Scottish nursery places at 3

[Lazy Leo]

Hi does anyone know what the process is for free nursery places at 3? I had kind of assumed it was like going to school at 5: i.e. you enrol them at the local nursery within the specified timeframe (I know the cut off for school is February sometime, so sassed nursery would be the same).

A couple of other parents though have started talking about putting their kids names down on 'the list' and I thought this was just because they wanted them enrolled before they were 3 but now I'm not so sure.

Can anyone shed any light for me pls?

 

[sparkle_1979]

sorry not 100% sure on this so will be keeping an eye on it but I was told once lo is 2 I need to put her name down x

 

[BabyJ'sMummy]

I phoned one of the pre-schools last week and got told to fill an application in when he's 2 to start when he's 3 and come and take a look round then. My sister has just moved, her lo is 3 and she's struggling to get a nursery place close to her. She's been in contact with the local council and they've sent a form for her to fill out and then the council will let her know what's available. I would get in early if there's a particular one that you like - a year before seems the norm. xxx

 

[babybaillie]

My lo will be 2 in jan, and we were told to put her name down for nursery about xmas time ths year. I would just decide which one u want and call and ask when to apply.

 

[ellie27]

If you want LO to go to a particular nursery or have a preference to a couple over other ones then I would suggest get in touch with them now - even if its just to have a look around and put in your interest.

Is is a council or private nursery??

Private nurseries may have a longer waiting list/fewer spaces.

In my daughters nursery (private) she gets her free funding the day after she turns 3.

Not all private nurseries accept the free funding so you need to ask them to find out.

And also, at a private nursery, 15 hours gov'mt funding only funds 1 full-day (or couple half-days) at a private nursery as their fees are more expensive.

 

[baboo]

In Scotland they get their free hours the term after their third birthday, check your local authority for details in your area. For next year, my twins will be starting in august so you need to fill in a form with your preferences by dec this year. There is no waiting list for most council based nurseries, obviously private ones are different. We can't even apply until this dec.

 

[ellie27]

In Scotland they get their free hours the term after their third birthday, check your local authority for details in your area. For next year, my twins will be starting in august so you need to fill in a form with your preferences by dec this year. There is no waiting list for most council based nurseries, obviously private ones are different. We can't even apply until this dec.

Yes, most nurseries it is the term after the 3rd birthday, but our LOs starts the day after 3rd birthday......or maybe thats because she is already there and thats why it starts straight away?? Maybe some nurseries are different? Or maybe just private nurseries??

 

[Lazy Leo]

Anks everyone. I have two council ones nearby, the private ones are a bit further out. I think the nurseries have fairly good reputations but we are hoping to have moved to a better council area by the time she goes to school, so we don't really know what to do about nursery. It's all a bit of a head twister really.

But, if I don't want her to go to private nursery before she is 3, and at age three my choice is a council nursery, I still need to be on the list in advance, her birthday is October, so she start in the january after that, is that right? For 15 hours a week, and if I want her in for more, I'd have to pay (assuming they have the space?)

Thank you so much for all the replies, I'm finding this all a minefield and getting very stressed as I feelwe are going to be forced to move sooner than I'd like...... ( because it makes sense to me to have her in the feeder nursery for school as at least then she'd have made friends and would move on to school with them)

 

[BabyJ'sMummy]

We've got a similar issue, we would like to move to be in a better catchment area but it's whether funds will allow it. I'm planning on going back to studying next year, so we may end up selling and renting in the area we like...all this to get the perfect school eh?!! xx