Putting your childs name on a waiting list does not mean they are guaranteed a place, neither does it mean your child automatically gets a place at the school if they attend the nursery there.  All LEA's (local education authorities) have a criteria you have to meet . You will be sent a form before your child can legally start full time education, you have to choose a school them wait and see if you get that particular school.  If you don't then you can appeal.   By the way you don't have to send your child to school till the term after they are 5

Funding starts the term after your lo turns 3 so for example Ruby was 3 in April and her funding starts in September. My son was 3 in Setember and his funding started in the JAnuary. Before that you'll probably have to pay for your Nursery/preschool place unless you have a surestart programme or something like that. You can't in most places put your childs name down for schools (primary) anymore. They send you a form out and you apply for a place in about the November the year before they start in September and you put down your 3 choices of school and you get told in about the Easter which school you have got a place at for the Septemeber.

The Government fund 5 sessions a week from the term after they turn 3yrs.  Some preschools take them from 2yrs 9 months but you have to pay for this and costs vary from each one and depending on where you live it seems.  Where I live in Hampshire it seems to be around the £8-£9 per session mark.  Sessions around here run from 9.30-12pm or 12.30-3pm.  The only places that would offer as long as 9-3pm would be a private nursery and you would have to pay for this - it would not be included in what the government fund for your child.  So it's best to check your area - you can google preschools in your area and find the info you need.

Playschool, Preschool and Nursery are generally the same thing.  Although some Nurserys are private and take children from 6 weeks old and you have to pay a hefty sum of money for your child to go there and these are usually used instead of a Childminder when parents have to work - like Montessori or the like.  These don't usually have government funded places - well they certainly don't in the area I live.  Some preschools are attached to Primary schools, some are not and some are private - but they all tend to follow the same kind of routines with the children.

My DS turned 3yrs back in June therefore he starts when the Autumn term begins on 8th September and will do 3 morning sessions a week from 9.30-12pm.  I will increase this when he has completed a term to probably 4 sessions a week.  I've found where we live the preschools tend to keep the afternoon sessions for older children who are nearing school age.

My DS will start Primary School next September - which is the term after he has turned 4yrs of age. We all get an application form for primary school sent to us around November time - which is almost a year before your child starts school.  If the OPs child is 3yrs in January they will start school in Sept 2010 and you will receive your application for Primary School around November 2009. 

Funding (think it is 15hrs/wk) are given to all children the term after they turn 3. So if your little one is 3 in October his funding will start in January. This should be able to be used at any registered chilrens nursery etc.

which is pre school not per school lol...

best thing for you to do is phone up your local preschool and ask them, they'll give you all the facts...

if you wanted her to go to nursery not one attatched to school... then you'll get the goverment placements the term after her 3rd bday. you can contact local nurserys and again ask them about it xx

the funded places start the term after they turn 3 so that would be either after the easter break or the next term depending on when your los birthday is.. as for nursery i think that the applications go in next month.. i certainly know that there will be lots of people who have already applied.. i personally put my sons name down when he was 18 months old.. lots of the best schools have waiting lists and people will be fighting for the places.. good luck.. hth..

i can tell you how it is here if that helps? ok aiden is 3 in jan.... if we wanted him to go to nursery attatched to school.... we applied after his 2nd bday and he would start sept after he's 3 (sept 2009)and then start school the following sept.(2010)

how ever we didnt hear back from them, not a word, so since he's started nusery 2 afternoons to warm him in to it, as he's with me 24/7... he'll carry on going 2 afternoons until the term after his 3rd bday which is april.... then he gets the goverment funded placements of 5 days 2 1/2 hours.... which is per school.... so he'll then go from april 2009 and start school in sept 2010.

if lo is 3 in april he can have funded nursery place 2.5hrs per day or go to a school nursery 9-3 ft or pt i only just got my application in on time for school as i thought i would be written to but i wasnt i did it online if lo goes to school nursery they shouldnt be missed hth

i have nooo idea either !! our lo has only just turned 2 !!

My son is 2and a half in october and is booked in to start pre-school im not sure when that will be. hes 3 in april. i dont know what funded hours are and if everyone is entitled to them? also when would he start nursery? and when should i sign him up for school? its the first time that ive done all of this so im really confused by it all. any help please thanks