How old are (UK) toddlers before they go to compulsory nursery?

Question

How old are (UK) toddlers before they go to compulsory nursery?

Answer 1

As far as I know, there is no compulsory nursery here in the UK. Compulsory education starts in the year school year that the child becomes 5, so that I started school in the September and hit 5 years old the following February. (I'm now 57). Hope this helps.

Answer 2

firstly it's not compulsory to send your toddler to nursery

it is compulsory to send then at the age of five year to reception

if you choose not to send your child to nursery no one can say or do a thing but at the age of five you can either send your child to primary school straight in to reception class

or inform your local education board if you choose to home educate your child

Answer 3

nursery is not compulsay and neither is school in the uk, a child needs an education, this does not mean in a school

Most children start nursery at 3, some earlier, a parents choice

Answer 4

Thats easy seeing as i live in the UK. It is 3 years old

Answer 5

There is no such thing as compulsory nursery age.

And it's NOT compulsory to send them to reception class or primary school for that matter.  You can choose to home educate.  The lady who co-ordinates the local home schooling group has two adult children in university.  One is reading physics and the other is reading English literature.  Neither have ever been to school but were home-educated.

Answer 6

there is no compulsory nursery.

my little one started nursery at 3, and she was ready for it!

compulsory school age is 5. they should start the term after they turn 5, but a lot go to school when they are 4. Hannah will be moving to school from nursery the september after she is 4

Answer 7

In Scotland it is not compulsory to go to nursery and legally they start school the nearest august to their 5th birthday - if the are 5 on or before the end of February following school start date. It is also very hard to get a placement for a 3 year old unless you are a single parent or are taking drugs.

Answer 8

It's different in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In England, Nursery is not compulsory.

Also, the time when children start school varies within different areas of England.

Round here, all children start school in the September before their 5th birthday.

So all children born between 1st September 2002 and 31st August 2003 will have just started school.

However, in some areas children start school at the beginning of the school term just before their 5th birthday. So, if the child would be 5 between September 1st and the end of the Christmas holiday, they would have just started school.

Answer 9

Nursery isn't compulsory.  The official cut off date, in Scotland, for starting school in the August is to be four by the last day of February but you are not obliged to send your child that August if they are still four, you must however send them by the first available intake after their 5th birthday.

Answer 10

I didn't know it was compulsory to send a child to school.  As long as they receive home education they don't legally have to go to school.

Answer 11

Nursery isn't compulsory. You choose whether to send them. The legal starting age for school in England is 5. But most schools require the child to be in a reception class from the age of 4.

Answer 12

Nursery isn't compulsory.

School becomes compulsory from the term in whcih they turn 5.

So if your child turns 5 in February they have to start school in January.

Answer 13

its usually 3 year old but just depends were you live and how full the local nurserys are but they usually try for 3yrs

Answer 14

Nursery education is not compulsory, but desirable.   Infant school commences at 5 , but most schools have pre-school classes from  4 .      Mother and toddler and nursery's can start as early as you like, but they are entirely voluntary.  Compulsory education is from 5 to 16 .

Answer 15

We don't have compulsory nursery. Kids start school at 4 or 5, depending on when their birthdays fall.

Answer 16

Local authority pre-schools offer free places for children from their third birthday.  There may be a waiting list so make sure you put your child's name down a.s.a.p.  Private nurseries also have to offer free places for 2 and half hour's a day for three and four year olds.  Some nurseries do offer children places from 2 years 9 months but you will have to pay a small fee until your child is three.  Contact your local nursery, playgroup or pre-school.

Answer 17

in wales it is not compulsory to send your child to school until the september after their 4th birthday.however a lot of schools to have a nursery class for children who are 3 but there is no law that says they have to go.

Answer 18

Nursery is not compulsory.Depending on where you live nurserys will accept children from about three and a half.Children must attend school(reception) from the term before their fifth birthday.

Answer 19

Yep some good answers here, there is no compulsory requirement for children to attend nursery, but the Reception year for children to start is if they have their fourth birthday by the 31st August. Children with birthdays that fall after that academic year are required to start the Sept after.

Answer 20

as i remember 4 t0 5