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

Answer 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

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 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

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.