When do they start going to School?

[MamiLove]

Hi, DD was born on 09/2007, so she'll soon be three, but I'm not sure of whether she should start school this year or the next one.

she'll start in sept 2012

this year?? are you talking about nursery?

Sorry, yes, nursery. In Spain, she would have started this year (preschool), but in the UK I don't know why, I think it'd be next year. Am I wrong?

Different areas have different times when children start pre-school education. Here, she could be going to preschool (starts at 2.5) and would keep doing that until she started reception in September 2012.

She will have 15 hours of funded preschool education from the term after she is 3 so from January 2011.

So then she would have to wait until next year to enter a state nursery, right? Or I could send her to a private nursery now?

Depends where you are - you would need to pay for her at the moment as funding won't be available until January, but there may well be pre-schools where you would pay between about £6 and £12 for a session of 3 hours. Or you could use a private nursery where the cost would be greater.

Thanks Noah! We are in Dollis Hill. So in January, could she attend a state nursery? Wouldn't she have to wait until next september?

Definitely ask where you are. Here in our area (in Wales) there is a nursery class in the school, which is in effect part of the reception class.
So children can if their parents wish start 'at school' from the term after their 3rd birthday for up to 5 x 2 hour sessions per week. They then move to full time from the term after their 4th birthday.

Like everyone has said it does depend on where you are. My DD is a month older, 08/07 and here she just gets her 15 hours free a week from September. If we had stayed in our last house she could have gone to the Nursery Class at the local school full time for free.

I'd ask and I'd also ask how you apply for a place. You don't want to miss out.