Free early learning and childcare for 2 year olds (Strong Starts)

There are now places for eligible 2 year olds whose parents meet certain benefits criteria in a number of local authority nurseries.

If you receive any of these benefits, your 2 year old may be eligible for a Strong Start place:

Income Support (IS)
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (IBJSA)
Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £16,105
Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Working Tax Credit (WTC) and your income is less than £6,420
You may also be eligible if you are an asylum seeker receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Universal Credit
Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance
State Pension Credit

*Your two year old child may also be eligible from the point they are looked after, under a Kinship Care order, or with a parent appointed guardian. Advice is available from your allocated Social Worker.

How to apply for a nursery place

Download the Strong Start 2017-18 Application Form [141Kb] & Strong Start 2018-19 Application Form [141Kb] and hand the completed form to the nursery along with the following evidence:

Evidence of the qualifying benefits you receive
Proof of your child's age, (birth certificate) and;
Proof of your residency at the time of application.

Nurseries currently offering places for 2 year olds

Alyth Primary School Nursery Class
Balhousie Primary School Nursery Class
Breadalbane Academy (Primary) Nursery Class
City of Perth Early Childhood Centre
Community School of Auchterarder Nursery Class
Coupar Angus Primary School Nursery Class
Crieff Primary School Nursery Class
Errol Primary School Nursery Class
Goodlyburn Primary School Nursery Class
Inchture Primary School Nursery Class
Inch View Primary School Nursery Class
Kinross Primary School Nursery Class
Letham Primary School Nursery Class
Methven Primary School Nursery Class
Milnathort Primary School Nursery Class
Newhill Primary School Nursery Class
North Muirton Primary School Nursery Class
Oakbank Primary School Nursery Class
Pitlochry High School Nursery Class
Rattray Primary School Nursery Class
St Dominic's RC Primary School Nursery Class
St John's RC Academy Nursery Class
Stanley Primary School Nursery Class
Tulloch Primary School Nursery Class