The pre-school year

The year or two before reception is often called the pre-school year. Whether your child is at a day nursery, a pre-school or a school nursery class, this is when the focus turns towards getting ready for school: independence, friendships, communication and curiosity.

The universal 15 hours

Every 3 and 4-year-old in England can get 15 funded hours a week for 38 weeks (570 hours a year), from the term after their 3rd birthday: 1 January, 1 April or 1 September. There is no income test and no application to HMRC; you tell your nursery and it claims the hours from the council.

Eligible working families can get 30 hours a week in total. For them, the universal 15 hours are part of the 30, not extra. See 30 hours from 9 months, and our start date tool for the exact dates for your child.

Children born on 31 August and 1 September are a day apart but a term apart for funding, and a year apart for starting school, because the school year runs from 1 September.

What the year looks like

In most settings, 3 and 4-year-olds:

• play and learn in larger groups, with more group times, stories and songs
• spend time on early mathematics and literacy through play, such as counting, shapes, rhymes, mark-making and listening to sounds
• build independence: dressing, toileting, managing a lunchbox, tidying up
• learn to share, take turns and manage feelings
• go outside every day and often on trips

The legal minimum ratio is one adult to eight children aged 3 and over, or one to thirteen when a qualified teacher or early years teacher works directly with them.

Getting ready for school

Reception teachers do not expect children to read, write or count to 100. What helps most:

• Independence: going to the toilet, washing hands, putting on a coat and shoes.
• Communication: asking for help, following simple instructions, talking about their day.
• Social skills: playing with others, taking turns, coping with small frustrations.
• Curiosity and listening: enjoying stories and joining in songs.

Good nurseries plan for this in the final year, and many arrange visits from reception teachers or trips to local schools.

Applying for reception

You apply for a reception place through your local council, not the school, usually in the autumn and winter before your child starts. The national deadline is usually 15 January; check your council’s date. Our guide to moving on to reception explains the process and how to use nearby schools data.

Extra support

If your child may need extra help with speech, behaviour or development, the pre-school year is a good time to raise it, so support is in place before school. Talk to the nursery’s SENCO and your health visitor.

Choosing a setting for this year

If your child is already happy at nursery, staying usually makes sense. Some families move to a school nursery class or pre-school at 3 to use funded hours in term time or to get to know a school; see school nursery vs day nursery. Whatever you choose, visit with our visit checklist and ask how the setting prepares children for reception.