Nursery uk question

Hiya! So the age gap between my middle n last is nearly 10years so its been a while and im slightly confused. For some crazy reason i thought now my boy is 3, i can start applying to nursery for next september. At the mo hes with a childminder while i work and she brings him on trips and playgroups etc and im not keen to ruin routine by putting him in a nursery now.. But some nurseries are stating they may not be giving full time spaces.. is that right? And how do they pick and choose, whats the criteria to get your child in school nursery for normal 9 to 3 hours? And if hes get part time does that come out of the free funded hours? Or could i still use the funded hours if i need childminder ro pick him up after a half day😅🤷🏼‍♀️🙈 It feels like life is so hard at the minute as it is picking 6forms out for biggest and stressing about the smallest! Any help will be so appreciated!

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Can I ask why you are wanting to send him to nursery if happy at childminder? It completely depends on the nursery on what they offer. Are you talking about private nursery or school nursery? You can split funded hours between 2 settings, or use it just for one

Im talking about school nursery which will be next september. But i thought school nursery was standard as in when a child is in reception or year 1 and so on, a parent doesnt pay for it... but do u still pay and use funded hours for a school nursery when their of age, he will be 4 next september. I just find it abit strange if that is the case.

As far as I'm aware there is no requirement to attend nursery from age 4, just the requirement to start reception class from the academic year they will turn 5. Before that it's personal preference, you can use your funded hours for a childminder, preschool or a nursery (I know different areas call different age groups preschool/nursery, which can cause confusion!). All have different availability and may be attached to a school or private.

Different schools offer different set ups, so for the 30 hours funding they might only offer afternoon or morning sessions then you can use the remainder of the funding elsewhere, which is a bit more complex. Or some schools will offer the full 5 day 9-3 set up, it's a case of asking around the schools in your area and see what fits you best. But in my area, my son can start at a school nursery from January 2025 x

'School nursery' seems to be called Reception year so we apply before January 2025 to start that I'm September 2025. It's not the compulsory school age (CSA) though so they don't really have to go but best to if you are sensing them to school at age 5. The CSA is age 5 so that's when they have to be in school/flexischool/home education.

It's reception they go into when starting school, you'll apply for that end of next year. I thought you meant a nursery attached to a school that some have

@Cheryl reception is the first year of primary school, so for September 21 babies they will start reception in September 26 (the first september after they turn 4). Anything before that is preschool/nursery.

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