help me understand the nursery - school transition

[DuelingFanjo]

I have a baby who is in a private Creche. Work colleagues have told me that their children went into nursery at just after 3. Their nursery was a nursery attached to a school and their children went full time.

I was under the impression that children went to school at 5 and any nursery or childcare between 3 and 5 was funded by the parents apart from 15 free hours a week.

They seem to think (and admittedly their kids are now teens) that children can go into a school nersery then reception class from three years old.

really?

I am in Wales BTW.

Children can start in maintained nursery school, attached to a school, the September after their 3rd birthday, this is term time only and is not full time. You are entitled to 15 hours a week free nursery education provision. Independent nurseries do charge fees for extra time and services.

Children start in reception classes the September after their 4th birthday.

Ah right. That is good. So then if my son did go to the nursery school I would have to think about childcare options during the holidays which may be tricky, or I can keep him in the private nursery until he is 5. (he was born in Dec so would be almost 5 by the time the September term came round). That makes sense now. Thank you.