Less likely to get a place if starting in April?

[AugustSeptemberOctober]

I should start off by saying that I have twins, so there's the added challenge of getting them onto the same session.

Their 15 free hours will start in April 2023, and their names are down for a preschool that I really want them to go to. But a friend mentioned that it might be best to start them this September if I can, because when April comes it might be more of a struggle to get them a place. I hadn't thought of that. Is it much of an issue? Money is tight so I'd rather not have to start them before the free hours kick in, especially as there are two of them! But it's also important to me that they do get a place for a couple of sessions a week.

If there names are down to start in April then they have places from April, surely? So I’m not sure what the problem is.

what do you mean “their names are down”

if it’s a state preschool you can’t have applied yet. Ask them what directly if it’s more or less likely for your kids To get a place in September/April.

if private you start when you like. If you pay for a place starting in April then you will have a place starting in April.

It's a state preschool, and I have received and sent back application forms for them. But you don't specify which sessions you want, pay a deposit to guarantee place etc until nearer the time. So my concern is that lots of children will probably start in the September, and will be carrying on into the following year, so there will be less choice available when it comes to new starters in April. Perhaps it's a non-issue, I'm not really sure how it works!

I would ask the nursery directly as it can vary so much between settings. The preschool I used, if you booked places a year or even six months in advance to start the following April they would have a place for you in April. If you contact them in January, February or March for a place in that coming April you would likely be told they were full.

It was a problem for me. I put DC2’s name down at DC1’s private nursery when he was 4 days old. To start when he was 10 months old in the April.

I thought it was job done, but they rang me about 2 months before the April to say there was no place. If someone wanted a place in September or October etc they’re not going to have turned them away and keep the space empty for another 6 months.

So it depends how they allocate spaces, and also how popular they are.

It's also worth checking to see if the preschool has a top up fee you have to pay as the government funding isn't enough for most place's. If they do don't forget to use your tax free childcare account as that will help towards costs, if you qualify for it.

The state preschools round here are all at their fullest from April on. In September, it's only those already 3 before the term started who are eligible for free hours (ie all the kids who start school the next year). In January, all the kids who turned 3 between September and the start of January become eligible for free hours, so you get another group start. In April, all those with birthdays between January and mid Aprilish become eligible and also start....

At DS's preschool, 3 mornings were completely full from this April. You'd still be able to get your 15 hours starting after then, but it would be on the remaining two less popular mornings, or at afternoon sessions.

How flexible will you be about when they go? It might be worth talking to your preschool, it might be worth starting in January for example if there are certain days you want.

Our preschool have told me that my daughter is unlikely to get a space in April. She is on a waiting list. Its because they have a lot of kids returning/starting on September and January, so will be full by April. And nobody leaves mid year, they all stay until July and go to school.

I'm considering paying for her to have a space from January instea, but appreciate thatd not possible for all especially with twins!

If you don't need the preschool for childcare (i.e you're just sending them for socialisation), then I'd hold off until September when you'll have the pick if the days.
You could use your free hours to do a few settling sessions in the summer beforehand.

I was told the same thing (one child, not twins). Paid from Sept through to end of spring term. Dc hated it. Dc was ill so often too with colds etc. so still needed to stay with him. And then the preschool closed due to the pandemic and I wasn't even refunded (only a week or two till end of term, but still).

Not sure this will be of any help, but in my experience, it's probably better to just have another option for when they are 3.