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 where the monthly earned income does not exceed £610
- 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 2019-20 Application Form [167Kb] 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.
Local Authority Nurseries 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
Partner Providers offering places for 2 year olds
- Honeypot Nursery, Scone
- Humpty Dumpty Community Nursery, Scone
- Little Steps, Bankfoot