Additional childcare at our centres

Information on how you can pay for purchasing childcare in advance of entitlement in West Dunbartonshire.

You may be able to obtain childcare at our nurseries. Childcare can be in addition to your child's entitlement from the Scottish Government, where there is no entitlement or in advance of when their entitlement commences.

Childcare entitlement for 3-5 year olds

Your child is entitled to a childcare place in our nurseries in the two years before starting primary school. The entitlement becomes valid at the start of the school term after their 3rd birthday.

The Early Learning and Childcare Statutory Guidance, published in July 2021 states under section 55, ‘In terms of starting dates, under the 2014 Order eligible 2 year olds and all 3 year olds are eligible for funded early learning and childcare from the beginning of the first term after the child’s 2^nd or 3^rd birthday, as set out in the following table:’

 West Dunbartonshire council now allocate funding from the term after your child’s third birthday, as outlined above, however, should you wish your child to start nursery earlier than this, we can accommodate them from the month after their third birthday. These hours would be in advance of their entitlement and would be at a cost of £5 per hour and a daily charge of £3.20 for snacks and meals. (Please note these charges apply to WDC nurseries only and not partner settings.) You would not be able to access more hours than your child will have allocated to them when their funding commences. If you are interested in accessing some, or all of your child’s hours, from the month after their third birthday then please contact the nursery for further details.

Accessing childcare hours in advance of entitlement

To access childcare hours before your child’s funded entitlement begins:

How to Apply:

1. Contact your ELCC to check availability.
2. If space is available, you'll be given a Pre-Entitlement Hours Contract and a timesheet to complete.
3. Return the signed contract and timesheet to the nursery.
4. Your child’s place will only be confirmed once the signed paperwork is received.

Please return signed contracts to ELCCs as soon as possible so that we can provide your child’s place.  Changes to your contract / hours mid-session will be processed only with the agreement of the ELCC.

Payment

All payments must be made via ParentPay. The payment is required weekly, in advance, by noon on the Wednesday before the week of childcare. Childcare will not be provided unless payment has been made. If payment is not received, the childcare service will be withdrawn. For In-service days, no childcare is available, and no charge will be made. Please note refunds are not available.

Changes to your hours purchased in advance of entitlement

You should contact your ELCC if you require a reduction in these purchased hours.  We require a minimum of one months’ notice if you require a change in additional hours. 

These changes do not affect out of school care.

Child illness

If your child is ill, then we will still charge you.  Please contact your ELCC as soon as possible to let them know of your child’s absence.

Meals

Our ELCCs provide lunches, and the cost is £3.20 per day. This should be paid through ParentPay along with your childcare payments.

Holidays and in-service days

If you wish to know about childcare during these holidays then please contact the Head of Centre of your child’s ELCC.

All centres are shut on in-service days, and you will not be charged for these days.

Cancellation of childcare

If you need to cancel your contract, then we need 1 month’s written notice.  Your centre can provide you with the correct form and please give the completed form to the Head of Centre at your child’s ELCC.

More information

Should you have any question about the new arrangements, please speak to the team at your ELCC.