Funding Follows The Child and The National Standard for Early Learning and Childcare Providers: Operating Guidance

Section 4: New Providers

Existing settings who are not currently offering the funded hours but wish to start offering them, will be eligible to apply only if they meet the National Standard.

Newly established settings will receive a full inspection from the Care Inspectorate within 12 months of being registered. The Care Inspectorate’s advice is that, provided they have been approved through the Care Inspectorate registration process as fit to deliver a daycare of children service, settings need not wait for their first inspection before being able to apply to become a funded provider. The rigour of the registration process should provide reassurance that the setting is able to deliver the funded hours on a probationary basis, pending the outcome of their first inspection, provided the local authority is assured that they have the potential to meet all other criteria in the National Standard.

Allowing new settings to deliver the funded hours on a probationary basis, will be important for improving accessibility of funded provision. In some areas, especially in remote and rural areas, newly registered settings may not be financially viable without being able to offer funded entitlement from the outset. This exception will also be important in encouraging new innovative provision, including outdoor nurseries and provision developed by community enterprises.

All settings wishing to become a funded provider in Scotland will be assessed against the same National Standard criteria and no additional criteria will be applied in specific areas of the country.

If you are a provider and would like more information, please email ELCPartnershipForum@gov.scot to register your interest.