Accessing Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)
When can my child start their funded ELC hours?
When your child is eligible for funded ELC from is according to their date of birth:
- 1st March – 11th August = August term after their 3rd birthday.
- 12th August – 28th February = Monday after their 3rd birthday (where 3rd birthday is a Monday - this will be the Monday after).
Some children will be eligible earlier for a funded two year old ELC placement.
What funded ELC hours is my child entitled to?
Up to a maximum of 1140 hours between 1st August & 31st July (the academic year). Please note that some patterns chosen could run out of hours sooner then the end of the year, if your child’s pattern doesn’t fall over a proportionate amount of the ELC settings closure dates. You can check with your ELC setting if you will be affected (Children using 6 hours per day term time should not be).
Do I have to use all the funded hours?
No, the hours are an entitlement not a requirement, so you can choose to take all or some of the hours available to you.
Is transport provided for ELC?
ELC provision has no entitlement to transport, unless in exceptional circumstances. Further information is available via our useful documents section.
How do I request an additional year of ELC?
You need to request this by making an online application to P1 during P1 registration week, which takes place mid November.
I am on the waiting list for another ELC setting, what will happen?
You can contact the ELC setting at any time to find out where you are on the waiting list. The ELC setting will contact you throughout the year if any spaces become available. During December, anyone on a local authority ELC waiting list will be contacted if there will be space available from the following August.
Can I change the ELC hours I use from week to week?
No, a consistent number of ELC hours must be used each week at set times & days of attendance. You will decide this by selecting the ELC model that your child will attend as well as the session times, before they begin their ELC placement. You can at any point request to permanently change this (i.e. change days/increase hours) by giving 4 weeks notice. Where settings offer more than one ELC model, you may be able to permanently change model during the year by giving 4 weeks notice. The ELC setting will work with you to establish how many of your child's 1140 hours of entitlement are left to use on the new ELC model.
What is an ELC model?
This refers to how the ELC hours can be used across the academic year (1st August to 31st July). It details how many weeks funded ELC will be available on, and the maximum amount of funded hours you can use each week. All ELC models will add up to a child's full entitlement of 1140 hours (pro rata for children eligible mid year). For example, nurseries attached to our primary schools offer a term time model of ELC (38 weeks), with a maximum of 30 hours per week.
