help me understand the nursery - school transition

[DuelingFanjo]

I have a baby who is in a private Creche. Work colleagues have told me that their children went into nursery at just after 3. Their nursery was a nursery attached to a school and their children went full time.

I was under the impression that children went to school at 5 and any nursery or childcare between 3 and 5 was funded by the parents apart from 15 free hours a week.

They seem to think (and admittedly their kids are now teens) that children can go into a school nersery then reception class from three years old.

really?

I am in Wales BTW.

[mixmouse]

Children can start in maintained nursery school, attached to a school, the September after their 3rd birthday, this is term time only and is not full time. You are entitled to 15 hours a week free nursery education provision. Independent nurseries do charge fees for extra time and services.

Children start in reception classes the September after their 4th birthday.

[DuelingFanjo]

Ah right. That is good. So then if my son did go to the nursery school I would have to think about childcare options during the holidays which may be tricky, or I can keep him in the private nursery until he is 5. (he was born in Dec so would be almost 5 by the time the September term came round). That makes sense now. Thank you.