When does my daughter start nursery / school and when do I apply?

[curiousgeorgie]

Hi, I'm really confused and obviously stupid.

My daughter was born October 2010, and will be two soon.

When do I apply for nursery and September of which year does she start, and the same for school?

Is it next September when she is almost three?

[AndieMatrix]

I'm having the same confusion myself.
In my school district applications start in the October if the year before. The way I've read it children start nursery the term after they turn 3 so as I understand it our daughters would start January 2014.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[flossyfloo]

She would start the term after she turns 3, which would be January 2014. Applications normally go in about March/April of the previous year (2013).

It would be a good idea to phone the schools department of your council and give them your DC's details, that way, they will send you the application form when the time comes. You could also put your DC's name down with the nursery who normally forward all names they receive to the council.

Hope that helps

[HeffalumpsAndWoozles]

No help I'm afraid but I've been wondering this myself, DD will be 2 in September and I have a friend with DD 4 months older, so I imagine one school year ahead, who has already been to visit places and got a stack of forms. I didn't realise you had to think about it so early, what would happen if you didn't do anything would the local authority write & remind you? Will be watching this thread hoping for the answers!

[curiousgeorgie]

It's very confusing isn't it! :)

The nursery I hope for her to go to says on the website that it only has one intake a year, in September, so would she then go in 2014?

[lynniep]

What flossy said :)

It really varies depending on your area on the services your council provide - your local council will probably have a website. Ours (Cambs) is excellent and has all the information we need. You can contact them for assistance, or go directly to any nurseries you fancy (this is probably a good idea anyway as they often have waiting lists - you might need to get her name down early)

Your DD is one year older than my DS2, who is already at nursery, however he will get his funding in the Winter term ie January 2013 (so for your DD, Jan 2014)

He starts school September 2014, which is just before he turns 5, and in Cambridgeshire the last date for our applications is January 2014.
Therefore I would imagine that for you the last date for school applications is January 2015 (which sounds a long way off, but its never too early to do your homework regarding schools and how admissions work in your area)

[flossyfloo]

That depends on where you live. Some LA's will allow you to use your free 15 hours of childcare anywhere - playgroup, private nursery etc - if the state nursery only has 1 intake per year. Other LA's (like mine!) will only allow the free nursery place to be at a state nursery. The best thing to do would be to ring the council who can tell you exactly what's what.

If your DD can only go to the state nursery, then yes it would be Sept 2014 she would start and then start school (reception) in September 2015.

[lynniep]

Dont forget that other childcare providers often offer the funding sessions too. A childminder for instance. If the nursery you like only takes children in september, you could possibly put her name down, and take up other childcare in the meantime.

[flossyfloo]

x-post lynnie

[Pyrrah]

Check with the local schools - I take it that you are enquiring about primary schools that have a nursery class attached.

For my DD who was 3 in May 2012, and who starts nursery in a few weeks, I had to apply by the 15th December 2011 - I then heard we had a place in April 2012.

Some of the other local nurseries had different closing dates, but most were an autumn application.

Applications were direct to the schools rather than to the council in our borough (London).

[Chriss84]

My daughters 3 in may 14 when will she start nursery will it be in the september thats a good 4 months after her birthday or after easter bedore shes 3 iam confused lol

[Oblomov]

Many people here just ring the nursery/ nurseries that they like the look of and ask.
They all have such different rules.

[Littlefish]

Chriss - her funded sessions will start in September 2014. Funded sessions start the term after a child is 3.

[Amelia2012]

So my daughter be 3 end of march 2015 is it to early to apply for a nursery now because I've heard there are lots of waiting lists and even some children gets rejected this is rather confusing... Especially for first time parents lol

[zingally]

She'll start nursery in what ever term is AFTER she turns 3.

So, if she's 3 in October 2013, she should be starting nursery now. January 2014.

Terms start in September, January and whenever the easter holiday is done, usually mid-April.

SCHOOL (reception year), starts the 1st September after they are 4. Some schools still do January/April intakes, but this is getting very rare now. Most come in September, regardless of whether they are only just 4, or nearly 5.

[zingally]

Amelia: Go and ask at your preferred nursery. Each is slightly different when they start applications, so will be able to advise.

In my experience though, they start taking applications a year ahead of time.
So assuming your daughter will start nursery about April 2015, you should be able to start applications April this year.