When to send in preschool application for DC to council

[lovechoc]

DS will be 3yo in April next year (2010) but was wondering how many weeks/months in advance you normally get to fill out and hand in the form to the local council.

I've found the form on the council's website but there's no details as to when you have to complete and return the actual form.

DS will be doing either the five free morning or afternoon sessions a week at a state nursery (preschool ed).

Anyone else have experience of this?

TIA

[paisleyleaf]

I'd go into the preschool/nursery you're looking at him going to and ask them.
My DD finished preschool this year. I had to get her name down with the preschool and any forms re funding etc got sorted out with them.

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

I think it's a year before, check out with your council. My DD1 is born in March and we were too late in the previous September, she was put on the waiting list (got in in the end but we didn't find out till a few weeks in advance, if that).

[lovechoc]

thanks . will have to make a decision which in the area he will go to and then speak to them.

hope I've not left it tooo late!

[Seona1973]

I had to apply for dd and ds in the January before they started i.e. when they were just over the age of 2 (dd had november birthday and ds had an october birthday)

[lovechoc]

Sending off the form this week or next at the latest, and have looked into which couple of nurseries in the area he may attend. It is probably the right time to apply before Christmas, gives plenty notice.

thanks for your help!

[lovechoc]

thanks cat64, no one really informs you of what's to happen on the approach to them turning three years old. Will just relax a bit and wait then.

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

cat64 - they don't always send you the info. We missed the deadline for DD1 despite her brother going to the same school (not even "Potential parents open day visit" didn't trigger an interest when read in the newsletter) and living 10 metres across the road from the school. She was on the waiting list, got in in the end. But we didn't get any info sent.

[lovechoc]

on second thoughts,just to be on the safe side, think I may just apply before Christmas then...

thanks Cristina.

[TheHeathenOfSuburbia]

Our LA has closing date early Nov, but they did send out all the forms and carefully explain it.