What age to enroll at school???

[mohap]

I have just been to a birthday party for nursery friend of 2 year old DS, and found that most of his friends have already booked places at local schools, in fact, other parents were horrified when i said we hadn't decided yet where to send him. Now I am in a major panic. We have lived here for many years but weren't born and raised, so to be honest I don't fully understand the school system (obviously!) Can anyone explain, and is 2 the normal age to book into schools???

Depends if you're talking state or private schools.

Where we are in London, parents who are going the private route tend to enroll their children before their first birthday (it came as a shock to me too!!) If the school is non-selective (most seem to be round here for primary) then registering them early seems to almost guarantee a place for preschool (the school year in which your child turns 4) which in turn, means they are in the school ready for Reception/Kindegarten.

For state preschools - you'd need to check with the council on their nursery admission policies - some I think only take registrations when a child turns 2, and then places are awarded on the basis of their admission criteria.

For state primaries, you tend to apply in the autumn term the year before your child is due to start, and then places are offered (again, according to the admissions criteria) sometime in the Spring Term (giving you enough time to panic, appeal and pray that the waiting list shortens before school starts in the September!)

HTH

Thanks for this, I will now panic some more, but at least have a starting point!!!

People I know were rushing to register kids for nursery when they were 6 months old and were horrified i registered dd after she turned 2 even tho thats what the HV told me and its all been quite civilised and she has a place. Once she started I was given the forms to apply for a school place (the nursery is at the school). Here its not first come first served its down to where you live and if you live in this village you are more likely to get a place than someone who lives in a different village and there is a primary school where they live, its also taken into consideration if you have other children already at the school. I know someone who lives in a town where there are several schools so had to put down 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice etc and not everyone got their 1st choice. I also know someone that didnt fill the forms in and had to be allocated a school in a different town that was just ridiculous for them to travel to, tho it was their own fault but they are appealing.

Here in North Wales you can only apply during a particular window. For state school nursery to start in September forms were available at the beginning of January and had to be returned by the middle of March. You could only apply if your child needed a place for this year.

It's quite a good system, you know where you are and when you will know by. Stops all this 'I have to get their name down while they're in the womb' nonsense.

Give your LEA a ring or check their website for admission policy and don't let the panic spread !

sounds like they are talking about 'private' preschools, the sort held in chuch halls etc.
These are just 2 1/2 hour sessions which from the age of 3 is government funded - term after they are 3 mind you! But the kids can go from about 2 1/2.

My 'lot' all registered their kids early - 18 months or so because there simply aren't enough places for the amount of kids.
Whilst most of these preschools work on a system where the eldest child gets a spot, sometimes there are too many children, doesn't matter if yours is oldest.

Call you local council, ask for list of preschools in your area and then call them about their waiting lists.

Of course, all preschools are offsted tested so you can then look them up - thos with good ratings are always over subscribed - hence the name on waiting list!

good luck