Process for starting school;

[StealthPolarBear]

DS is only 16 months but how soon do we have to start thinking about it? What do we do?
I looked on the LEA website but it just seems to be a portal to a load of password protected pages.
Also, I'm hoping to have no2 and have maternity leave for a year, even if I got pregnant now DS would be well over 3 before my maternity leave ends. Would it be best to take him out of nursery and start him straight at pre school at the end of my ML? Are there any obvious drawbacks to this?

Children start school the September (or Jan) after they are 4 (Jan if summer baby and LEA has 2 intakes; many don't).

You wil need to apply prob the Oct/Nov before that so when DS is 3 and a bit ie in 2 years. I would certainly be having a look at schools now - a good way IMO is to go to school fairs etc and get a feel for the schools in your area.

You can also ask for a formal look round if you want.

Can't answer yr second qu wrt nursery as I'm not sure I follw what you're asking (sorry, it's late!)

thanks you two, I'm in Durham
I will keep my eye out for school fairs - would imagine it'l be next summer now but that's a really good idea thanks.
Suppose the second bit of my question might have been better in going back to work, basically if I go on Mat Leave again DS will be ready to strat (pre) school by the time it finishes, so should I take him out of nursery? obviously that would save us a fortune - are there any downsides other than the obvioius social ones for him?

school fairs at Christmas too actually. Look for the last Saturday in November (that's when ours usually is...)

Really? Thanks I will do, that's quite soon really

sorry didn't answer yr 2nd qu...

I found childcare when I was on Mat Leave a godsend in that it gave me time to bond with new baby and hoover the floor!

But if money is tight then there's no problem IMO with dropping it; I think as long as you continue soclia stuff eg toddler groups, meet up with friends, he should be fine withjuts doign pre-school.

Is that what you meant?

sorry for typos it's getting late

yes that's exactly it. Obviously if we wanted him to go back to same nursery afterwards that could be a problem, but we don't. Can't really justify the expense or the thought of dropping him off all day when I'm at home!