please explain how this stuff works

[sleeplessinderbyshire]

I own up, I am an ignorant numpty. I know I have a few years (i think) to work this out but please can someone give me a simle, idiotproof run down on how this pre-school thing works. DD is 17 months and at a lovely nursery 4 days a week where she's been since 5 1/2 months. I know at some oint she'll get some free time there or get preschool but what is preschool? When does school actually start happening (I am dreading that as since shool seems to finish at 3pm I have no idea how we'll sort out pick ups etc - childminder i guess)I'm hoping she'll stay in her wonderful nursery as long as possible (and go to their out of school club in school holidays)

DD was born in august - I know she starts school in a september sometime but when? Feel an idiot for having no clue with this

she can stay at her current nursery until she goes to school (if you want her to).
the term after her third birthday (so september 2012) she will start getting the free hours (assuming they are still going!). at the moment that is 15 hours a week, term time only. so if she is there any more than that you would just pay the extra, and for meals.

pre-school is just another term for nursery/playgroup. Normally ones that only run term time though, and often only provide short sessions either morning or afternoon.
some are attached to primary schools. some aren't

she'll start school September 2014

so she'll start scholl aged 5yr 1 month?

why are some of my NCT mates up in arms that their august born children will be forced into school at aged 4 and 1 month?

oh shit yes you're right! it'll be 2013.

i am braindead. ds3 was born June 2009, and i was talking to friends about this the other day so i relly ought to know lol

btw, they don't have to start in that september.
they don't need to be in full time education until they turn 5, so you do have a couple of options

get a place at school. then just send her in as and when. school cannot take a place away once you have it, so technically you can just not send her until she is 5. this may cause hassle with them though depending on what teh school is like

or, you can hold her back a year and start in 2014, but then she would go straight into year 1 rather than reception. so it's basically just missing the first year of school.

however, I think it's very much a take it as it comes situation. some children are very ready for school at that age anyway. some aren't...