State-funded nursery - when?

[zumm]

Apols for basic qu - but at what age do state-funded school nurseries (= preschool?) take children. I grew up abroad so not sure...
My daughter is two at the very end of May (2012) - i.e. born May 2010 (magic maths).

When could she go - and when would I have to get the application done?
Do state nurseries have a first come first served policy - i.e. any point putting kid down early or not? (Think this may only be the case for private nurseries?)
And how many hours can you get?
Sorry I sound like I'm chomping at the bit to get her out - thanks for any help!

You get 15 hours term time only from the term after the child's third birthday, so for you it would be the September 2013. Two year old entitlement works the same way, so from September 2012.

Speak to individual nurseries about their intake, we do not allocate according to date applied at all. It is on DOB (if a waiting list) LAC, SEN, distance from nursery.

HTH

Thanks Mellow - so she would go to nursery in Sept 2013 and ...I'd have to apply the cut-off term before, so around March? is that right?
Ah but what's this about two year old entitlement though? They have free nursery too? Sorry for dense qus. And thanks!

Yes she would go from Sept 2013. We don't have a cut off as such, if there is a place free and a family apply they will get it. We always have space in Sept as most children leaving go to school then. It's much harder to get a place in Jan/Easter. To be honest though you may as well apply sooner because different local authority nurseries may work differently. Apply and look around lots, that way you will have your pick.

The two-year-old entitlement is only for some children - benefits/income related. They are currently like gold dust but are being massively increased in the next few months. If you have a look on your local authority website, you will find a link to their Childcare Information Service. They will be able to send you details of provision in your area and advise you on whether you are entitled to a two-year-old place.

Good luck.

You need to find out how the preschool you want to send your DD to sorts out admissions. It isn't like school admissions where things are dealt with centrally. Each preschool has its own criteria for admissions. Some are of date of birth but some go on date of registration.

Dear both, Thanks so much for your advice. And glad to know it's not me being entirely thick since this clearly isn't some straightforward one-way of doing it. On the web, my pre-school of choice says to register your child after their second birthday - but I'm unclear whether early registration would push me higher up some list - so it seems the only way forward is to ASK the school! Thanks again.