5. Review of the Priority Banding Policy for Early Years Admissions
North Ayrshire Council · 28 October 2025
Back to Cabinet — 28 October 2025 and its agenda
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 28 October 2025 Cabinet (Education) Title: Review of the priority banding policy for Early Years admissions Purpose: To propose alterations to the early years admissions policy by refreshing the existing priority banding categories following a review. Recommendation: It is recommended Cabinet: • approves the revised priority banding categories • agrees to the implementation of the revised categories from January 2026 onwards 1. Executive Summary 1.1 The allocation of early years places is managed through a central allocation process. Applications are considered on the basis of priority banding categories. The current priority bands have been in place for a number of years and we believe they will benefit from being simplified. These changes also bring them more into line with the equivalent arrangements in other authorities, including East and South Ayrshire. 1.2 The proposed new bands include for the first time a priority consideration using the applicant’s postcode, according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) deciles. 2. Background 2.1 Funded early learning and childcare of up to 1140 hours per year is available to: • all children aged three or four years old; and • some children aged two years who meet certain eligibility criteria 2.2 Unlike with schools, there are no catchment areas for early years establishments. Parents and carers are asked to select up to three suitable establishments when enrolling their child for an early years place. 2.3 Early Learning and Childcare admissions are managed through a central allocation procedure and includes a priority banding system to ensure places are allocated fairly, based on identified needs and circumstances. The current priority banding system has been in place for a number of years and provides clear guidance to staff and parents/carers around how available early years places will be allocated. All local authorities operate a locally agreed prioritisation system to manage admissions.
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2.4 Our current priority banding is set out as follows: Priority 1 • children in need as defined by the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 or children with complex additional support for learning needs as defined by the Educational (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 • looked after by a local council (Foster Care or Compulsory Supervision Order) • subject of a kinship care order • subject of a guardianship order • parent who is ‘care experienced’ • child who meets the conditions of Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 • in North Ayrshire this also includes children who are currently on the Child Protection Register Priority 2 • all eligible 2-year-olds living within the boundary of North Ayrshire • deferred entry children • pre-school children with a sibling in the same school or ELC establishment Priority 3 • all pre-school children living within the boundary of North Ayrshire • children with an identified developmental/additional support need where support has been identified and provided by more than one agency Priority 4 • ante preschool children with a sibling in the same school or ELC establishment living within the boundary of North Ayrshire • children who have previously received a period of support through a Request for Assistance from a HSCP professional in the past 12 months Priority 5 • all ante pre-school children living within the boundary of North Ayrshire Priority 6 • all eligible 2-year-old children living out with the North Ayrshire boundary area • all pre-school children living out with the North Ayrshire boundary area Priority 7 • all ante pre-school children living out with the North Ayrshire boundary area 2.5 The proposed priority banding is less complex than the existing arrangements and is more closely aligned to the arrangements in neighbouring authorities. The proposal includes specific consideration of SIMD deciles in line with the work of North Ayrshire Council to tackle child poverty and reduce the poverty related attainment gap. This simplified banding system will ensure a robust and clear process which supports transparent and fair decision-making. 2.6 At registration periods, a General Admissions Panel will be convened to manage the allocation of early years spaces. This panel will include representation from the early years central team and will be overseen by the Senior Manager with the strategic lead responsibility for Early Years.
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2.7 The proposed Priority Banding System criteria for the allocation of funded places for eligible 2-year-old children and 3- and 4-year-old children is set out below: Priority 1 • All children accessing an ante preschool place who wish to return to their current establishment. • All preschool children who are returning for a deferred year and wish to return to their current establishment. Priority 2 • Children who are care experienced. • Children who are currently on the Child Protection Register. • Children in need as defined by the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 or children with additional support for learning needs as defined by the Educational (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 and identified by Social Work, Psychological Services and Health Visitors, etc. (A Priority Two placement application on the grounds of additional support needs will require a Wellbeing Assessment. This will include information gathered from professionals and parents will be asked on the application form to provide the name of their Health Visitor or Lead professional who will be contacted to support the application.) Priority 3 • Deferred Entry children who have made an application to move establishments. • Eligible 2-year-old children who have made an application to move establishments as an ante preschool child. Priority 4 • Preschool children who have a sibling attending the same school or ELC setting. Priority 5 • Ante preschool children who have a sibling attending the same school or ELC setting. Priority 6 • Children resident in North Ayrshire postcodes in Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) deciles 1 & 2. Priority 7 • Children resident in North Ayrshire postcodes in Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) deciles 3-10. Priority 8 • Children resident out with the boundary of North Ayrshire. Should this occur, the following criteria will be applied in order: o Preschool children o Ante preschool children 2.8 If approved, the Education Service would intend to implement the revised priority banding arrangements from session 2026-27 onwards. Registration for session 2026- 27 begins in January 2026. Updates to the Council website and communication with parents and carers would be created in advance of the application window opening, to ensure that everyone is well-informed about the process that will be followed in allocating early years places. 2.9 It would be the intention of the Education Service to monitor closely the impact of these proposed changes on the early years provision on offer in North Ayrshire. 3. Proposals 3.1 It is recommended that Cabinet: • approves the revised priority banding categories • agrees to the implementation of the revised categories from January 2026 onwards
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4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 None. Human Resources 4.2 None Legal 4.3 None Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 The proposed banding priorities includes consideration of SIMD deciles in line with the work of North Ayrshire Council to reduce the poverty related attainment gap. Climate Change and Carbon 4.5 None. Key Priorities 4.6 Proposals outlined in this report support the Council Plan 2023-28 strategic aim to “transition to a wellbeing economy, delivering prosperity, wellbeing and resilience for local people” and more specifically “improving educational attainment and achievement and closing the attainment gap” activities. Community Wealth Building 4.7 None. Islands Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) 4.8 None. United Nations Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 4.9 Proposals outlined in this report will impact positively on a number of children’s rights including Article 31 (Relax and Play) and (Article 28) Education. Consumer Duty 4.10 None.
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5. Consultation 5.1 North Ayrshire Council’s ELC leadership team consulted the priority banding arrangements within other authorities including South and east Ayrshire Councils. We also consulted with some Heads of Early Years establishments in North Ayrshire. Andrew McClelland Head of Service (Education) and Chief Education Officer For further information please contact Sharon McDowell, Senior Manager (Education), on 01294 310000. Background Papers 0