To apply for a place in a Council-run nursery you should complete a nursery application form, around the time your child turns two years old.  The nursery application form is also available from any East Lothian nursery school/class.You will be asked to list, in order of priority, up to three nursery choices.  The completed form should be submitted to your first choice nursery.  Nursery location and contact details can be found in the Council’s directory of nursery schools and classes.

CHOOSING A NURSERY
Arrange a nursery visit
You may wish to visit a few nurseries before making a final decision on where to apply to.  You should phone in advance to make an appointment, as this will ensure staff have time to talk to you and answer your questions.

What our nurseries offer
Nursery education is about learning, playing, exploring and having fun.  Your child will be encouraged to do all these things with friends and on their own, choosing from a wide range of experiences and activities.

Staff are trained to create opportunities for play and learning to help your child’s all round development.  They are skilled in talking sensitively to children.  By getting to know your child well, staff work with parents and carers to lay the foundations for learning.

Curriculum for Excellence
Throughout Scotland, children from 3-18 will experience learning through the Curriculum for Excellence.  All centres listed will be implementing this curriculum, to enable children to become successful learners.

A personal learning plan is the method used to support your child’s progression and development in these areas.  Staff will encourage your contributions and engagement in this process.  This will support a smooth and seamless transition into primary school for your child.

Find out more about Curriculum for Excellence.

Which nursery can my child attend?
There are no catchment area restrictions for nurseries. This means that you can send your child to any nursery in East Lothian, if a place is available.

Provision of a nursery place in a particular school does not influence the availability of a place in that school.

Partner Provider Centres are not run by the Council but have been commissioned by us to provide pre-school education.

If you take a place at a Partner Provider Centre, you will be able to receive a contribution towards your fees depending upon the number of sessions your child attends. Funding for the place is paid directly by the Council to the Partner Provider on a termly basis. You do not need to apply for funding. The Partner Provider will do this and can explain in more detail.

Additional Support Needs
All Council nurseries and Partner Providers have places for children with additional support needs. If your child has additional support needs, you should discuss the level and nature of these needs with the head teacher or centre manager, to ensure that your child receives the support required to make the most of their time in nursery.