Can a nursery take a year 1 child?

[stuckasastuckthing]

My friend's nursery say that her year 1 child (who used to go there) can start attending again during lockdown as her younger sister is also attending. Is this right? She's 5 (August birthday). We can't find any rules or guidance on this.

Yes early years providers can take older children if they want to.

One of my nephews' who is now an adult and one of my friends' children who is 9, both attended nursery schools randomly when they were 5/6 when their parents needed childcare because their mothers were childcare professionals with links to the nurseries.

My own childminder looks after a school age child for random full days. She only does this for children she has looked after when they were under 5.

The older child just ends up playing with the little ones.

Thanks! I had thought it was ok normally but wasn't sure during lockdown - if children can't go to school because not key workers or vulnerable, seems a bit inconsistent that they can just go to nursery instead ...

I believe some nursery’s can accommodate children up to 12 years.

During lockdown nurseries can have all early years children plus keyworker school age children only.

We have older children for wrap around care but not during session time, they would have to access school provision 9-3. During the March lockdown we did take an older child during the day but we only had a few children attending then, now we have all our nursery children coming in still.

A lot do outof school prevision. So where I work could.

Thanks all. So does a 5 year old count as early years even if they're year 1? I've heard it mentioned as 3-5 but also only up to reception. Not a key worker.

It's quite a big nursery, with different rooms for different ages so my friend thinks her two girls prob wouldn't be with the same other kids/staff as each other. She has a baby too so it would make life easier for her if her older girl could go.

My understanding of the legislation is that this would only be allowed if the parent is a critical worker and this is required to allow them to work, or the child is vulnerable.

If your friend has been offered this, I presume she needs it. I think she would be well advised not to look the gift horse in the mouth.

No, Year 1 isn't early years. They clarified the guidelines a couple of days after to make it clear that nurseries can only have early years during school time. Maybe they need to double check.