DS has just turned 3, how and when do I apply to get him into primary school?

[mumatuks]

DS1 turned 3 in mid September. I have just read on the website of the school I would like him to go to that "the application for the foundation stage must be recieved before March 31st of the academic year prior to the one in which your child will start."
So does this mean apply by March 2006 or March 2007?
Will DS start next September as he is 4 in that month or will he start in January after he has turned 4?
I'm sorry if this is confusing, I've confused myself! (doesn't take much!)
Thanks for reading. x

he wont start school till 2008 will he? he'll be starting the the sept he turns 5, unless your area does 3 intakes a year, then he may start in the april (not too sure on this tho)

Ah right, I read the school age was from 4-11 so I presumed they started at 4! If it's 2008 when he's 5, which sounds more like it, then I can breath for a moment and sort everything out.
Thanks!

dd2 is a 1st sept baby. she starts school in sept 2007 when she is 5. they start the term they turn 5 as a general rule.

you ds will be one of the older ones in his school year.

however, if you want him to attend nursery, then it might be worth applying now.

call the school and double check

I think that the forms turn up automatically in the year before he starts school. Ours did. If you are on the electoral role? Not sure how - by magic probably...

If you are concerned try ringing the LEA - they should be able to reassure you.

I should think that he'd start in January if they have split starting. He'd need to be 4 in August to start in September I beleive.

Yet more very sensible suggestions and answers!!

our school has seperate forms for nursery (to the school) and school (to the LEA)

He will start September 2008 and more than likely full time as he will be one of the oldest.

The application therefore should be in March 2008.

Call the LEA and get his name down. They won't do anything until the start of 2008 but it helps for them to know of you. The LEAs usually have lists of children from their playschools, people who call up the schools and people who call them direct. They 'gather' the names in various ways.

I'm presuming you are in England and talking about primary/infant school not a school-attached nursery.

gawd dd is 4 next month and we have done shag all about it

They'll find you! I rang the LEA and they already had DS's name down from 2 separate places!

He is exactly the same age as my DS who will be going Sept 2008. The forms should go out to you next Autumn or thereabouts and you just need to return them by a certain date, March 31st by the look of it in your LEA for him to be in what our LEA call the first round of allocations..

Yes, I am in England, and it will be a primary school with no attached nursery.

Thankyou very much to all of you who've answered.. I'll sleep tonight!