When do you get a nursery place?

[Firesidetreats1]

I’ve put my LB down for a place at a school nursery. We won’t be able to apply for our 30 hours until June next year and that’s when he turns 3. From what I’ve read he would then be able to start in September as long as there is places. Will the school contact me before hand as he’s on a waiting list?

I’ve looked on gov and local council website but not much info on this.

He currently goes to private nursery and I would like to spilt my hours - the school does 2.5 days and I can use the rest at wrap around.

Any help appreciated, I don’t want to miss any deadlines.

It depends on the school. In our area all school nurseries have a set day in February they give out places and they need confirmation by the same date. Our school only offers 15 hours and the rest would be private wrap around care on the same site but completely separate. When is his birthday? Some schools also offer rising 3 spaces so if you are 3 between September and January you will be offered a nursery place in January.

Normally in schools that only offer 15 hours it will be 5 morning or 5 afternoon sessions.

We have to apply by Jan 15th and hear around April time, similar to Reception. If the school website doesn't say, you can email and ask. We had to fill in a form when DD started to give details for funding, so you would give both settings if splitting the funding.

Some of the school nurseries offer half weeks e.g. Mon, Tue, Wed AM or Wed PM, Thu, Fri so I assume this is what OP is applying for.

His birthday is June, I’ve read that for the free 30 hours I will need to apply from 15th June- 31st July 2022 for him to start in September 2022.. I just wasn’t sure on the school nursery, it does 4 options am/pm Mon-Fri or Monday, Tuesday full days half a day Wednesday or half a day Wednesday full days Thursday, Friday. I would like to try and do the full day options and then send him to his current nursery with the rest of the hours.

I’ll try looking on the school website and maybe talking to his current private nursery and see what they say.

You apply for your place and your funding separately. These are the timings where I am so will vary but to give you an idea:
Autumn - apply for nursery place
March/April - get offered place. Specify what hours you want. Some places also offer 30 hour places.
June/July - apply for funding. You will automatically get this as long as you apply on time and meet the criteria
Sept - start and give funding details e.g. that you are using another provider

Is your plan to use a childminder or after school club for the other hours? If so, find out when you need to apply and do that as early as possible. Or are you looking at wrap around at his current nursery?