moving house just after DD turns 3 & nursery places

[iskra]

We are planning on moving cities the month after DD turns 3, next July. Should I be trying to sign up for nursery places in the city we will be moving too, although we won't yet have an address there? Or can you just pitch up in September & get a place.

Well you could stick her on some waiting lists of private nurseries (assuming you have an idea of the broad area you want to move to). School nurseries round here allocate places on distance (amongst other criteria) so you would be bottom of the allocation heap for getting a place but obviously if they were undersubscribed you would get one.

Danger of waiting till September is that there may be no places left. However if you're not sure exactly where you are going that may be your only option.

Thanks for your reply. Can you claim your 15 hours at private nursery schools though?

I think all the private nurseries near here claim the early years funding (though be aware that private nurseries may run longer sessions requiring you to pay the "extra"). You could ask to be sure.

If they are registered (with Ofsted/LEA) you can claim EY funding but you may find places limited so worth registering now.