Tell me about reserving a pre-school place

[cheeseandcrackers]

I am completely clueless about pre-schools. Ds is nearly 2 and I have suddenly realised I need to do something about choosing a pre-school soon. I am a SAHM at the moment but not sure how this will be for so I'm finding it quite hard to have to make decisions about pre-schools now. I think there are four non-nursery pre-schools locally that would suit well if I am not working. Ds would get 15hrs free from Sept 2014 but I think I'd like him to start before then ideally.

Should I just phone the pre-schools and ask to look around? What sort of things should I look for? I'll have to bring ds with me when I look around but I presume this will be ok. Would I be expected to pay a deposit? I would be reluctant to do that as if I end up going back to work I would probably put ds in a nursery until he starts school.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

You need to contact the pre school and ask them what their procedure is.

Most pre schools attatched to schools only take children from when they are 3 and get the 15 hours free, a lot only have a september intake too. But a private nursery would probably be able to take him sooner.

Nursery's attached to schools in Scotland, ask you to register them after their 2nd birthday for starting in August. Can put three choices, probably different in England though

Thanks for your replies. The schools here don't have attached pre-schools. Pre-schools in non-nursery settings seem to be held in church halls/ community centres etc and take children from either 2yrs or 2yrs 9months. I guess I should just phone them to find out when I need to put his name down (if it's not too late already..). I have read their Ofsted reports, I'm just not really sure what I should be looking for when I visit them.