Can I send my DS to school in September if he is born in October?

[Colourworld]

He is going to be 4 in 2012, at the very beginning of October. I am thinking of sending him to a pre-school nursery but will he be able to start school the following year. I know kids do start when they are 4 years of age but he is born in October.

You don't have to be working to get the 15 hours of Early Years funding.

I am in Scotland and still only get 5 x 2 1/2 hours free nursery/pre-school - I call it nursery even though it is attached to the primary school. You dont need to be receiving benefits to qualify as all 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to the free nursery hours.

not read all thread but my DD went to private nursery £39 per day, 2 full days a week. The nursery basically added up what the 12 hours (only went up to 15 this year) was over 38 weeks and then deducted that amount per month over a 12 month period so i got 38x12 hours free over the year and paid the rest. So DD could still go 2 days per week 8-5pm. I saved about £150 a month.

Colourworld, every child is entitled to Early Years Funding from 3rd birthday even if parents are millionaires! Most nurseries (even the pricey ones) will be accept the funding - and they apply for it on your behalf, although you'll have to pay the surplus for a very pricey one, or if the child is attending the whole day, eg 8 to 6 everyday. I think only very few opt out of it, but they'd have to be super, super popular with a huge waiting list to be able to do that and not alienate parents. (Even a v v popular nursery in our area with v pricey fees accepts the EY funding) It's quite substantial funding, could be about 600 to 800 pounds a term, depending on various factors.

Thank you for your replies. I have not had time to research nurseries fees in our town as DS has managed to pick up cold and is having fever.

The thing that in our town there are lots of nurseries charging £800 per term.
Thank you again. I will be back later.

Colourworld irrespective of what nurseries charge you are entitled to 15 hours FREE nursery provision once your child reaches the age of three.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Preschooldevelopmentandlearning/NurseriesPlaygroupsReceptionClasses/DG_10016103

What you are entitled to

All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year. This applies until they reach compulsory school age (the term following their fifth birthday). Free nursery education can take place in nurseries, playgroups, preschools or at their childminders.

For more information about free nursery education in your area, contact your Family Information Service (FIS). The FIS provides information, advice and assistance to parents, carers and professionals on the range of children, family and young people's services available within their area

There is additional help available depending on personal circumstances

Extra financial help

The free entitlement may not cover your family?s needs because of things like work commitments. If this is the case you may be able to get financial help with the costs of extra childcare.

Finding a free early years provider that suits you

There are a number of different types of early education setting that can offer the free entitlement:

day nurseries, private nursery schools, maintained nursery schools and nursery classes attached to primary schools
preschools and playgroups
primary school reception classes, where schools operate an early admission policy to admit four year olds
accredited childminders who are part of networks approved to deliver early education
Sure Start Children's Centres

Although there's no guarantee of getting a place with a particular provider, your LA should take your preference into account wherever possible.

Yes there probably will be some charging that much - for a full day and without allowing for the Early Years funding. If you don't need daycare then there should be other options, espeically given he's not yet 3. Some will do just the 5-sessional basis to enable his place to be fully funded come January. They should all follow the same curriculum. However if you are considering going out to work you may decide it is worth choosing somewhere which will give you an option to do a full day later on.

If you contact your childrens services dept at the local council they should be able to give you info about pre school nurseries and when to apply.

In my area there are some local authority nurseries that offer the 15 hours free either stand alone or attached to a school or you can use the funding at a private nursery. Even nurseries attched to private schools should take the eyfs funding.

If he is 3 in Oct 2011 he can start nursery 15 hours a week for free from January 2012 (term after he is 3) eg 9-12 every day if you wish. Then stay in the pre school until he reaches school age Sept 2013.

Hello and thank you for providing me with more useful information. I think as I have not got a job yet and do not even know when I am going to have it I should apply for a pre-school starting from January 2012. I am going to think of the private nurseries only when I find a well-paid job. I would not want to be absent for the whole day as the kids are still young and need me but then I am going to think of it when I find the job.
I remember meeting one woman whose kid used to attend a private nursery and she used vouchers (?) to reduce the fees. She was not English but from the EU. In my case we are not entitled to child trust fund, tax reduction and these vouchers. The pre-schools are not considered to be public funds which we are not entitled to.
Thanks to everyone again!

afaik non-EU nationality doesn't preclude you from entitlement to EY funding or a place at a state school/preschool. Vouchers are a separate scheme to which some employers subscribe whereby you (or your dh/p) could "buy" them out of salary and redeem them against childcare costs.

My son's prep school takes the nursery grant off the fees for reception (my son is summer born) so it is very flexible.