 2023 are entitled to a nursery place during school session August 2023 until June 2024, some before depending on birthdate and availability of places.

The funding eligibility dates for school session 2023/2024 are:

  • Children who will be 3 years of age between 1 March 2023 and 16 August 2023 may start nursery from 17 August 2023
  • Children who will be 3 years of age between 17 August 2023 and 29 of February 2024 can start nursery the month after their 3 birthday
  • The Cross Boundary Protocol will apply to parents applying for a nursery place to West Dunbartonshire Council from another Local Authority. This applies to Funded Partner Providers only

Armed Forces Families

We are aware that children from Armed Forces families can have additional needs related to moving into a new education setting.  Because admissions arrangements for school may be different in different parts of the UK, we will be flexible in tailoring decisions to the best interests of the child, and will follow the latest guidance from the Scottish Government. 

Further guidance can be found on the Forces Education website.

Ballot for places

If there are more children than places then a ballot will be arranged. If your child is involved you will be invited to the ballot.  Likewise, a ballot will be held for any available places for ante pre-school children living in the nursery community.

How to Apply

There is a range of models available to ensure that all children can access their entitlement to 1140 hours of early learning and childcare.  Parents and carers can apply for the ELC which suits their family best. We try to make sure that everyone gets what they choose. However, there is no guarantee of this. Funding Follows the Child means that you can choose a nursery for your child; a place will be allocated if one is available.

Application and Enrolment Form

For more information on the application process you can call 01389 737309

or email: earlyearscas@west-dunbarton.gov.uk

What happens next?

Your application will be assessed against the priority criteria.  Every effort will be made to meet your preference. However, this will be dependent on places available and the priority given to applications. An Admission’s Panel will make the decision based on the admissions criteria.

Child’s Details, Family Details and Health Information

Please ensure the address given is the child’s permanent place of residence. If you are offered a place, you will be notified in writing and asked to confirm your acceptance of a place. You will then be invited to attend the allocated nursery with proof of your child’s identity and address (birth certificate and evidence of address) before your child is due to start. This is known as enrolment.