Nursery schools (pre-school)

I currently work at a nursery in a school. 30 hours funding will depend on your working situation and also if the school offer it as some schools don’t offer 30 hours. At my school we have limited 30hour places. I would only send your child to one nursery though as it could confuse the funding and your child will likely not settle well. So choose what is best for you! If you are interested in the school nursery I would just go in and speak to the office staff - they will have the answers to your questions and can direct you properly x

@Hayley I work part time (15 hours) so how many hours do you think I'm entitled to? Yes I need to ring around/visit them x

You don’t apply through the normal school system for pre school, there’s no application or cut off date you just ring them and say I want my child to start in sept 2025 on these days and see what they have available, i emailed mine like the month before I think to sort it out xx

@Phoebe is this for private day nurseries? For nurseries that are attached to schools, you need to apply via your council website before the cut off date x

30 hours only term after they turn 3

Yh, I applied for school nursery back in September. I rang the school and picked up an application form to get him on the list. I know that they only have two sessions, half-day and full-day, so it will depend on what days you are looking for your child, and it would depend on what their nursery rate is, which is an hour. Different schools will have different rates; I found out when I phoned and picked up an application form.

@Melody thank you. Yes I need to have conversations with schools

Nope my son goes to a pre school at a primary school and there was no application via the council , I just rang up and asked about hours then filled in a little paper application form and gave it to school reception 😂 Kids start all through the year when they turn 3 so there couldn’t be a cut off date, at mine anyway! Xx

@Phoebe really? That's strange as it's different in my council! Here for nursery schools, it's the same process as applying for schools which I find bizarre. Just adding to my stress load which I don't need!

You apply directly to the schools for nursery places here too… you only apply through the council for the reception place. Schools manage waiting lists and intake for nursery, does not guarantee you get a reception place. Most guarantee 15 hrs, and it depends on the demand as to if they 30 hours usually… (my first got 15, second got 30).

@Emma I emailed my council and they confirmed I need to apply online for nursery schools via their portal. However, I have emailed the schools directly too so hopefully I'll get a response this coming week. Did your children start in the following September after they turned 3 or from the term instead?

I would imagine you need a September start to get a place. A lot of these school nurseries will be full and no places available until following September.

@Jo yes that's what I thought too but there are mixed opinions on this. The rules should be the same for everyone. Really frustrating

Yes they started the following September after they turned 3, they only do a September intake, but do know of schools that do a January intake, so will depend of capacity of the nursery