Playgroups

[jenny82]

I wasn't aware that toddlers could attend playgroups from 2yrs 9 months (if you pay) until a few days ago. I think we would have to pay a bit but it won't be as much as a creche and I think LO would go there for a year, then a regular nursery.

Hes right on the cusp as he'll be 2years 9 months at the end of August next year.

I just don't know how to go about enrolling him. Do you have to go and view the playgroup, apply and then hope for the best? WHen are you supposed to start applying? I don't want to miss the date and then they are all full :/

 

[TennisGal]

Lizzie is going to ours when she's three...I've already written to put her name down, as it's very popular (I've been to see it) and paid the holding fee. It was £30, which isn't huge amounts. I've only put her down to attend two mornings at the moment, and will see how she likes it. Good thing is, she will be going with her friends from village toddlers, to the pre school, to primary school. The school is outstanding, so it has made things easy for us!

I'd suggest contacting them for a visit...so many times it's about getting a good feel for the place...

 

[jenny82]

Brill thanks! I contacted one I liked the look of up the road and they don't accept applications until December so I have to remember to do that then. Am going to look for a few other ones too. He won't be guaranteed a place in any of them though as he will be a year earlier than the government paid places, but there is no harm in trying!

 

[polaris]

I have put Thomas's name down for the local pre-school for next September (he will be 2 years 10 months). I phoned them up and they said to pop in and see the place anytime, so I dropped in with Thomas and I thought it was lovely. She let him join in with sand-play that some of the others were doing and he was thrilled with himself.

He won't be starting school until he's nearly five so he would hopefully have two years in playschool if it works out. I'm sure the system is different over here but she was saying to me that I could split the free year over two years if I wanted and just pay the difference, so I would be paying half the cost each year if that makes sense.

 

[purpledahlia]

Yep im going to put LO's name down soon for starting in 1 year, she will be 2yrs9months on sept 19th, Its not that much to pay for that. Ill probably do 1 morning a week, then when shes 3 she can get her full 15hours there funded. No need to change..

 

[craftymum]

We don't have that option here, I was told to put his name down for pre school just the December after his 3rd Birthday

 

[jenny82]

craftymum I'm in Belfast and I was told it was fine! A place isn't guaranteed as they pick the older ones first but my LO is still in with a chance. Who told you you wouldn't get a place??

 

[craftymum]

craftymum I'm in Belfast and I was told it was fine! A place isn't guaranteed as they pick the older ones first but my LO is still in with a chance. Who told you you wouldn't get a place??

It was actually someone from the school that rang me and said just to come to their open day the December before he turns 4, then we would enrol if we decide to send him there.

 

[jenny82]

craftymum I'm in Belfast and I was told it was fine! A place isn't guaranteed as they pick the older ones first but my LO is still in with a chance. Who told you you wouldn't get a place??

It was actually someone from the school that rang me and said just to come to their open day the December before he turns 4, then we would enrol if we decide to send him there.

Hmmm, maybe its because its attached to a school? I phoned a playgroup yesterday and they said to contact them in December when the open day is on and I can apply then. Its just a stand-alone nursery I think though :/

I was going to ring round a few more in our area next week and get their dates so that we can apply to a few places.

 

[xx~Lor~xx]

Our area has this option for 2 year olds. My two year old goes to a playgroup/pre school session for 2 hours on a wednesday morning, and for 2.5 hours on a friday afternoon. We decided to put her in as it would benefit her social skills and get her used to being away from us. She absolutely loves it.

 

[shalagirl]

To the ladies in northern ireland (not sure how it works everywhere else). In ni yes some nurseries /playgroups have places from 2 years and 10 months. The year before primary one a child is entitled to a free playgroup play five sessions a week term time. If the playgroup doesn't fill all those places they can offer them to younger children but they may not offer as many sessions. Most playgroups fill up v quick especially those linked to a school so they only take kids the year before primary one. Some playgroups start children at 2 years and 10 months but its a paid place that really depends on their staff and capacity of children they can take and again it may not offer a place everyday. If you child was 2 years and 10 months say in oct they playgroup may start you in jan only bringing new starts in at various points in he year eg Sept, Halloween, Easter. it is confusing there is a book form the education board that comes out every year that lists all the playgroups/ nurseries taking pre p1 children and states the entry conditions eg age so you can see if there is places for younger kids. You can get the booklets from your library they also contain registration forms for free places.

 

[craftymum]

To the ladies in northern ireland (not sure how it works everywhere else). In ni yes some nurseries /playgroups have places from 2 years and 10 months. The year before primary one a child is entitled to a free playgroup play five sessions a week term time. If the playgroup doesn't fill all those places they can offer them to younger children but they may not offer as many sessions. Most playgroups fill up v quick especially those linked to a school so they only take kids the year before primary one. Some playgroups start children at 2 years and 10 months but its a paid place that really depends on their staff and capacity of children they can take and again it may not offer a place everyday. If you child was 2 years and 10 months say in oct they playgroup may start you in jan only bringing new starts in at various points in he year eg Sept, Halloween, Easter. it is confusing there is a book form the education board that comes out every year that lists all the playgroups/ nurseries taking pre p1 children and states the entry conditions eg age so you can see if there is places for younger kids. You can get the booklets from your library they also contain registration forms for free places.

That makes it all a bit clearer, we live in a small village and there's only one School and it has an attached Nursery so the demand can be high. I'm not complaining though as I'm happy to have my baby home with me that little while longer
When do those booklets come out?

 

[jenny82]

To the ladies in northern ireland (not sure how it works everywhere else). In ni yes some nurseries /playgroups have places from 2 years and 10 months. The year before primary one a child is entitled to a free playgroup play five sessions a week term time. If the playgroup doesn't fill all those places they can offer them to younger children but they may not offer as many sessions. Most playgroups fill up v quick especially those linked to a school so they only take kids the year before primary one. Some playgroups start children at 2 years and 10 months but its a paid place that really depends on their staff and capacity of children they can take and again it may not offer a place everyday. If you child was 2 years and 10 months say in oct they playgroup may start you in jan only bringing new starts in at various points in he year eg Sept, Halloween, Easter. it is confusing there is a book form the education board that comes out every year that lists all the playgroups/ nurseries taking pre p1 children and states the entry conditions eg age so you can see if there is places for younger kids. You can get the booklets from your library they also contain registration forms for free places.

Oh thats brill! Thanks so much - you made it a lot clearer I'll pop down to the library next week to see about the forms.

I'm not worried about it being part of a school just yet as we're hoping to move before that anyway.

 

[shalagirl]

Not totally sure when the booklets come out but the forms for pre p1 place have to be in for feb. So if ur child was starting p1 sept 2013 they would start playgroup sept 2012 and the form for a free education board place would need to be in by feb 2012. Playgroups not attached to schools are just as good they all get monitored and inspected by the education board in the same way and staff in either settings all need the same level of qualifications. I can see why if it's linked to a school the child is familiar to going to that place for p1 but children are very adptable and the routine and structure of any playgroup will prepare them for p1.

 

[shalagirl]

https://www.deni.gov.uk/index/pre-s...school-education-whatparentsneedtoknow-pg.htm

Googled the above link which explains abit about how places are allocated although it seems the info is related to the year just past so dates are not accurate.