Join Natasha by applying for a Good Time to Be 2 place for your child
Midlothian Council is encouraging all families with a two-year-old to check if they are eligible for a free (funded) place at a nursery, childminder or other setting.
Natasha and Olivia
One parent who has already is Natasha Donaghy. Natasha and her daughter Olivia are a great advert for the benefits of a Good Time to Be 2 place.
Places available
All eligible 2-year-olds, like Olivia, can now get up to 1140 hours of funded, high-quality early learning in a nursery, childminder or other setting such as a Midlothian Sure Start Family Learning Centre.
Family Learning Centre
Olivia goes to Midlothian Sure Start’s Family Learning Centre in Mayfield from 8am to 12.15pm Mondays to Fridays.
Centred around Olivia's needs
Natasha says she loves the fact staff encourage Olivia to learn at her own pace. Everything is centred round Olivia’s needs as an individual, she adds.
Helping communicate
Natasha says: “Olivia has basic verbal skills which means she can become frustrated although she handles it really well. She’s now picking up sign language to help her communicate and she’s also interacting with other children.”
Supporting the family
She was aware of the Good Time to Be 2 funded places because Midlothian Sure Start was already giving her support. Her middle daughter, Peyton, also had a Good Time to Be 2 funded place.
Came on leaps and bounds
Natasha says: “She absolutely loved it. She came on leaps and bounds.”
Natasha would recommend applying
Natasha says she would encourage people to apply for a place. She says: “I think people think it is just for people on benefits but it’s not. I tell people to apply a lot as it’s certainly worth it.”