Early years education and starting school

Early years education and starting school

Funded, part time, early years education is available from the term following a child’s 3rd birthday.  This is sometimes called Rising 3’s or Foundation Learning.

This is a very important phase in your child’s life. It lays the building blocks for their future learning and their physical, and emotional development. This is why nursery education is part of Curriculum for Wales. You can find out more about Early Years Education in Wales and how it is delivered in this guide produced by the Welsh Government.

Curriculum for Wales –  Nursery education for 3 and 4 year olds: A guide for parents and carers

When to apply

You can apply for either a school nursery place or an early years education place in an approved childcare setting if your child’s 3rd birthday is between 1 September and 31 March. If your child’s 3rd birthday falls outside of these dates, you can only apply for a school nursery place.

The table below shows when that place will be available for your child.

Child’s 3rd Birthday When can my child access their early years education place?
1 September to 31 December The beginning of term on or after 1st January (Spring and Summer terms)
1 January to 31 March The beginning of term on or after 1st April (Summer term only)
1 April to 31 August The beginning of term on or after 1st September (School based Nursery only)

Where to apply

Your child is entitled to a minimum of 10 hours per week of Early Years Education setting which can be:

  • A nursery class in a school (see table below)
  • An approved pre-school or playgroup, or
  • An approved day nursery

Note: During the academic year of your child’s 4th birthday, early years education is only available in a school setting.

Click here for a list of pre-school, playgroups and day nurseries currently offering early years education places

The following table shows the schools in the county borough currently offering Early Years Education places for January, April and September 2025.

School Jan-25 Apr-25 Sep-25
Aberbargoed Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Abercarn Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Bedwas Infants Yes Yes Yes
Blackwood Primary Yes Yes Yes
Bryn Awel Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Bryn Primary Yes Yes Yes
Cefn Fforest Primary Yes Yes Yes
Coed-Y-Brain Primary Yes Yes Yes
Crumlin High Level Primary Yes Yes Yes
Cwm Glas Infants School No No No
Cwm Ifor Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Cwmaber Infants School Yes Yes Yes
Cwmcarn Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Cwmfelinfach Primary Yes Yes Yes
Cwrt Rawlin Primary School No No Yes
Deri Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Derwendeg Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Fleur-De-Lys Primary Yes Yes Yes
Fochriw Primary Yes Yes Yes
Gilfach Fargoed Primary Yes Yes Yes
Glyn-Gaer Primary School No No Yes
Graig-Y-Rhacca Primary And Nursery Community Yes Yes Yes
Greenhill Primary Yes Yes Yes
Hendre Infants School Yes Yes Yes
Hendredenny Park Primary Yes Yes Yes
Hengoed Primary Yes Yes Yes
Idris Davies School 3 to 18 Yes Yes Yes
Libanus Primary Yes Yes Yes
Llanfabon Infants School Yes Yes Yes
Machen Primary School No No Yes
Maesycwmmer Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Markham Primary No No Yes
Nant Y Parc Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Pantside Primary Yes Yes Yes
Park Primary Yes Yes Yes
Pengam Primary Yes Yes Yes
Penllwyn Primary Yes Yes Yes
Pentwynmawr Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Phillipstown Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Plasyfelin Primary School No No Yes
Pontllanfraith Primary School No No Yes
Rhiw Syr Dafydd Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Rhydri Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Risca Primary No No Yes
St Gwladys Bargoed School Yes Yes Yes
St Helens Rc Primary Yes Yes Yes
St James Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Tiryberth Primary Yes Yes Yes
Trinant Primary Yes Yes Yes
Trinity Fields School No No No
Twyn Primary Yes Yes Yes
Ty Isaf Infants School Yes Yes Yes
Ty Sign Primary School No No Yes
Tynewydd Primary School. Yes Yes Yes
Tyn-y-Wern Primary No No Yes
Upper Rhymney Primary School No No Yes
Waunfawr Primary No No No
White Rose Primary School No No Yes
Y G G Y Castell Yes Yes Yes
Ynysddu Primary School Yes Yes Yes
Ysgol Bro Sannan Yes Yes Yes
Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Allta No No Yes
Ysgol Gymraeg Caerffili Yes Yes Yes
Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon Yes Yes Yes
Ysgol Gymraeg Gilfach Fargod Yes Yes Yes
Ysgol Gymraeg Trelyn Yes Yes Yes
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Cwm Derwen No No Yes
Ysgol Ifor Bach Yes Yes Yes
Ysgol Penalltau Yes No Yes
Ysgol Y Lawnt Yes Yes Yes
Ystrad Mynach Primary Yes Yes Yes

Note: If your child attends a school based early years education place in either the spring or summer term, this does not automatically mean they can attend nursery at that school when they turn 4 years old. You will need to make a new application for nursery where the normal school admissions criteria will apply .Check which schools are in your catchment area here.

How to apply

To apply visit the school admissions section of the Caerphilly County Borough Council website.

Childcare Offer for Wales

Under the Childcare Offer for Wales, you could claim up to 30 hours of early education and childcare per week, for up to 48 weeks of the year. The scheme aims to make life a bit easier for parents or carers by providing support with childcare costs.

Eligible children aged 3-4 years could be entitled to government funded childcare from the term following their 3rd birthday until they are in full time education.

This means that, as well as 10 hours of part-time early years education, your child could also be entitled to 20 hours of funded childcare during term time, and 30 hours during school holidays.

Visit the Childcare Offer for Wales section for further details and how to apply.

 

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