Funding for Early Learning and Childcare Settings in Scotland

ELC settings can apply now for grants to support children with additional support needs (ASN) in Scotland access their funded ELC entitlement.

The Scottish Government’s ELC Inclusion Fund is providing a total of £2 million over the next four years with grants of up to £1,500.

The aim of this fund is to support early learning and childcare settings who provide support to ASN children to ensure access to their funded ELC entitlement. This may include needs created or increased by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding is intended to:

  • Make ELC settings more accessible for children with additional support needs.
  • Result in an increase in the number of ELC staff who are trained and confident to support children with additional support needs.
  • Promote more inclusive learning experiences for children.
  • Ultimately, result in better outcomes for children with additional support needs.

Applications will be accepted from:

  • Local authority nurseries.
  • Private partnership providers.
  • Voluntary sector partnership providers.
  • Childminders.

Proposed activities should address the specific needs of ASN children, including but not limited to:

  • English as an additional language.
  • Language, speech, and communication needs.
  • Learning difficulties and dyslexia.
  • Physical impairment.
  • Social, emotional, and behavioural needs.

Funding can be used for training, resources, equipment, and services adaptions for staff to make learning more inclusive and accessible. This includes speech or communication aids, sensory equipment, training costs or costs associated with attendance at a funded course, and one-off adaptions to the physical environment to improve accessibility.

Funding cannot be used for ongoing costs, core costs, or training and equipment that could be provided by the local authority as part of a child’s statutory entitlements.

The programme is being administered by the charity, Children in Scotland.

The deadline for Round 6 applications is 29 October (5pm).

(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)