Free Early Years Education when 4 yr old starts school?

[Pollaidh]

Our 4 yr old gets the usual 15 hours a week free early year's education. She starts school in September and will still be 4 until the end of the first term. As they start on half days only and her old (private) nursery is still willing to take her on some of the other half days, does anyone know if she still receives her FEY entitlement?

I'd assumed not, but can't find anything online aside from the fact that all 3 and 4 year olds are entitled. Obviously it'd be great if we can get some of the additional nursery sessions free... Does anyone know/can point me to the relevant doc (have checked .gov).

Hope that makes sense, thanks.

[coppertop]

I think the school gets the funding instead, but I could be wrong.

[TheEnchantedForest]

I had a quick look at the following website and it doesn't look like it, sorry. This is because reception is counted as part of the 15 free hours of education (in that you don't pay for it).

www.yor-ok.org.uk/families/Childcare/free-early-years-entitlement.htm

Please note that if your child attends a part-time place in a school nursery, reception class or nursery class, then the hours attended will be counted as part of your child’s free EY entitlement.

[spanieleyes]

Just tell the school you want her to start full time and not part time.

[Pollaidh]

Thanks! I've found a couple of pages now which seem to agree with you.

Spaniel unfortunately it doesn't seem to be possible. All children only do half the day for the first 4 weeks (thankfully no longer).

[pyrrah]

By law you are entitled to start full-days at the beginning of term - the school just has to find a way to deal with it. Complain to the LEA if they try and put obstacles in the way.

All the schools round here start all the children on the first day of the year - no half-days and no staggered starts.