Possibly a stupid question re: school starting age

[whataremyoptions]

DD1 will be 3 in March so I think she gets free nursery school entry then. Does she then start school properly in September at 3.5 or will she have to wait until she's 4.5? I'm pretty sure my sister started school at 3 as she had a September birthday but now I'm panicking that we are supposed to have done something by now and it might be too late!
Super-confused!

my understanding (dd in reception) is that in england at least they get free funding for preschool / nursery school from the term after they turn 3. They then stay in that setting until the september after they are 4 when they start reception

HTH

Dd was 3 last February. She started nursery school part time (5 sessions a week) in September and will go into reception full time this September. It has changed over the last few years as DS (8) was full time at nursery school when he was 3.5.

Hth

No, she won't start school til she's 4.5. You can use your free 15 hours up until then though. You'll be sent a letter when it's time to apply to schools, probably by oct/nov this year to be in by Jan 2013. Hth.

Not all boroughs send out letters- ours doesn't. It's just up to is to find out and apply on time.

Agree she'll start on sept '13

She'll get funding from April but there won't necessarily be a place for her - private or state run, nursery or preschool - unless you have it organised already. She'd be eligible for a place in Reception (1st year of school in England) in September 2013, after she has turned 4 and you make an application usually by preceding January (check your LA website for deadlines and forms).

If you can find a nursery/pre-school with a space, she'll get her free 15 hours from the April term. She can start school from next September (2013) though doesn't have to be in school til the term after her 5th birthday (April 2014).

Ds2 was 3 in November - he has just qualified for his free 15 hours this week but as he is in private nursery anyway 4 days a week, it is deducted off the fees.

He won't start full-time Reception until Sept 2013 (not that I am counting or anything ) but will be one of the older ones in the class.

Beware - my local council doesn't send any information out either. It is left entirely up to you to apply for a school place via the council system. You will need to start doing this Autumn 2012.

Ah thanks all! Like I said, super-confused!