Free childcare places are available for two year old children from households that receive certain benefits.

Since October 2014, parents who qualify have been able to apply for their two year old to receive up to 600 hours of free childcare and early learning.

Falkirk Council has received around 100 enquiries for places so far and has taken steps to meet this demand by providing increased capacity. This includes employing 12 early years’ staff, extending the current infrastructure of nurseries and primary schools and purchasing childcare places from some voluntary sector partners.

To qualify, families must receive one of the following benefits:

• Income support
• Job seekers allowance (income based)
• Employment support and allowance (income based)
• Incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance
• Pension credit

Councillor Alan Nimmo, spokesperson for Education, said: “These places not only help with child development but also support parents on benefits as they try to get into employment.

“We have received a good response since the early learning places became available, but we want every eligible two year old in the area to receive their entitlement.”       

 Plans are in place to create additional early years’ campuses at Kinneil Primary School, Bonnybridge Primary School and St. Margaret’s Primary School to provide early learning and childcare to babies, toddlers and pre-school children. These campuses will operate all year round from 8am-6pm and will provide communities with local access to these places

The Scottish Government announced additional funding for the new childcare provision last year.

All three and four year olds in the Council area can already access 600 hours of early learning and childcare. 

For more information call 01324 506611 or email educ.2yearolds@falkirk.gov.uk.