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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

If we defer DDs place, can we still claim our 15 hours a week at nursery?

16 replies

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/06/2011 20:35

DD has a place at the local school but we have a meeting on Friday to discuss deferring or going part time. My question is, if we defer her start at school for one term, can she still go to the lovely pre-school around the corner without us paying? Its a private nursery so we wouldn't be able to afford it.

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LIZS · 21/06/2011 20:40

You can claim it until term after she turns 5.

smokinaces · 21/06/2011 20:41

Yes - my DS1 was part time until November and we could claim his 15hr allowance against his nursery still so I could work.

LadyLapsang · 21/06/2011 20:41

If your DD is still under compulsory school age and she is not attending school, then yes. However, if she goes to school part-time then no. If she is a late birthday she could carry on in nursery until the summer if you wanted.

OddBoots · 21/06/2011 20:43

Yes, presuming there is a space for her at the pre-school.

Original poster

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/06/2011 20:51

Gosh, wasn't expecting such a fast response, am usually an earlybird MNetter so used to things being a bit more quiet

She isn't 5 until next August but has a place at the local school which I understand they now have to keep for her until we decide when she starts, as long as she starts when she is 5 which will be September 2012.

So am I correct in thinking that the school keep the place open for us and we keep sending her to Pre-school with the free hours? Pre-school are happy to keep her and think we are making the right decision for her.

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smokinaces · 21/06/2011 20:52

LadyLapsang, it depends where they are. Our county council for instance still let you claim your 15hr allowance even when the children are in part time schooling - its what we did last Autumn.

Forgot to say DS1 is an August baby, so we had an extra year we could have claimed for

smokinaces · 21/06/2011 20:53

JiltedJohns, they have to keep your place for reception so she will have to start in this school year (2011/2) If you defer until next September they are under no obligation to keep your place and you may find she doesnt have one for Sep 2012.

Can you maybe keep her in nursery until Christmas, then try part time until Easter and then review it?

Original poster

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/06/2011 21:00

smokin that was pretty much how I was thinking. Didn't know we had to reapply for Year One though if we leave it that long.

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smokinaces · 21/06/2011 21:10

Even going part time will keep your place. DD may suprise you - I was unsure how ready DS1 was for school (He's August too) but by November was more than ready for full time - and does after school club until 6pm 3 days a week! 6 weeks of part time gradually building up worked well

Another friend of mine has an August DD and she started Jan part time - and went full time after Easter. This worked better for her.

Speak to the head/reception teacher and see what they think too?

Original poster

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/06/2011 21:12

Thanks smokin we have an appointment booked to discuss it with the school on Friday. What we want to do is keep her at pre-school until Jan then hopefully part-time till Easter.

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Bunbaker · 21/06/2011 21:19

Your nursery may have assumed that your daughter is leaving in July and allocated all the nursery places for September, so you need to make sure there is still a place for her in September. smokin is right. You can't defer entry to school to year one because the school will allocate all the reception places. Your daughter can start reception in January or even after Easter, although I don't think it is recommended as it will only give her one term in reception.

Original poster

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/06/2011 21:21

Bun we've already spoken to the pre-school and they are happy to keep her place open, in fact her Key Worker is the one who started the conversation about deferring with me.

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LadyLapsang · 21/06/2011 22:59

You do need to start her in school this academic year (2011-12) if you don't want her to lose her Reception place (and potentially her place in the school if you live in an oversubscribed area). When you've decided what you are going to do I would speak with the Head and then confirm arrangements in writing so they don't give her place away.

Original poster

JiltedJohnsJulie · 22/06/2011 08:22

Thanks Lady we are having a meeting with the Head on Friday, following it up in writing is a good idea.

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threesnocrowd · 22/06/2011 20:33

Where I am (Wilts), you can keep the 15hrs vouchers if they aren't registered at school. You then have to apply again for year1 and hope for the best or you can go into Reception at age 5. If they have a place at school though, whether they attend or not (or part-time) then the school take the vouchers as I understand it. Hope you can sort something out.

Original poster

JiltedJohnsJulie · 24/06/2011 13:27

Thanks everyone for you responses. It seems that in our area we can defer for a term and still claim our 15 hours a week for another setting so that is no problem

However, we've been into school today and she ended up in the reception class and absolutely loved it. Now she can't wait until September.

Am off to start another thread on what skirts to buy a short and skinny little one.

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