what age do kids go to preschool and then school?

[robinredbreastmummy]

sorry i know im clueless.

[clayre]

in scotland they can start pre-school when they are 3 and they start school when they are 5, in england it is a big mystery to me!

[mckenzie]

In England they start school in the school year in which theya re 5. So a child born on September 1st will be the oldest int he class and the child born on August 31st will be the youngest.

Pre-school you get government funding the term after they are 3 so a child born in eary march for example will get funding from the term after the easter holidays onwards. They can start earlier than that in most places but you won't get funding.

Hope that helps.

[mckenzie]

Sorry, should have first explained that the school year runs from September 1st to Auguts 31st.

[meemar]

most pre-schools will take them from 2 and a half. They get funding from the government for free sessions the term after their 3rd birthday.

Children start school the term in which they turn 5. Though usually earlier if school only has one intake per year.

[Dragonbutter]

i'm scottish and living down south so am totally confused.
DS1 appears to be going from nursery at age 3 to reception class at school at age 5.
I'm not sure what happened to the pre-school bit.

[Dragonbutter]

DS1's nursery is a nursery and doesn't mention pre-school. is that because it's a montessori thing?

[robinredbreastmummy]

well if my dd was born in june 2007, well she only be 4 when she goes to school?

[meemar]

It can be confusing if you're not used to the terms.

Generally, 'Nurseries' are considered to be daycare (open around 8-6) and take babies up to age 5.

Pre-schools or Nursery schools (also called Nursery!) are where 2-5 year olds go and are usually run in sessions (morning and afternoon). Some are attached to primary schools but lots are independent.

[robinredbreastmummy]

will she only be 4 i mean.

[meemar]

rrb, yes. Summer born babies are usually only just over 4 when they start school.

Some schools have a January intake for the younger ones but some children can start school days after their 4th birthday.

[robinredbreastmummy]

omg, my baby will be going to school in 3 years

omg.

shit

if the school had a january intake, which children would start in jan?
what months would those children be born in?

[callmeovercautious]

I am confused as well!

DD will be 5 on Sept 5th (not this year!). So if they only take them in to school once a year in Sept she will be nearly 6 (or even have turned 6 if the school term starts later than the 5th) Is that right? Blimey I had thought there were intakes in January and post Easter as well.

[Dragonbutter]

thanks meemar.
people keep asking when he's going to pre-school and i just sort of shrug because i don't understand.
he's at a nursery school.

[pop1973]

They need to be 4 on the 31st August to start Reception class.

You normally therefore send a child to pre school when they are 3.

[robinredbreastmummy]

so how many free preschool sessions do you get when they are 3 then?

how long are preschool sessions?

[Bramshott]

If you go on your Council website, they should have a section on education and they will tell you how it works in your area - whether they have only one intake a year, or two, or even three, and whether you get free pre-school sessions when they turn three or when they turn four as it can vary from area to area.

Usually though, you get up to 5 x 2.5 hour pre-school sessions from the term after they turn 3, so for your DD, September 2010.

Callmeovercautious - no, your DD will start just before or just after she turns 5, but she'll be one of the oldest in the year as some of them (summer birthdays) may only just have turned 4.

[robinredbreastmummy]

thanks very much bs, i thinkit seems too young!
oh well im not in charge of the country i suppose!!

[desperatehousewifetoo]

No different from what anyone else has said but it helps me to remember it this way - they start nursery in the september after they turn 3yrs. and then reception in the september after they turn 4yrs.

As others have said, sometimes they stagger the intake and different education authorities will vary on this.

[sarahsails]

The policy is 'rising 5' so for example if they are 4 in the september but will turn 5 before January they start school in the September they are 4. If they turn 5 after january they start school in the january they are 4. So Callmecautious your dd will start school when she is 4.

[callmeovercautious]

Phew I think I was confusing reception for year 1.

Thanks for the thread robinredbreastmummy - have you got it straight yet? I don't have to worry about pre-school as DD is in a day care Nursery that has a pre-school she will go to when she turns 3, they just move them up around their Birthday as it is a Private care situation. I suppose I should look into what help the government will give us at that point.

[robinredbreastmummy]

cmoc yese i think ive got it just about.
ive read on other threads it will be 15 hours a week free if thats anyhelp.

i don't want dd to leave me!! although i probably won'tbe saying that in 3 years

[simpson]

My Ds is due to start preschool this sept. He will be just 3. Starts on 25th sept and was 3 on 31st Aug (which is the cut off date here)

The following year sept 2009 he starts school and I am just filling out forms now which have to be in by end of sept.

I am worried as he will be the youngest in class etc and has to be able to take himself to loo, wipe bum, wash hands, get changed for PE, put coat on by himself etc. I am normally there to supervise. But he is really looking forward to it!!! Think it is me more worried and they just adapt LOL!!!