DS is 3 in December - if he starts nursery in Jan will he start Reception in September?

[DippyFarquhar]

I should know this and I feel stupid for asking but I'm getting confused with school years.

DS will be 3 on Dec 22. I'm applying to the nursery attached to the primary school and they've said they're going to start staggered intakes so he may be able to start in January '10.

If he starts nursery in Jan will he then start Reception in September '10 when he will be 3 going on 4? This sounds really young to me and I'd ideally like him to start nursery next September and then start Reception at 4 nearly 5. Can he do nursery from Jan to July and then go back again in September?

I know they have to attend school (if not HE) the year they are 5 but does that mean Year 1 or Reception?

You wouldn't think I'd already put two daughters through the system would you?

reception Sep 11 (or later if they have more than 1-intake a year).

No he would start September 2011 (my dd2 is 3 in January she goes to preschool 2 mornings a week which we pay for and then from Easter she'll get funding for 12.5 hours a week (your son gets this from January because he is 3 in the term before xmas) he'll then stay at nursery for 20months and start school when he is 4.9 years old (dd1 birthday is 7th Septemebr and she started reception on her actual 5th birthday as cut off was 31st august)

He could start nursery free place in Jan 2010, or sept if thats what you would prefer and reception in Sept 2011

Thanks for your replies. So he could start in Jan 2010 til July 2010 and go back in September 2010 until July 2011?

I think the fact that they said he might be able to start in Jan (which I know is when the state funded hours start for him) confused me thinking that if he starts in January then he will have 'used up' his entitlement by July and then have to wait a year (or me pay for a place elsewhere) to start Reception.

3&4yo nursery funding runs from term after they turn 3 until they start school.
So a child born Sep-Dec gets upto 5 terms funded and starts school at nearly 5, whereas one born Easter-Aug only gets 3 and starts school nearer to just turned 4.

Thank you!

Chasingsquirrels has hit the nail on the head.

For me - DS1 is a July baby and is only going to get 3 terms of pre-school vouchers before starting school Sept 2010. Ds2 is a November baby and will therefore get 5 terms of pre-school vouchers when his time comes - they don't have an entitlement and once it is used up, that is it.