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Preschool education

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

Original poster

What age for nursery

17 replies

PinkCookie11 · 26/03/2021 14:33

I can’t get my head round it 🙈
DS turns 3 in Dec so expecting to start nursery in the Jan term.
Is it school nursery he’d be starting?
Is he there for a year and a half till reception?

Sorry if it’s really obvious but it just boggles my mind 😂

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LIZS · 26/03/2021 14:36

Many school based nurseries only intake in September. You might need to look at community based or private nurseries/preschools.

Findahouse21 · 26/03/2021 14:40

He starts at the nursery that you choose and has space for him. He won't have priority for the primary school if you do choose a school based nursery, and their times may be more limited, but if he is likely to get into the school then he will have the chance to get used to the environment and some of his peers. He will go for 4 terms before the summer holidays and then one whole year.

MarshaBradyo · 26/03/2021 14:42

It did the same to me as I have a Dec child

She has nursery for five terms in total before reception

You can start later though if you want eg Sept

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/03/2021 14:44

From Jan he will be entitled to 'funded hours'. 30hrs if both parents work more than 16hrs a week (or one parent in a single parent household). 15hrs otherwise. This is term time only. It can be 'stretched' in some settings (or fewer hours but all year round).

You need to look at what settings around you accept the funding and decide where to apply based on that.

Original poster
PinkCookie11 · 26/03/2021 14:47

Yeah I think it’s the 5 terms before reception that is confusing me.

Is she in an community based/private based one?

So is it basically find my own when he’s 3 and he’ll go into the school one in the Sep?

OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/03/2021 14:49

It depends where you live. Mine went to school nursery from April after turning 3 in the March.

Original poster
PinkCookie11 · 26/03/2021 14:51

Thanks for the replies!
Who knew it would so confusing, or maybes it’s just me haha!

OP posts:
Findahouse21 · 26/03/2021 14:53

Children don't have to go to a nursery attached to a school if you don't want to move them - lots of schools don't have any nursery provision.

Also, terms are (usually) these days about 7 weeks long, what you might be used to being called a half-term when you were at school if you're a simillar age to me. So a full academic year is 6 terms, not 3

MarshaBradyo · 26/03/2021 14:55

@PinkCookie11

Yeah I think it’s the 5 terms before reception that is confusing me.

Is she in an community based/private based one?

So is it basically find my own when he’s 3 and he’ll go into the school one in the Sep?

The school actually do January admission but I totally stuffed up application because the website said to apply when you’re two but as she was born on NYE I should have applied when she was 1

So confusing! So not just you

So I kept her at private nursery for another term which actually worked out really well as it remained open where the school one closed to all but KW in lockdown m

Very relieved. But we are moving her across to school one soon so she can make friends with her to be reception classmates. But you do have to apply again for actual school.

LIZS · 26/03/2021 14:58

You need to check on LA website how and when to apply for a school one. It is not necessary or obligatory to do so. You may find their hours are limited to sessions and prefer to use one more flexible, with longer days or which covers school holidays.

Original poster
PinkCookie11 · 26/03/2021 15:01

Yeah I’m wanting him in a school one eventually so he can also make his friends.
I just didn’t know what to do before the Sep intake or if he was there the duration of that makes sense!

Will be finding my own until the school intake!

Thank you for your reply

OP posts:
Bigbadger · 26/03/2021 15:01

He’ll get 5 terms in nursery as he’ll be one of the oldest in the year. If his birthday was between January and April he’d get 4 terms and the younger ones in the cohort born April to August just get 3 terms.

eddiemairswife · 26/03/2021 15:20

Attending a school nursery does not mean he will get priority for starting that school in Reception. When did it change to 6 terms? When my grandchildren were a t school it was still 3 terms......Autumn, Spring and Summer.

Original poster
PinkCookie11 · 26/03/2021 15:33

Yeah I know it doesn’t automatically mean they’ll get a reception place but I’ve never known a child not get into the same school tbh

OP posts:
Twizbe · 26/03/2021 15:41

Depends on where you live, but I'd only bother with a school attached preschool for a younger child, not a first born.

There is no guarantee and I know plenty of families who tired this and it didn't work out. Siblings at least are more likely to get a sibling place.

The funding kicks in the term after they turn 3 so a dec child will get funding from Jan.

SMaCM · 01/04/2021 07:18

You can also send them in the September before they are 3, but just pay for that term.

Wethil · 19/06/2021 14:46

You need to look at what settings around you accept the funding and decide where to apply based on that.

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