Apply for a part-time nursery place (3-year olds)
Page updated on: 13/02/2025
Part-Time Nursery and Early Years Education
Children in Wales are entitled to 10 hours of funded, part-time, Early Years education in an approved early years setting or school. Children can access education from the beginning of the term after their third birthday.
In addition to part time education hours, eligible working parents of children aged 3 to 4 years old can apply to access up to 20 hours of funded childcare through the Childcare Offer for Wales.
List of Maintained Settings Offering Early Years Education
If you wish to apply for a part-time education place in a maintained setting, apply directly to the setting.
Early Years Education in a School
You will need to make an online application to the local authority if you wish to apply for part-time education in a 3-11 school.
Parents will need to apply separately for a full-time primary school place. The allocation or attendance in a part-time place at the school or a nearby maintained setting will not be considered when allocating full time places in a school.
Only once you have made an application and had confirmation from the Admissions Service that your child has been accepted, can your child start school.
Important information: Children Born before 1st September 2021
Children born before the 1st of September 2021 can have up to 2 terms of education in a 3-11 age school.
Children Born on or after 1st September 2021
Children born on or after 1st September 2021 will be entitled to up to 3 terms of part time education in 3-11 age schools from the 1st September 2025, and eligible to start full time school in the term following their 4th birthday – a separate application must be made for a full time school place.
For more information on the change to full time education start dates Click here! (link to Primary full time page)
If you've missed the application deadline you can still make a late application, however it may affect your chances of getting a place.
Provision |
Born between |
School start date |
Application deadline |
Notification date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Part-time nursery education (3-years old) |
1 September 2021 to 31 August 2022 |
January, April, September 2025 |
31 July 2024 |
October 2024 |
We only accept applications for Carmarthenshire schools, and you can only apply online. You will need to provide the following information:
- Parent / guardians name* and address
- Parent / guardians email**
- Childs name, address and date of birth
- Choice of school – you can choose up to three schools in order of preference
* Anyone with parental responsibility must agree to this application before you submit it.
** If you don’t have an e-mail address you cannot apply. Please visit your local school and they will assist you with your online application.
Once we've received your application you will receive an e-mail acknowledgement of your application with a unique reference number for your application and a .pdf copy of your submission. All correspondence about your application will be sent via e-mail or post. If your application was on time, you will be notified in October the year before e.g. Term starts in 2025 you will be notified in October 2024.
If your application was late, it reduces your chances of getting a place and we can’t guarantee your child will start at the beginning of term. We will notify you as soon as possible but the application process takes up to eight weeks.
If you are offered a place, you must confirm that you accept the place by the deadline noted on the email/letter. If you don’t your place may be taken away. Once you’ve accepted your child’s place you must contact the school to agree a start date.
If your child is refused a nursery place to all of your chosen schools, there is no right to appeal, and you will need to inform us in writing if you wish your child's name to be kept on a waiting list until 30th September and if a place becomes available, we’ll let you know. You can make a late application for other schools.
