Nursery school/Pre-school confusion!

SarahNeedle1872

Hiya guys, a DFWer popping in after some advice/guidance!

I have a two and a half yr old, and I am seriously confused by the whole pre-school/nursery thing.... well actually thats not true, I don't know what's meant to happen, so I was wondering if someone could please explain what he should be doing and when!:o

He is three in Feb and currently does three full days in a private nursery, I think the do the 'pre-school' bit as well, but as I don't know really what that involves, I don't wanna ask and look like an idiot!:o I also need to know because I think I need to get his name down for local schools too (but again not sure when!)

So could someone please tell me at what age he should be starting what....? Sorry if thats a silly question!

Thanks guys

Sx

babyhead

Hi Sarah

I had just tried to explain what I thought it was but have realised that i am just as confused as you :rotfl:

Will be watching this thread for some words of wisdom!

My DS is 2 and has just started going to 'pre school'. Or at least nursery in the place where they do 'pre school' It is attached to the local primary school. I was told it was good to get him into as the local primary is popular!

Pinky15

SarahNeedle1872 wrote: »

Hiya guys, a DFWer popping in after some advice/guidance!

I have a two and a half yr old, and I am seriously confused by the whole pre-school/nursery thing.... well actually thats not true, I don't know what's meant to happen, so I was wondering if someone could please explain what he should be doing and when!:o

He is three in Feb and currently does three full days in a private nursery, I think the do the 'pre-school' bit as well, but as I don't know really what that involves, I don't wanna ask and look like an idiot!:o I also need to know because I think I need to get his name down for local schools too (but again not sure when!)

So could someone please tell me at what age he should be starting what....? Sorry if thats a silly question!

Thanks guys

Sx

Hi there - pre-school is along the same lines of a nursery. If you DS is doing 3 days per week what usually happens is he will be entitled to the nursery education grant after his third birthday. This is usually jan, sep and easter time. This means he will be entitles to 2.5 hours free care per day term time only. Our local nursery deducts the cost of this from the bills. Alternatively you could send DS to a state run nursery where it would be free but the sessions limited to 2.5 hours unless you pay for lunch care etc.
As for the school applications in our area they normally commence the sept they start nursery. The forms are either sent to nursery or you can apply online.
Hope this helps - it is all very confusing I have done this for years and still have to think about it lol!

jackomdj

No such thing as a silly question on MSE!

Most private nursery's move LO's into a pre-school "room" when they turn 3 (give or take) & most are able to give your LO the 12 1/2h (or 15 depending on area) of free preschool education. You will need to talk to your nursery how they claim etc. Some remove it from what you pay & some, like mine, you pay the full amount & get money back into your bank every quarter.

My LO did 2 days at creche so I claimed 4 sessions there & she went to pre-school attached to our local school 3 mornings so she could get to know the children she would go to school with (I claimed 1 free session & paid for 2).

Re schooling your LO will get a place when they are 4, so Sept 2011 (my youngest is a March 2007 baby). It is around the Sept 2010 time you will have to apply & get offered around Jan 2011. I have just been through the process in my area & we rank 3 schools with reasons & we hopefully get one of our choices. look on your council website & it will give your area's process as I know it can vary.

Good luck & HTH
Nicky

choccymoose

Hi, this is the area I work in for the local authority. At the moment funding is different in different areas of the country depending on whether they are taking part in the 2 year funding or not. If you PM me I will be able to help you with regards to your entitlements. Could be 12 hours could be 15 hours,

If your son is happy where he is then I would leave him there, the nursery will adjust your bill accordingly for you.

jackomdj

babyhead wrote: »

Hi Sarah
It is attached to the local primary school. I was told it was good to get him into as the local primary is popular!

All these postings whilst I was typing my post above.

Even though my DD was in the pre-school attached to the local school the council did not consider this when offering a place in the school or not.

choccymoose

jackomdj wrote: »

All these postings whilst I was typing my post above.

Even though my DD was in the pre-school attached to the local school the council did not consider this when offering a place in the school or not.

Jackomdj is correct, which pre- school or nursery your child attends has no bearing or weight when it comes to allocating school places anymore. You will have to apply for your school place seperately.

beccam

You can also consider that some pre schools will give more than 15hrs each week so may be more cost effective to change to a different 'nursery'.

It is different here in Northern Ireland as our pre school year would be the year your child turns 4 but you can apply from the age of 2yrs 10mths.

So DD will be 4 in November and is in her second year at pre school (just started again last week) she goes 9am - 1.30pm, 5 days a week. It is an education and library board nursery so the place is free but we pay £10 per week for school lunch and £3 per week for school fund (this covers snack and also any school trips)

Here the forms come out at the beginning of Jan and to be returned by the end of Jan (the Jan before you wish your child to start)
There is not a second entry to the school (like some other areas of the UK do a Jan intake, we only have a Sept intake).

I know for many friends it has been more cost effective to send their LO's to a 'state' pre school then just pay for a half day in nursery and most nurseries do pick ups from the school anyway.

SarahNeedle1872

Thanks for the replies everyone! Its all very confusing!!

We are in Oxfordshire, and our LA is South Oxfordshire DC if that helps.

I know the nursery do the LEA funding, I think they deduct it from your bills when its due... I didn't know he could do nursery and a pre-school at a school at the same time! Both our local primary schools do it, so definately something worth looking into! Will look at the SODC site (didn't think of that! )

Any other advice greatly appreciated

Sx

choccymoose

Although he can do nursery and preschool at the same time, you can only claim either the 5 sessions ( 12 hours) or the 6 sessions (15 hours depending on how your authority does it) . School nurseries who are doing the 5 sessions prefer you to do either all mornings or all afternoons, whereas pre-schools and nurseries will be a lot more flexable and you wjust need to pay wrap around care, for example the lunch time

Best thing to do in the morning is ring your local family information service, they will have all the up to date info for your area :-)

hth

Woby_Tide

Ours both go to pre-school and nursery(well actually one of them goes to school from tomorrow but has doen both the past 2 years). Nursery tends to open for longer hours, pre-schools tend to only open mornings (or afternoons) or equivalent of a school day in our experience. Currently they go to nursery for 2 full days(to allow for work), then they attend a pre-school on 2 mornings, this is closer to the school they will attend eventually and has more kids that live in the area, nursery is in a different 'authority' as it's closer to work. What they do at both however isn't much different