DS will be 3 in April, please someone tell me what i need to do about school

[StealthPolarBear]

DS 3 in April, currently goes to nursery 2 days a week (will be 3 in sept).
what's the deal with free nursery places, when will it start, and can i just get money off his current nursery? Local priary school nursery doesn't do hours that mean i could work which means i'd need CM & nursery as well.
What do i need to start doing about applying to local primaries? contacted the local one who told me i was starting too early & to ring them again in sept!
So much conflicting advice, LEA website doesn't help, really stressing me out now, thanks for any help.

Disclaimer - I am in London. Primary applications are a form of collective insanity here, so my advice might be too hardcore (though by London standards I'm quite chilled!)

Talk to your current nursery about whether they give money off when your DS turns 3. The one my DS went to did, but we moved him to free nursery attached to primary school anyway.

Your council should have produced a booklet/online pdf for people who were applying for this school year - even though it's out of date, it's worth a read as the procedure isn't likely to change that much. Get them to send it to you or download it from your local council's website.

Write a list of your local primaries in a notebook. Check what distance they are from you at www.aboutmyplace.co.uk - just put in your postcode and you'll get all primaries plus the distance. You can click on there for Ofsted and DfES league tables too.

Check the primary schools websites to find out their admissions criteria - faith schools are different.

Put in your diary the date when you need to start phoning around to do school visits. Don't dismiss any school due to parent gossip - go by what they're like when you look around.

Good luck! We've just applied for DS who is starting Sept 2010 and we find out in May where he'll be going. Gulp...

Children get five free half day sessions at nursery beginning the term after their 3rd birthday. If your DS is 3 before the end of the Easter hols he'll get the free sessions from after the hols onwards, otherwise I think it will be from next September. You'll have to ask at his nursery whether he can take the free sessions there.

The school application dates vary depending on where you live. Normally you can apply any time from september or october until the closing date in November or December. You can do your application online and it's very quick and straightforward. Contact your local council or look at their website under 'school applications' and that should give you the info you need.

HTH!

Thank you both, will do that. Next step - arrange to talk to nursery and make some appointments at schools!

Based on how things work in this corner of London:

Ask the nursery about funding - they should know (our playschool used to give out details with their term dates).

You apply for reception via the LEA but not until the Aug/Sept before the one your DS would start - so he'll be 5 in April 2012, won't he? That means starting reception in Sept 2011, so applying Aug/Sept 2010 (sorry can't remember exact date). Look out for notices up in the library if you're there, ours always hae this stuff up in the kids' section.

Nursery places are up to the school - I've just been to a coffee morning at school full of nearly 3 yo who will start in Sept so I don't thinkyou're too early. Why not call and make an appointment to see the Head to ask your questions?

sorry slow typing too late!

With an April birthday you won't get free nursery funding till September (DD's best friend has 1st April birthday and was livid about this).

From September you are entitled to 15 hours a week free. I would ask your nursery how they intend to apply it - they will probably multiply the hourly rate (set by LEA) by 15 and take it off your total bill. It is only payable for 38 weeks of the year though.

My children both got info about applying for schools from their nursery. As PPs have said the timeframe for this varies by area. Have a look at your LEA website. If schools have suggested you contact them in September this may well mean the application deadline is October/November/December so you don't need to worry just yet!

just looked at term dates and am completely confused!

Summer Half-Term 2010 closing date: Thursday 27th April 2010 re-opening:Monday 7th June 2010
so half term is over a month long??
I hate this stuff, everyone understands it but me

thanks! Thought it would be September for him, he is end of April so after Easter, not bothered about that as that coincides with going back to work and a huge increase in childcare fees
Is it definitely 15 hours? I thought it was 12.5 and 15 in some areas?

just for anyone looking at this thread I ahve found this website: www.gettherightschool.co.uk which at a glance looks interesting, off to find out more