Can someone explain how I would get my DS into a preschool if we moved back to the UK from abroad?

[SolomanDaisy]

I saw a thread about entrance tests, I assume that's just for London private preschools? Or would it be any private preschool? Is it just waiting lists for other providers? In which case, will we have missed out on the good places? He's 2.5.

Am I right in thinking there are some attached to schools and some run by volunteers? He goes to a great montessori preschool here, run by very experienced and qualified staff and I would like something similar.

Some are attached to schools but he probably wouldn't get a place until he had turned 3 and maybe not till September now, some at Children's centres, some are privately owned and run often as part of a daycare setting, some in church halls with mix of committee and volunteers. Most have a first come, first served system with waiting list , very few screen 2 yr olds even private school ones.

and to answer your question , you can get a list of those which are part of Early Years Funding scheme from the Local Authority, ask them about the admission process for the LA run ones in schools and then ring up the others direct.

Thanks LIZS. I was concerned it might be all waiting lists. Do people put names down very early? Here you can join waiting lists when your child is ten months olds! I guess that might mean we might actually have more chance at somewhere that assesses rather than a waiting list, unless of course DS didn't feel like joining in with being assessed...

Very few will assess unless attached to very selective independent primaries/Prep schools but many others have waiting lists by about 18 months. Find out the application process for the LA ones , deadline may not be until Easter-ish for a September starter and could buy you bit more time and give you a better chance of a place. Places are allocated along similar lines to school Reception places - SEN, distance etc. Private ones are not dependent on distance, just time of registration. There will be some movement on waiting lists as those get places elsewhere or perhaps registered but since have moved away.

By preschool do you mean nursery school (for the two eyes leading up to the academic year in which they turn 5)? If so, none of them are assessed, you just need to get in the list. For london pre-schools people out them down from birth, but shiksa there is lots if flapping around I have never heard of anyone not getting a spot somewhere. State ones (which often have better facilities -always worth looking at, having used both) have application dates closer to entrance, probably about 9 month ahead, but not my specialist area of knowledge
If you mean actual school, which starts with reception in the September of the academic year in which they turn 5, this is where many independents do select (madness) but some also close their lists for selection ahead to reduce the load (ours assessed around 250 children for a class of 20, but 16 of those places were effectively already taken by siblings). Around here (chelsea ) non-assessed are the minority. When is "too late" for those varies hugely - wetherby you can be too late t birth if born at the end of the month, Hill House can be fine 6 months before entrance.
Again, the streets aren't full of feral 5 year olds with no places so don't panic. If you think you might well come back and know where you will live you might want to register for a school or two , depending on timing, but it does of course cost money.

And I believe that most places outside london it is all much calmer

I'm not in London, if that's relevant. But I could probably get a preschool place for 15 hrs for next week if I needed one (either school nursery for 3 and up, or playgroup/community preschool for others). Lots take children from 2 if you pay, or from term after they turn three for the NEG funded hours.

Thanks everyone. We wouldn't be in London and it would be for nursery, so it sounds like we might be ok, though I doubt we'd have nine months notice. I just scared myself looking at a thread talking about 3+ entry assessments!

school agencies they will sort it out for you...

bit of overkill for a preschool place !