Can someone tell me in words of one syllable all about free nursery places?

[flowerybeanbag]

I am confused! DS is 2.6 at the moment. I didn't think he got a free place until he was three, but my sister in law is convinced he only has to be 2.9 to get 7 hours or something, so I ought to be getting him on a waiting list for a nursery.

What's the deal? When does he get a free place and how do I go about getting it?

Also, what is a preschool? I am confused about the difference between nursery and preschool, which should I be looking for?

Any advice much appreciated

A preschool is generally a group that is set up solely to provide the free places for three year olds. They tend to have sessions of mornings or afternoons and can be based either connected to a school or independent. Nurseries tend to be privately run and do not have such strict rules on sesssions and timings. You will get the free places by a the nursery being paid by the goevrnment. Any additional hours you will have to pay for.

I believe some playgroups allow kids to start earlier than 3, but I am not sure.

Sorry I meant Pre-schools rather than playgroups.

Nursery education grant is from the county council and paid directly to the nursery or preschool. Rules do vary from area to area as some areas are piloting various improvements to the scheme. In our area it works as follows.... From the term after they turn 3 they can have 5, 3 hr sessions per week. You can claim 2 on the same day so they attend all day. My youngest has just turned 3 so he will qualify after christmas. for people needing care for longer days will have to pay for the extra hours.

The difference between nursery and preschool is normally in the opening hrs. Nurseries are ofetn open all yr round 8-6 and take children from 6mths to 5 yrs. Preschool is term time only 9-12 or 9-3 and usually take children from just under 3 yrs to when they start school. Both follow the same care and curriculum guidelines and have qualified staff.

HTH

forgot to add that the nursery or preschool claim the grant on your behalf you don't have to do anything apart from sign the form they give you.

free place from term after they're 3. they can start earlier, but won't be free unless your area has a special set up. free place is term time only and normally 5 sessions of 3 hours.

private nurseries normally let you put sessions together, so your child could do 6 hours in one go.

private nurseries will have their own way of calculating the fees ie normal cost over a full year take away the free place, divided by 12 payments. others will just charge you month by month. so for example in the summer you'd pay full whack as there is no free place.

nursery normally means private daycare ie open 7 til 7 or whatever. at dd's nursery she is in the 3 to 5 year old room which they call the 'preschool room.'

pre school is usually attached to a school, or a church or a community centre.

pre school is usually sessional, ie only open for the free places, and only open term time. they may operate a morning session, and an afternoon session.

some people call pre school 'playgroup'
some people call preschool attached to a school 'nursery school'

geddit?!

Ooh v helpful thanks all. It's becoming a bit clearer. So it doesn't sound as though it makes any difference whether it's a preschool or nursery in terms of the care and activities particularly, more that the difference will be things like times of sessions and opening hours?

Will I be written to officially by someone about it to tell me 'DS is now eligible, this is what you do'?

I don't need it for childcare so I don't particularly mind about it only being term time or anything so from that point of view maybe a preschool might be best. Do places have long waiting lists usually - should I be looking at putting DS on a waiting list for somewhere even though he's not 3 til May?

you won't necessarily get written to no, which i was surprised at. if he's 2.6 now i'd get looking at a few places soon as. pre schools attached to schools often have early deadlines.

The earlier you start looking the more choice you will have. Our preschool is booked up about a year in advance because it has the best reputation this side of the town. Get ringing round I would. Ask other mums too for recommendations.
If you want it for socialising for him and to prepare him for school, keep him busy etc rather than for childcare preschool is probably the way to go. If he is 3 in may you will be eligible for funding next september. Nobody tells you these things offically, you find out for yourself as you go along which doesn't help when it's your first dc.

If you want your dc to go to a pre-school that is attached to the school they will be attending then around here parents put names down on the 2nd birthday. However if there are no places left, you could put your Dc into a private nursery or with a cM and still claim the free sessions vouchers (the provider will do the paperwork for you) as posters have said you can take sessions with private providers ie: nurseries / childminders together so can have a couple of free days a week if you add the 3hr blocks together, most private providers will do this, but bear in mind the vouchers are paid during term time only so check carefully if you book in as to what fees will be during non term time, or ask if they will work out something over the year so you arn't getting unexpected bills.

As of next Sept nursery vouchers are being extended to two year olds as well, some areas are already piloting the scheme.

that's really helpful thanks all. I think my first step will be to see if there is a pre-school attached to the primary school just down the road that DS is likely to be attending and take it from there.