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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

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Original poster

When will my child be able to start pre school?

34 replies

TKKW · 21/02/2014 19:07

My child is 3 in second week of April and in Staffordshire, the Summer term begins on 28th April.

I thought we could start it Summer term (ie the term after they turn 3) but nursery said it would be september.

Desperate for the 15 hours "free".

Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks.
T

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

addictedtosugar · 21/02/2014 19:11

Round here the cutoffs are 1 Sept, 1 Jan and 1 April. To remove the early / later Easter holidays issue.

Sorry, sounds like that might be the case in Staffs also.

Although under subscribed schools seem to take as long as they have turned 3 and they have the space.

dannydyerismydad · 21/02/2014 19:17

Most of the preschools round my way have only a September intake now also. This is because spaces only become available as the older cohort move onto school. Occasionally children are invited to start outside this time, but only when spaces are available due to families moving away.

givemeaclue · 21/02/2014 19:20

Private nurseries may have room in the summer term and you could swap to school nursery in September

Smartiepants79 · 21/02/2014 19:20

May depend on how much room they have but also may have cut off dates. I understood it was the term after they turn 3 but as your DC is 3 during the holidays she possibly just misses out. Might be to do with paperwork and applying for grant money.

Clayhead · 21/02/2014 19:24

They are right about the fifteen hours, you can't access it until September, it's the term after your child turns three, you are unlucky to just miss the cut off!

At the pre-school my dc went to you would still be able to start, space permitting, but would have to pay yourself this term.

OddBoots · 21/02/2014 19:29

Sorry, as others have said it is 1 September, 1 January, 1 April that are the cut off dates for funding the term after the 3rd birthday. My dd had a 7th April birthday so I feel your pain.

Original poster

TKKW · 21/02/2014 19:38

Hi, thanks for super quick replies.

Am I being thick? Isnt the summer term the term after she turns 3?

She is currently at a private nursery 3x day per week which is not full capacity for nursery.

Ah well, new baby due in May and was hopeful we might get this "free"!

OP posts:

ilovepowerhoop · 21/02/2014 19:42

does the private nursery not offer the free nursery provision at all? Some do and will reduce your payments accordingly.

Original poster

TKKW · 21/02/2014 19:43

Yes, it does offer the free nursery thing but they say not until september 2014.

OP posts:

ilovepowerhoop · 21/02/2014 19:44

there will be a cut off date for when you would get the free hours i.e. she would have to turn 3 before 1 April to get funding from the Summer term (so she just misses it). She therefore needs to wait until the next intake which seems to be September in your area

Original poster

TKKW · 21/02/2014 19:44

oldboots, so if child born on 1st April, they can go summer term?

OP posts:

NickNacks · 21/02/2014 19:45

No she turns 3 during the summer term and so is funded from the next term which is September.

addictedtosugar · 21/02/2014 19:45

Yes, the summer term is the term after your daughter turns 3 this year.
To make it logistically easier, many places have said the summer terms always starts 1 April, so you are too late - and you'll have to wait til Sept (2017) for your may baby also.

What I don't understand is if the summer babies are behind when they start school, why do the older babies get 5 terms of preschool, and the youngest only 3 terms. Surely that is going to widen any gap between the nearly 5's and just 4's when reception starts???

NickNacks · 21/02/2014 19:46

No 31st march is the last date. 1st April will be September too.

I feel for you! My dd is first couple of day in September so we had to wait until jan to be funded, so I paid for the first term.

insancerre · 21/02/2014 19:47

a child needs to be 3 before 1st April to claim the free hours
op, your did is not eligible till sep

Original poster

TKKW · 21/02/2014 19:50

She turns 3 before the summer term, on 13th April and summer term starts 28th April.
Im so confused!

OP posts:

insancerre · 21/02/2014 19:55

there are cut
off points
1st Jan
1st Apr
1st sep
if a child is 3 before these dates they can claim the funding
so the funding can be claimed for the term after they are 3

ilovepowerhoop · 21/02/2014 19:57

if her birthday is 13th April then she has not turned 3 before 1st April, has she?? (and that is the cut off date for funding from the summer term). It's not difficult to understand.

NickNacks · 21/02/2014 19:58

It's really not that hard to understand!!

Me thinks you're deliberating misunderstanding now!!

Original poster

TKKW · 21/02/2014 20:02

Really, NickNacks! Im querying it, that's all. I read you were offered nursery space "the term after your child turns 3" as my child being able start in May as they turn 3 in the holiday between terms and the birthday is not in a half term holiday.

OP posts:

OddBoots · 21/02/2014 20:04

What you read was too simplistic, they can't base it on the holidays as they move about, the cut off for the summer term is and has always been 1st April.

Original poster

TKKW · 21/02/2014 20:05

Thanks for your help everyone. I have no more questions.

OP posts:

HSMMaCM · 23/02/2014 09:44

Agree. Summer term starts 1st April, regardless of when the children are physically in the building.

LouiseSmith · 25/02/2014 11:46

The term after there 3rd birthday is what it is in kent :)

MrsMarigold · 27/02/2014 18:56

Ok I'm also confused my DD's birthday falls on 14 September 2012 so when does she count as 3+ and what year will she start reception?

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