Free pre-school for 3 year olds - when does it start?

[jamandjerusalem]

DS will be 3 in July 2010 so I assumed he'd be able to start with the 15 hours a week free pre-school in August, but a friend said it's the term following their third birthday, ie not until January 2011.

Is that right? He'd be going to a nursery, so not really 'terms' as such anyway...

It's the term after they are 3 (e.g. ds is 3 in December and will start in January, his friend is 3 in January and will start after Easter). However, as far as I'm aware, July would count as the summer term, so he should get funding from September. They talk about it in 'terms' because the place is only funded during term-time, even if they're at a private nursery.

I'm happy to be corrected by anyone if my info is out of date/incorrect, though .

Definitely academic term after they are 3. DS is starting in Sept, and his birthday is end of July.