Has anyone else’s child been given an early Early Years Funded Nursery Space?

[LLM19]

My son will turn 3 on the 2nd of November and has been offered an early space at our chosen school which is a Catholic school, separate to applying through the normal council protocol, his place starts on the
on the 5th of November which is mid term. (He wasn’t due to start until January, the first term
after his third birthday), is this common practice if perhaps a child leaves the nursery and their early years funding is still in place? Because as far as I’m aware my son won’t be entitled to early years funding to cover his place until
January, Has anyone else experienced this? I will give them a call tomorrow also! We are in Wales!

Sometimes schools will take children in early (if they have spaces) to ensure children don’t go elsewhere. There are slightly fewer under 5’s at present and schools are keen to fill their spaces.

Yes we had this. My daughter was 3 in September and due to start school nursery in January when her funded place started. They offered for her to start 6 days after her birthday instead because they weren’t full. They obviously can’t claim funding for her until January but I assume their overheads remained much the same with a half empty class and it makes sense to utilise the resources and offer the places sooner? I don’t know but I am very grateful as it’s reduced my childcare bill earlier than expected!