Up to 30 hours FREE childcare for eligible 3–5 year olds. Find out more
EPIC Education Early Learning Centre emblem logo with tree of life and graduation capEPIC EducationEarly Learning Centre
Funded Childcare

Supporting Families with Funded Childcare

EPIC Education offers funded early learning and childcare for eligible families. Up to 1,140 funded hours a year may be available — and we're here to help you understand what that could mean for your child.

A child learning and playing at EPIC Education in Rutherglen
Children learning through play at EPIC Education in Rutherglen
Up to 1,140 funded hours

Up to 30 Hours FREE Childcare

Under current Scottish Government guidance, eligible children can receive up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare each year. At EPIC Education, those funded hours are delivered across 38 term-time weeks — working out at around 30 funded hours per term-time week.

Funded places are available for eligible families, subject to eligibility and our funded arrangements. Our team will happily talk through what may be possible for your family.

Enquire About FundingOfficial guidance
Understanding Funded Childcare

What Is Funded Early Learning and Childcare?

Funded early learning and childcare is provision supported by local or national government so that eligible families can access some hours of childcare at no cost or at a reduced cost. It is designed to give more children a strong, joyful start in their early years.

In Scotland, the current funded entitlement is up to 1,140 hours a year for eligible children. The exact entitlement, how it is delivered and who qualifies can change over time and depends on where you live, so we always recommend checking the most up-to-date official guidance and speaking with our team about your circumstances.

Who May Qualify?

The standard funded entitlement in Scotland generally covers children aged 3 and 4, with provision continuing for some 5-year-olds, including those who defer their start at school. Eligibility depends on current Scottish Government and local authority guidance. Our team is happy to help you understand what might apply to your family.

What Does 30 Hours Mean?

The 1,140 annual funded hours equate to around 30 funded hours per term-time week, delivered across 38 term-time weeks. That is the model EPIC Education offers — we do not spread funded hours across the full year. If you need childcare outside term time, privately paid sessions are available — just speak with our team.

When Can a Child Start?

Funding usually begins from the term after a child becomes eligible, based on their date of birth and current Scottish Government guidance. We are happy to talk through the likely timing for your child when we speak.

Sessions & Fees

Paid Sessions and Funded Hours

A Full-Day Nursery Session — £45 runs from 9am to 5pm and is a privately paid arrangement, available for two-year-olds and for attendance outside funded term-time weeks. Wraparound care is also available from 8am to 9am and 5pm to 6pm — ask our team for availability and pricing.

Funded early learning and childcare may also be available for eligible families, across 38 term-time weeks. These are separate things, and our team will happily explain how each works and what might be available for your family — rather than make assumptions about how the two interact.

Exploring Your Options

How to Get Started

1

Check Your Eligibility

Eligibility depends on your circumstances and current Scottish Government and local authority guidance. Our team can help point you to the right information.

2

Speak to Our Team

Get in touch and we'll happily talk through what funded provision may be available and how it could work for your family.

3

Explore Availability

Funded places are subject to availability and the arrangements that apply at the time. We'll let you know what's currently possible.

Living Outside South Lanarkshire?

Cross-Boundary Funding

If you live in a different council area, separate cross-boundary rules or application processes may apply. We would suggest checking with us and with your own local authority so we can give you accurate, up-to-date information for your circumstances — rather than promise something that may not apply.

Read South Lanarkshire Council guidance
Common Questions

Funded Childcare FAQs

Understanding Funded Childcare

Funded early learning and childcare is provision supported by local or national government so that eligible families can access some hours of childcare at no cost or at a reduced cost. In Scotland, the current funded entitlement is up to 1,140 hours a year for eligible children.

The standard funded entitlement in Scotland generally covers children aged 3 and 4, with provision continuing for some 5-year-olds, including those who defer their start at school. Some eligible two-year-olds may also access funded hours under current Scottish Government and local authority guidance, so eligibility is broader than a single age — it depends on your circumstances. We always recommend checking the latest information for your family.

The 1,140 annual funded hours equate to around 30 hours per week when taken across roughly 38 term-time weeks. That is the figure most families see quoted. The way hours are arranged depends on the funded model a nursery is able to offer.

No. Our funded childcare is provided across 38 term-time weeks. That works out at around 30 funded hours per term-time week. If you need childcare outside term time, privately paid sessions are available — please contact our team to discuss your needs.

Not at EPIC Education. Some funded providers offer a year-round spread of the same hours, but our funded model is term-time only — 38 weeks. If year-round funded childcare is important for your family, our team can talk through what may be possible or point you to other local options.

Funding usually begins from the term after a child becomes eligible, based on their date of birth and current Scottish Government guidance. We are happy to talk through the likely timing for your child when we speak.

Send us an enquiry and choose 'Funded Childcare' as the enquiry type, or give us a call. We will talk through what may be available and help you understand your next steps — without making any promises about availability or eligibility.

If you live in a different council area, separate cross-boundary rules or application processes may apply. We would suggest checking with us and with your own local authority so we can give you accurate information for your situation.

A Full-Day Nursery Session at EPIC Education costs £45 and runs from 9am to 5pm; it is a privately paid arrangement for two-year-olds and for attendance outside funded term-time weeks. Funded hours are government-supported places for eligible children. The two are separate things, and our team will happily explain how each works and what might be available for your family rather than assume how they interact.

A Full-Day Nursery Session is £45 and covers 9am to 5pm. Wraparound care is also available from 8am to 9am and 5pm to 6pm — ask our team for availability and pricing, as separate fees for those extra periods have not been published.

No. An enquiry here simply starts the conversation. Funded places are subject to availability and the eligibility and funding arrangements that apply at the time.

Official Guidance

Up-to-date information on funded early learning and childcare in Scotland is available from the Scottish Government and your local authority. We can point you to the right resources when we speak, including South Lanarkshire Council's guidance.

Ask About Funded Places

Every family's circumstances are different. The best way to understand your options is to talk to us — send a quick enquiry and we'll help you explore what's possible.

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