Help figure this out.

[SayHitIsntSo]

I am a foreigner here, and haven't quite figured out yet how everything is supposed to work..

So DS was born Nov 2008.He goes to a nursery 3 times a week, which is really enjoyable to him (and I get a breather too).

my questions are:

1. I was told I need to enrol him for Nursery in school by the time he turns 2yrs (i.e.- in a little more than 6 months from now), and that he would start when he's 3yrs. and 10mo.- is that true?
   
2. this enrolment is for "nursery" class (which is followed by reception)?
   
3. Nursery class is really 1.5hrs every day? isn't that kind of dumb inefficient? and what happens with people who work? who drops off/take kids?
   
4. Do I have to enrol him for nursery, or can I keep him in the private nursery till the time he needs to go to reception?
   
5. if I enrol him with a certain nursery- does this mean he well necessarily continue on to study in the same school? are they obliged to accept him for reception/year 1?
   
   thanks everyone
   and plz forgive my daftness.

[ruddynorah]

you can keep him in the private nursery until he starts school the september after he turns 4.

the government pay for all 3 year olds to have 15 hours of pre school education (ie nursery) a week during term time. a lot of primary schools have pre school sessions available. as do private nurseries.

lots of people like their child to do their sessions at the school where they'll go to reception so they get used to the environment. but there is no obligation for the schoo to take their pre schoolers into their reception.

lots of people like to continue using a private nursery as they provide longer sessions so the parents can work.

[SayHitIsntSo]

thnx for all the helpful info.
so what happens in reception?
is that a full day?

and the september after he turns 4- that means he'll start reception two months before his fifth birthday?!

[Sparks]

1. That varies from area to area. Check your local council's web site for the correct info for your area. If the info on the web site is not clear, you can ring the council/local education authority and ask them.
   
2. As above, check your local council's web site. Usually nursery enrolment is entirely separate from reception enrolment.
   
3. Again it varies from area to area and from one school to another. In my dd's school the nursery has 3 hour sessions.
   
4. Yes absolutely, you can keep him in the private nursery.
   
5. No they are not obliged to accept him. Usually nursery enrolment is entirely separate from reception/primary school enrolment.
   
   Not daft questions! I am also from another country and was equally clueless at first

[Sparks]

You would need to ask the school what happens in reception. Generally it's a full day, but some schools start them on half days to settle them in.

Yes he would start reception two months before his fifth birthday.

[ruddynorah]

reception is full day yes. but schools tend to build up to the full day with maybe a few mornings at first, or even for as long as six weeks.

yes the september after they turn 4. the school year runs september to august. so your son with his november birthday will be one of the oldest. some will not turn 5 until late summer.

[Drusilla]

Don't forget you don't have to send him to nursery/preschool at all, if you don't want to! If you do, it's up to you what age he is when you do. But you need to speak to your chosen setting as soon as you can, they may hve a waiting list.

[ruddynorah]

what area are you in? if you look up your local council website they will have lots of info on how it all works.

[SayHitIsntSo]

We live in NW London, and plan on moving somewhere within our council.

thnx everyone for all the tips and info, you're great!!!

[Numberfour]

Sayhitisntso, may i ask where were you from originally? i am from South Africa and it took me AGES to work out the system and to get my head around the academic year starting in Sept. All very odd to me!

But DS is now in reception, doing well, loving it and turned 5 two months after starting Big School!