Free nursery at 3. When to register?

[BabydollsMum]

Hi all. Bit confused. DD is 16 months but has never been in nursery as me and DP are fully freelance and self-employed so we juggle childcare between us.

I've heard about the 15 hours of free nursery when they're three and would very much like DD to go then, but if she's not registered anywhere beforehand how does it work? Do I need to be putting her name down somewhere soonish? Would I need to say that this is for those 15 hours? How does it work?

Thanks in advance from a complete nursery novice!

I started looking into it when dd1 was about the same age as your dd. I put her name down for a few preschools in the area so they knew it was for the 15 hours. I didn't have to say which 15 hours until much closer to the time.

I don't know how it works at private nurseries though, you may have to specify with them.

Yes you will need to register somewhere. How soon depends completely on where you live - some nurseries have a waiting list more than a year long, others don't. Your local council website will probably have a link to help you find nearby nurseries.

Some nurseries will have a waiting-list prioritisation structure which gives preference to children who want more than the free hours.

The 15 free hours are for term-time only (38 weeks per year). Some nurseries are attached to primary schools and will give you the 15 hours during term times, and nothing outside term times. Others will average the 15 hours over 52 weeks and let you have 11ish hours per week all year round.

I am in scotland so it may be different but I filled in a nursery application just after the dc's were 2 and handed it in to my first choice nursery (had to put down 3 choices).

Round here, if you want a Nursery place, to use your free hours, you have to put their name down when they are newborn to be in with a chance of getting a place.

I put 16mo DS3's name on the list for 2 pre-schools and a Nursery when he was a week old. I have to go annually to keep his name on the list.

We need more Nursery and pre-school places in my area!!

Thanks all! I'd better get cracking then...

the setting I work at doesn't take names until they are 2...

I'm in London. I guess I should've put her name down as soon as i saw that little pink line.