How does Primary School work?!

[SilverDoe]

Please help, feel so stupid. I’m English and native but I can’t figure out what I’m supposed to be doing with my DD’s school/nursery place.

I can find enough information about starting actual school, it seems slightly confusing but I can navigate it. I’m really confused though about nursery. I remember being a nursery attached to the local primary school and then going from there to reception. Is this still what happens?

Do you even get nurseries in that sense any more or are they all private now? If they do exist, when do I start applying? My daughter is turning 3 this September and the only thing I know that she will be entitled to her 30 free hours in January..

Thanks for your help!

It does depend on your area. I live on the border of three local authorities. In the 1st you apply for a place on a common application form in exactly the same way as reception class & you are entitled to a full time place the September after they turn 3. In the second area it’s the same except it’s a part time place. If you wish to use your free hours the term after they turn 3 you have to do that at a private nursery, playgroup or childminder.
I’m not sure about the third area.

Should do yes, find out about it from school they’ll clarify it better
Or call up local housing office for advice on nursery intakes

Double check in your area how you apply for a school nursery place. In our area you apply directly to the school (can be any school, any where) not via the Local Authority. So I just phoned up and requested a pack, they popped me on the mailing list and I got the info through the post in March of this year for September nursery entry.

I don't know of a school nursery that offers 30 hours near us, they only offer 15hrs (so a morning or afternoon session Mon-Fri, term times). Private nurseries tend to offer the 30hrs because they will offer all day places (often including early mornings and later finishes). Schools will expect your child to attend the session every day, all year; private nurseries you can request particular days to fit in with work and other childcare you have, obviously all dependent on their spaces.

I got stung with DD because I presumed school nursery places were via the LA but they weren't and I missed out on a place. I also didn't realise I could apply anywhere, so could have applied to my childminder's local school where she already did pickups from and DD could have done part school nursery and part childminder. It all starts again for Reception though, you don't get a place in Reception based on a school nursery place, you have to apply via the LA.

The four choices of primary isn't universal there are only three spaces on the form where I live. You will receive a letter detailing how to apply for a primary place. We were also sent details of all the prlmary schools in the county, so it was very easy to contact them and find out either when their open days were or to book an appointment to look round. With regards to nursery places. We had none attached to primaries in my town so it was a matter of ringing round to find a place.

Painted I meant nurseries that are attached to schools.

Im in the midlands. We used private nursery from 9 months but had the option of school nursery from the term after she turned 3.

The way it works here is:

You apply direct to the school for the 'preschool', we chose not to because it is term time only and school hours.

From september the year before they are eligible for reception year you apply via the council website for their school places. You can put up to 3 school choices down and find put the following spring which one you have got a place at, then you have a few weeks to put in an appeal.