Help with school admission please!

[wannabemumof2]

Hi,

I live in Wales so the process here may be different to other countries in the UK, no idea!

But basically I applied for DD(2) so start at a local school for nursery in September 2022. Here the children can start at 3 part-time so she will either attend mornings or afternoons. Unfortunately the 2 schools we have close to us don't offer nursery places so we applied for a school which is only about a 10 min drive. I had the email this morning to say she's been accepted and can start from Sept 2022 and will attend for 2 terms.

I've now realised that she will only attend for 2 terms as from the 3rd term she will be eligible to start full time school as part of the primary (a new application must be made for this). Stupidly I thought she'd attend nursery for the entire school year then begin full time school in September. What has me concerned now is for full time school we'd like her to attend our local school which is within walking distance, however it seems a bit intense for DD to go straight from part time nursery at one school to full time at another. I thought we'd have the summer holidays to discuss it and get her used to the idea.

Am I looking too much into it? Or should I consider applying to the school she'll attend for nursery for full time education too? It means driving to school instead of walking and a slight detour for work but wouldn't be the end of the world however the children who live on our street all go to the local school so I'm worried she may miss out on friendships with neighbours'children if she goes to a different school.

The other option is to decline the nursery offer and put her in private childcare instead until she can start school full time.

I've confused myself entirely so any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

What’s her date of birth? If she turned 2 before September she will be starting nursery at aged 3, and according to what you’ve said, will start school aged 4, but not be 5 until she’s in Year 1. In England, children start Reception in the school year in which they turn 5.

Full-time primary education is compulsory from the school term following a child’s fifth birthday (terms begin in September, January and April). Admission authorities must, however, allow children to be admitted to primary school in the September following their fourth birthday. Most primary schools therefore provide education for pupils between the ages of 4 and 11.

Four-year-olds are admitted into the reception class, which forms part of the Foundation Phase. This is the phase of education from age 3 to age 7, which spans early education (ages 3-5, ISCED 0) and Years 1 and 2 of compulsory primary education (ISCED 1).

There are some variations in the age range catered for. Many primary schools also provide education for children from age 3 in a nursery unit or class (see the chapter on ‘Early Childhood Education and Care’). In some areas, there are combined nursery and ‘infant schools’ for pupils aged 3 to 7 and ‘junior schools’ for pupils aged 7 to 11. There are also some ‘middle schools’, educating pupils aged 3 or 4 to 16 or 19.

@Soontobe60 thanks for your response. This is where I've been confused. Here in Wales, we seem to have a different policy. Education isn't compulsory until a child turns 5 but they usually start full time education once they turn 4. However the information pack for parents that I've read this morning suggests that she can actually start full time the term before she turns 4 hence my confusion.

Sorry forgot to add DD was born in May 2019

Putting aside the uncertainty about the start date, I would say apply for the primary school you prefer even if its not the same one as the nursery. A school you can walk to for 7 years would definitely be the best choice all things being equal. Kids at this age are fairly resilient so the change to her big school doesn't have to be unsettling.

I'm in Wales. Might it be to do with the 30 free hours? This is full time school hours.

Our school is mornings or afternoons from the term after they turn 3 (which will be September 2023 for you) and full time from the September after they turn 4.

I'm not sure they can change as soon as they turn 4?

I think the most simple answer is that the letter you have is wrong!

She can't reception before Sept 23, if she turns 4 in May 2023. They won't be suggesting she starts reception at summer term 2023.

I suspect the letter should say 3 terms.

Thank you for all the responses. I spent most of the day feeling very confused haha. I have since spoken to a teacher friend who teaches the reception class and she confirmed in her school the children do often start full time the term before they turn 4. It's not compulsory though so DH and I will discuss our best options for DD. We are pretty sure that we'll start DD in the school she's been accepted at next September when she's 3 then move her to our local school when she's eligible, whether that be the term before she turns 4 or after is yet to be known!