Didn't get into nursery school

[JustinCaseyHowles]

Hi I know this isn't as important as not getting a place at primary school but my three yr old has failed to get into the two state nursery schools I applied to. Will I have to keep her at fairly expensive day nursery now as everywhere else will be full too? I just took it all for granted stupidly!

You are entitled to 12.5 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year, starting from the term following your daughter's third birthday. Provided your day nursery is registered to offer this, they should provide it for you.

Put her on the waiting list for them ASAP. My son got his place off the waiting list as there is normally a lot of movement.

Good luck.

just to add the free provision rises to 15hrs/wk (in term time) from Sept

I'd be very suprised if your nursery wasn't already registered with the LA, or they will get parents voting with their feet once their child turns 3 (or the start of the term after when they get the free provision)

If they are registered they will do all the "paperwork" for you & reduce your bill accordingly. Check how they do this as it does vary - some spread it out to have "equal" bills over the year & some reduce the bill in termtime & you pay the "normal" amount for school hols.

What I will say though, is that if you didn't get into the nursery and these are your preferred primary schools check the primary admissions criteria out & your likelihood of success NOW. While a place at nursery does NOT guarantee a place at the school, it is often easier to get into the nursery than the school (some parents need F/T nursery that term-time nurseries can't provide & not every parent takes advantage of the free hours).