Questions about age for starting pre-school nursery in Scotland

[Wallace]

I know that a child is entitled to a funded pre-school place the term after their third birthday, but recently our local school nursery (Highland region) said that children are now entitled to start nursery when they turn three, but have to pay (£6 per 2.5 hour session) until they are entitled to a funded place.

This applied to a few of my friends' children who are turning three in March/April so are not entitled to a funded place until August.

They enrolled their children (and of course stated talking to them about starting soon). Now the nursery have turned round and said that the orders from "above" say that this only applies to children who will not already be having the full two years provision. For example a child turning three in September would not be entitled to a funded place until January, but would be able to start when they turned three.

Unfortunately this has left my friends having to make other arrangements. The nursery say they would be happy to take these children, and they have space, but they are not allowed.

I was wondering what the policy is in other regions of Scotland, or even if parents in different parts of Highland have been told different things.

[Wallace]

bump

[Wallace]

I've looked at the Highland Council minutes btw and found where they adopted the policy of children starting "the week after their third birthday" but no reference any where to March to June birthdays being excluded.

[Wallace]

one last bump for tonight

[Wallace]

bump for the early birds

[Wallace]

bup for the day time crowd...

[nickytwotimes]

Hi Wallace. Here in Ayrshire, the children start either in August or january after they are 3. SOme get 2 full years, some a year and a half. It has been like this for a few years, btu I don't know if it is a country wide policy or not?

[Wallace]

Thanks nicky I was beginning to feel a bit ignored

[Ceolas]

My DD1's birthday is at the end of February but we decided not to send her to school until she was 5. So she started nursery in March 2003 when she was 3 and got 2 years 4 months provision. Most children then started whenever they became 3, one or 2 childre at a time.

A couple of years later things seemed to change and there were more definite 'intakes' in line with school terms as you describe. Provision in this authority now is for a maximum of 2 years and children who become 3 before the end of the summer term start at the beginning of the new term in August.

When a child has a place in nursery, parents can 'buy' extra hours on top of their 5x morning/ afternoon sessions to help with working arrangements and this is charged at £2.50 per hour (£6.25 per session).

Don't know if I have answered the question?

[Flier]

Something along these lines has been happening in our local pre-school centre too, but as it didn't affect me, I didn't get to the bottom of why.
Friends children whose 3rd birthdays are Feb/March in the past would have got a place after Easter (albeit they would have had to pay). Now, however, they have been told that they won't get a place until August.
So, our preschool centre has places, and could get some much needed income by taking these children, but they have been told (again "from above" that they can't

[Flier]

Maybe a word with your local councillor may help to answer your friends questions.

[Wallace]

Thanks Ceolas, so it is fairly similar but with more wraparound care?

That's interesting, Flier. Sounds like an identical situation. I just got round to looking at the pre-school education leaflet that were were given and it does say that those with birthdays between 1st Sept 2006 and end Feb 2007 can start when they turn three, but have to pay.

I think one friend is going to take it further as her ds has just been diagnosed with ASD and her paediatrician thinks it would be beneficial for him to be in a structured environment.

[olco]

my youngeat turns 3 on 16th feb 2010 and has been accepted to a local private nursery for pre school, but wont be starting till August 2010. is this right????

[Seona1973]

do they not have an April intake then?

[gallusbesom]

I thought if if was a private nursery you would get your place straight away but if it was a pre-school attached to a primary school there would only be one (or two) intakes?

[Seona1973]

in Scotland (well in my area anyway) there are 3 intakes (my ds starts January 2010 as his birthday is in October):

Term one - August to December, to secure a funded place during this term the child's third birthday must be before 31 August.

Term two - January to March, to secure a funded place during this term the child's third birthday must be before 31 December.

Term three - April to June, to secure a funded place during this term the child's third birthday must be before the last date in February.

[elsiefergie]

Same as Seona1973 here in Edinburgh. DD turned 3 in Jan, just started this week. But do know that pre schools are full to bursting here. 6 other kids were also supposed to start this week but no space for them till August