When is the nursery open?
Tuesday.....................3.15pm-6.00pm
Wednesday................3.15pm-6.00pm
Thursday....................3.15pm-6.00pm
Friday.......................12.30am-6.00pm
Can I get help with my fees?
Do you offer free Pre-school places
Currently we are NOT in partnership with West Lothian Council to offer these places. Please read the information below to ensure you have as much information on this as possible.
Under current legislation, every child over 3 is entitled to receive 600 hours a year of free nursery care. However this is not as straight forward as it sounds. Each Local Authority decides how this is to be offered. Currently in West Lothian, this FREE childcare can only be offered by state nurseries and a limited number of private nurseries. Each private nursery must tender to offer this service, and only one per area will be selected. Just because your child attends a partnership nursery does not entitle you to the free places. If your child is allocated to a state nursery by pupil placement, you will not be able to claim the free hours anywhere else.
We have decided not to tender for partnership, this way all children attending Early Steps can be guaranteed their place until they start school. We believe this avoids any distress and confusion not only for the children but also for our parents.
West Lothian Council are currently reviewing the system, and will need to make changes to meet changes in legislation. At this time, we do not know what this change will mean, but it is anticipated (and hoped) they will adopt the Scottish Government proposal, that the funding for free child places follow the child no matter where they attend.
One additional factor parents must be aware of, is that current legislation states that the free places when offered are for a specific number of hours. The rate the Council pay for these hours has been agreed during the tender process. Parents should only be charged for the additional hours they attend. In some cases private nurseries will charge parents the difference between the Council rates and their standard rates in addition to the additional hours...
What is Wrap Around Care ?
Wrap Around Care is a service to help parents when their child is offered a place at a Council Nursery. Children split their day between Early Steps and Council Nursery, with the Early Steps arranging transport. There are various ways this service can operate depending on your individual needs and which sessions your child attends.
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Breakfast Club - Children are dropped off at Early Steps, we will give them breakfast and then take them to their morning session at their Council Nursery.
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Morning Session - Children are dropped off at Early Steps and given breakfast before going to Council Nursery. At the end of their session, we will collect them and bring them back to Early Steps for the remainder of the morning.
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Afternoon Session - Parents drop their child at the Council Nursery, we will collect them at the end of their session and return them to Early Steps for the rest of the day.
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Full Day - The child is dropped off at Early Steps, they will recieve all meals and snacks at Early Steps and will be taken to, and picked up from their Council Nursery for whichever session they attend.
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Due to the multiple options and levels of service on offer, please contact us to discuss your individual needs.
What should I look for in a nursery?