Question about when to start nursery

[PainAuChocoless]

Entitled to 30 hours funded childcare.
Applied for the code last week and have one.
Birthday is late April.

Can DC start Nursery in April or does it have to be September?

If it's their third birthday in late April then the funding won't be available until September.

Your child can start nursery any time but if you are asking when to start so you can use the 30 hrs then it would be September. They won't get them until the term after they turn 3.

Agree finsing will be from September. The cut off dates for each term are 31st March, 31st August and 31st December.

So if I was to give the code I have for the 30 hour funding in April, would it not work? one of the nurseries I have applied for said they could start in April/May but obviously I was expecting it to be September.

And yes, third birthday is 23rd of April.

The code wouldn't work and the nursery wouldn't be able to log them for the 30 hours until September. They probably meant they have room for your child to start now so it would be possible to secure a place but obviously this would need to be paid for.

As said before, she can start nursery whenever you want but the funding isn’t available until the term after they turn 3. If your DDs birthday is the end of April that’s within the summer term so the funding will kick in from September (autumn term)

Also because you've got the code so early, you'll need to reconfirm before September, it's every 3 months.

Thanks everyone for clarifying! It was a school nursery so didn't think they're eligible to start there until after their 3rd birthday? As in they could start a private/standalone nursery at any age but school attached nurseries was from 3+, I didn't think you could pay for them to go there earlier?

As mentioned I was expecting September but the mention of April/May made me question it given the code is already there - I too assumed it would not work until September so thank you for advising.
Also aware of the reconfirming every 3 months.

The school will receive funding September 1st...you still need to revalidate your code every 3 months between now and then.
My local schools are not full so are starting children unpaid the term before as the staff are still there just to get children in.

@jannier so the school is allowing children to start earlier for free?

My local school is because since Brexit they are no longer full 3 forms per year have gone to 2 and nursery last term had 15 children in the afternoon instead of 40

I think there’s research showing that there is a direct benefit to children from the age of three. Before then of course nursery can be beneficial but iirc it’s an indirect benefit (because it means parents can work and therefore provide or are less stressed or happier.) I sent mine all from just over two. The two who did gentle settling and then 5 X half days until they were nearly 4 when it became full days were more settled than my two who went straight into two or three long days, but obviously the half days are far less convenient for working parents.