A Quick Guide to Starting Preschool
- Mumsy
- Mar 9, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 4, 2023
The basics |
Preschools in England usually care for children between the ages of 2-5, before they take up a formal place in a Primary School Reception Class.
All children in England aged 3+ are entitled to 15 hours of free Education and childcare per week. These can be accessed in various settings including playgroups, nurseries, childminders or in school based nurseries and preschools.
Some children of working parents are entitled to an additional 15 hours to a total of 30 hours per week of free education and childcare however there are additional eligibility criteria.
You can only get your free education and childcare entitlement with an approved childcare provider as defined by Government.
There is no deadline by which you must apply for, or start preschool. Your 3 year old can start attending your choice of setting the term after they turn 3, provided they have a free space available. Do bear in mind that not all settings deliver the Free early education and many have a limited number of fully funded free places.
Finding a preschool |
Preschool and Nursery places can be competitive in certain areas and some of the best preschools in given areas have very long waiting lists. If you already know where you would like your child to attend preschool, it is advisable to get on the preschool's waiting list early.
If you are still searching, here is a little help to make your experience that little bit less stressful.
Search your local area for a list of preschools within an acceptable travel distance. A good starting point would be to contact your Local Authority Children's Services - Every Local Authority has one. They store a wealth of information on all Nursery and Preschools including school based preschools and settings that are better able to accommodate children with special needs.
Review the childcare provider's information and their offer online to ensure their services and opening hours suit your needs.
Review your chosen childcare providers' Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) report. Follow the link to find an Ofsted Inspection Report.
Make a shortlist of suitable preschools and contact them to find out if they have any vacancies. If they do not have vacancies for your start date, get on your preferred preschool's waiting list.
Visit all preschools on your shortlist preferably with your child. Some preschools offer stay and play sessions which will help you in making your decision.
Help with childcare costs |
Follow the Tax Service step by step guide to find out what help you can get with the cost of childcare.
It is also important to note that not all childcare providers offer the free 30 hours entitlement. Be sure to check this with your chosen childcare provider.
Tips |
Some 2 year old are also entitled to free childcare based on strict eligibility criteria depending on the receipt of certain benefits, on having special needs and other special circumstances. Visit GOV.UK to find out more here.
Preschools encourage you to ensure your child is toilet trained to a reasonable level before starting school.
Encourage your child to eat healthy as this is promoted in preschools as part of the Government's Standards for school food in England. Many preschools only provide 'healthy' snacks.