Nursery admissions

[CabbagePatchCheryl]

Hi all. Thinking about nursery for when I go back to work and DS turns 2 (and qualifies for the free 15 hours). At that age obv it would be a private nursery not one attached to a school. Does anyone know if they have to prioritise adopted children like schools do? Or can they do what they like cos they’re private? (Sorry if this sounds thick! I haven’t really considered it till now!)

Some schools do have nurseries attached that accept children aged 2. My LO went to one last year. I don't know if they prioritise them or not though. We were told that those with early entitlement funding (those who turn 3 before Christmas or Easter) were supposed to have priority but because we'd helped to keep the nursery open by paying in the autumn term we wouldn't lose our place.

It might be worth contacting your local council family information service.

I don't think private nuseries have to prioritise in the way that schools do. If I were you I would start having a look around those you are interested in and get lo's name down for one or even more. This won't commit you but give you options for when the time comes. It depends where you live but nurseries are often at capacity so it's worth getting his/her name down as soon as you can. You could also consider child minders. We went for nursery - I also went back to work when lo was 2. But you could argue the case for either.

My experience is that they do not have to prioritise at all, and if they are in high demand, it's best to reserve a place asap. Nurseries with good reputations are booked up months in advance, but if you are flexible on which days or sessions (mornings/afternoons) you may have more options.

It's really worth visiting in person and seeing the kids interact with the adults.
I reserved a place for my little one about 5 months in advance, based on feedback from other local adopters. The nursery is brilliant, but the relatively short notice/capacity meant she then had to move up classes after only a few months. She then struggled being the youngest in the older class. After the most recent reshuffle, she's now one of the oldest in the class and is starting to flourish.
I also considered a child minder, but my understanding is they are normally home-based and I was concerned this could be confusing and preferred a more formal environment.

Also,

Its worth looking into the fact that looked after children & previously looked after children are entitled to 21 hours free from age of 2 when children are ‘looked after’ then 30 hours from when they are 3 as I looked into that. My socialworker informed me of that information when I was in stage 1

@AgathaCroosty - are you sure about that? My adopted three year old is in preschool, but I wasn’t aware that he is entitled to 30 free hours

The term after the child turms 3, it's fifteen hours for all, whether adopted or not - and thirty hours if both parents are working or if as lone parent is working.

www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare

@AgathaCroosty @artistformerlyknownasvince

In England LAC and ex-LAC children are entitled to 10 hours free care a week (possibly term time only) in a registered setting. In Wales this funding is only in specific areas but all children are entitled to it in those areas.

In England and Wales from 3 children are entitled to 30 hours a week free child care but only for 48 weeks of the year. In Wales 15 of those hours are educational and so have to be in a registered setting he other 15 can either be in a registered setting or with a registered childminder, from the September after a child's 4th birthday all those hours have to be used in an educational setting. Everyone is entitled to the 15 hours educational but only parents who work more than 16 hours a week are entitled to the rest.

There is also something called early entitlement which means children who turn 3 before Christmas can have 2 terms in a school nursery and those who turn 3 before Easter one term. It's only 10 hours a week though.

I have no idea what the rules for Scotland or Northern Ireland are.

Sunshine is correct. They get 15 hours the term after they turn 2. My LO was 2 in September so he gets his 15 hours from January.

Then from age 3, everyone gets 15 hours, but if both parents are working you get 30 hours.

Ask the nursery though as if it's over the year and not term time it works out at less than 15 hours a week.

Some also will only use a certain amount of hours per day, and you have to pay for the rest.