Welcome to Orkney’s Early Learning and Childcare web page. Here you will find information on our new Willow Tree Nursery (0-3 non-statutory provision) and our statutory funded early learning and childcare provision (Local Authority Nurseries and partnership childminders). Our ELC policies can be found in the 'Related Downloads' section of this page.
Registration week for funded Early Learning and Childcare is Friday 17 February 9am until 5pm Friday 24 February 2023. |
If you still require to register for 2022/23 please contact elc@orkney.gov.uk.
Funded Early Learning and Childcare (3-5 year olds including eligible 2 year olds)
Willow Tree Nursery (0-3 years)
Willow Tree nursery is a new provision which opened summer of 2021 for children aged 6 months to 3 years. Children can attend until they become eligible for a government funded Early Learning and Childcare place (the term after the child turns three) which is offered in local authority nurseries throughout Orkney as detailed below.
The nursery offers both full and part time places. Parents can request a part time place based on a combination of these session times:
- Mornings with lunch from 0800-1300 (5 hours)
- Afternoons from 1300-1730 (4.5 hours)
All places are £6 per hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your child turns three years old between the 1 March 2022 and 28 February 2023, they become entitled to their first year of funded Early Learning and Childcare place the term after their third birthday as below:
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Children born between: |
Eligible to start: |
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1 March - 31 August 2019. |
17 August 2022 (Autumn Term). |
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1 September - 31 December 2019. |
5 January 2023 (Spring Term). |
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1 January - 28 February 2020. |
19 April 2023 (Summer Term). |
