School Nursery Classes
Your child can start nursery in a school in the September after their third birthday. Applications become available in the January of the calendar year they can start.
If you are not sure when you should apply, see this guide
If your child is at the right age to apply now, you can complete a form and give it back to your chosen school by hand, post or email.
Make an applicationAll nursery classes within schools offer 15 hours of early education but many schools also offer 30 hours.
30 hours of early education at a school nursery class
If you're a working parent with a valid 30-hour childcare code, the schools listed below offer nursery classes for 30 hours a week.
If your child turned 3 before 1 September 2025, you might still be able to apply for a nursery class place now. Here's what to do:
- Contact your chosen school to check for available nursery spaces.
- Tell them you have a 30-hour code and want to use it.
Applying for September 2026?
Applications open in January 2026 and are for children who turn 3 between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026.