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, Early Years Education or Foundation Learning.

This phase is crucial in your child’s life, laying the foundation for their future learning, physical growth, and emotional development. Nursery education is an integral part of the Curriculum for Wales. To learn more about Early Years Education in Wales and its delivery, please refer to this guide produced by the Welsh Government.

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

Access timetable

The table below shows when Early Years Education will be available for your child.

Where to access Early Years Education

Your child is entitled to a minimum of 10 hours per week of Early Years Education. This is offered in a range of funded childcare settings, including Playgroups, Cylch Meithrin, day nurseries as well as in schools. During the academic year of your child’s 4th birthday, Early Years Education is only available in a school setting.

• Click here to find your nearest approved childcare settings currently offering Early Years Education places.

How to apply

All applications for Early Years Education places must be made on the Caerphilly School Admissions Website. You will need to create an account on the parent portal. Once created, you can use the same account for each child in your family and for any future school applications. Applications open at the beginning of September for the following year.

• Apply Now

Important notes

• If you choose to send your child to an approved childcare provider instead of a school-based nursery, please discuss this with the leader at the childcare provision first to ensure there is a place available for your child.

• If your child attends a school based Early Years Education place in January or April, this does not automatically mean they can attend nursery at that school in September for the year 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.

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.