# The pre-school year

What the year before reception looks like at nursery or pre-school, the universal 15 hours, getting ready for school and applying for a reception place.

By The Toddly editorial team. Updated 14 November 2026. Page: https://toddly.co.uk/guides/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](/guides/30-hours-from-9-months), and our [start date tool](/funded-hours-start-date) 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](/glossary/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](/guides/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](/glossary/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](/guides/school-nursery-vs-day-nursery). Whatever you choose, visit with our [visit checklist](/nursery-visit-checklist) and ask how the setting prepares children for reception.

## Related

- [Funded hours start date](https://toddly.co.uk/funded-hours-start-date)

## Frequently asked questions

### Do all 3-year-olds get funded hours?

Yes. Every 3 and 4-year-old in England can get 15 funded hours a week for 38 weeks, from the term after their 3rd birthday, whatever their parents earn. Eligible working families can get 30.

### Does my child need to read before reception?

No. Reception teachers do not expect children to read or write when they start. Independence, communication and confidence matter more.

### When do I apply for a reception place?

Through your council, usually by mid-January of the year your child starts school. Check your council's exact deadline.