Find early learning and childcare

Eligibility for funded hours starts the term after a child’s third birthday and all children receive the full number of hours they are entitled to whether they attend a full year or term time placement in either a local authority or partner provider setting.  The number of funded hours a child receives depends on the start date of their eligibility.

Nursery places for children younger than three are provided at full cost by private nurseries and childminders, unless you’re eligible for free early learning and childcare for two-year olds.

View early years 1140 hours video with audio description

Contact your nursery to discuss how you can use your funded hours, for example

• term time in line with school hours
• morning or afternoon sessions
• ten-hour day sessions.

Option to purchase additional hours in nursery

From August 2024 you may be able to purchase additional hours of early learning and childcare in local authority settings.

The cost for additional hours from August 2024 will be

• £6.10 for children aged between 2 and 3 years
• £5.60 for children aged between 3 and 5 years.

Provided your child is at least 3 years of age and the setting has a place, you may be able to purchase a place before the entitlement to funded hours which begins the term after your child’s third birthday.

For more information email earlyyears@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Applying for a place 

Please submit one application only to your first choice setting and agree when you can drop off your documents at the nursery. To apply please take along the documents noted below: 

• Apply for nursery form (PDF)
• Child's birth certificate - or, if informed by the nursery, their passport
• Proof of your address, such as a Council Tax letter or utility bill

When completing the form for a local authority nursery, you must give a second and third choice.

To apply at a partner-provider nursery or a childminder please contact them directly.

Note in line with Funding Follows the Child and the National Standard for Early Learning and Childcare funded hours must be free at the point of access regardless of which setting the hours are being delivered in.  For parents/carers this means:

• that you should not be asked to make any upfront payments such as deposits to access your child’s funded entitlement
• you should not be charged any top up or surcharge fees related to your child’s funded hours
• you are not required to purchase additional hours beyond the funded hours in order to access your child’s funded entitlement
• additional charges relating to funded hours should be optional and limited to additional snacks or the cost for outings that would incur an additional charge i.e. to the Theatre

Children who do not live in Edinburgh

Parents who are not residents in Edinburgh can access their early learning and childcare funded hours in any of our local authority settings

Early Years admissions criteria

Nursery admissions - flowchart

Find nurseries 

Search for a nursery in your area

Find a childminder

Download a print-friendly list of council and partner provide centres - PDF

Please note, some downloads may not be accessible. For help earlyyears@edinburgh.gov.uk.