All eligible two, three and four year olds are entitled to 1140 hours (pro rata) of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC).  1140 hours ELC is intended to support child development, help close the attainment gap through the provision of high quality services, and support parents to work, train or study.  ELC can be accessed through local authority settings, partner provider nurseries and childminders.  Parents can also choose to have a blended placement using more than one setting and/or childminder.  Further ELC Information for parents is available via https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/registering-your-child-nursery and the ELC Information for parents booklet: ELC Information for Parents Booklet  

Please see https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/education-and-learning/early-learning-and-childcare or call our Early Years Helpline on 01369 708503 for further information and for details of the nearest establishment/s offering early learning and childcare.  

At Sandbank Primary, you can choose to send your child to either mainstream ELC (EELC) or Gaelic (GELC) Early Learning and Childcare. 

Our EELC day starts at 9:00am and finishes at 3:00pm. 

Our GELC day starts at 8.50am and finishes at 2.50pm. 

We currently have three EME Childcare and Education Workers. One Gaelic Childcare and Education Worker and an Early Years Gaelic Teacher, facilitating a range of activities within our ELC. 

The children in our ELCs learn through play, exploring outdoors and indoors. 

The setting offers a variety of provocations including role play, sand and water play, opportunities for exploring literacy and numeracy and art zones.

Outdoors, the children can use loose parts to build anything from boats to bulldozers!  They have a water play area, mud kitchen and can nurture and grow their own flowers, fruit and vegetables.  The children can take part in a range of physical activities – riding bikes, scooters, jumping and creating their own obstacle courses. 

Play is very much child led, where the children’s interests are followed and extended. The staff utilise nurturing approaches and are always on hand to support the children in their learning.