How does it work in the UK?

[ismaithliomcacamilis]

Hi Girls,
Moving to Hitchin in next 6-8 weeks from Ireland. Have 2.5yr old. Has been in creche over here 3 morns per wk- we pay for it. Need the low down on how it works in the UK? I notice the primaryscools list ages from 3? Do kids start in nursery from 3? Would that be partime? Is it funded by the gov or do you pay? Are creches only used for fulltime childcare? Is he a bit young for nursery? Only potty training this Summer.Trying to suss this out before we make the move as DS loves his creche and little pals there and I dont want him to get out of the habit of having an activity place to attend, independance,learning , friends etc. Also sanity for me would be gr8! Will know nobody so could do with the few hours break I'd imagine and also the possibility of meeting a few of the other mums. All guidance would most welcome and a huge help to me girls. Thanks a mill. I'll owe you a

Hello there

It varies slightly from area to area, but basically you get 15 hours free pre-school education from the term after they turn 3.

This can take the form of a discount if you use a private nursery, or free sessions at your local pre-school. These may have a long waiting list, though.

Local pre-schools are usually small, totally State-funded and in the village hall or similar, and are not a full-time childcare option. They are to give children an idea of formalised education and give parents a bit of a break, but are rarely much use to working parents unless you can arrange wrap-around care with a childminder or similar.

Our local pre-school only does 2.5 hour sessions, and you can only take one a day, which comes to 12.5 hours free provision a week. But I know some other pre-schools let you take 2.5 full days if you like.

It might be an idea to Google the pre-schools in your new area and give them a call to see what the situation is.

Hope that helps!

Thanks a million! Gives me a place to start. Really appreciate it.

Hello there

Saw you are moving to Hitchin. We live in Letchworth (the next door town).

As cat said, the terminology is confusing. If you are only looking for 3ish hour sessions at a time (ie not full-day care) then round us there are (1) pre-schools (usually independent of schools) which tend to take children from 2 or 2.5 and will keep them until they start reception ie the Sept before their 5th birthday (but some children move sooner) or (2) nursery schools/classes attached to primary schools, which will take children in the academic year in which they turn 4 ie from about 3.5.

My DS is just turned three, so may be an academic year ahead of yours? Or maybe not, if your DS is an Aug birthday. My DS started preschool two mornings a week in Jan, but could have started at just turned 2. We currently pay for this, but from next term he will get this paid for as part of his 15 hours (though I think he may still only go 2 mornings).

Then in Sept (or Jan if he were a March or later birthday) he could start in a nursery class attached to a primary. This would have to be 5 mornings (or 5 afternoons) a week. Then in the following Sept (ie 2012 for him) he will start in the reception class at the primary, full time.

However, I could choose to keep him at preschool until Sept 2012, which has the advantage of being more flexible in that you can choose the day they attend and do a mixture of full and half days.

I find it very confusing myself!!

There are also day care nurseries which primarily cater for working parents and take children 0 - 5. You can use your 15 hours at one of these too.

If your DS was born before 31 Aug 2008 then definitely look at this now www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/childservdir/parentcarer/childcare/nurseryadmissions/ - this is the stuff about applying for school-based nursery places for this coming academic year. Even if your DS won't be eligible until the following academic year, it might be useful to see how the system works.

Very happy to try to answer any more questions, if I can. Good luck!

love the name - is maith liom caca milis freisin!

Thanks a million Milco. Great info there. My lad is only going to be 3 in Sept so the nursery school may be another year off for him. Not really sure yet whether its nursery style interaction or actual childcare while I work I need yet. He has been in creche full time before and at the moment he goes to creche for 3 mornings - sanity all round- and just to keep him used to socialising. Obv thats going to change when we move - just booked a house in Hitchin so next 5 weeks and ill be typing from my new living room there!!

Emerald Islander love the name too!! Was going to go for that other old school phrase we all remember....anbhfuilceadagamdulgodtianleithris... but it was just a bit too long to be typing for logins!!

Thanks girls. This is great help. Much appreciated.