Nursery Education for 3 and 4 Year Old Children in Torfaen

In Torfaen there are a range of settings available to nursery age children both maintained by theLocal Authority and from the private and voluntary sectors.

At what age will my child be able to go to nursery?

Your child can start nursery at the start of the school year in which he/she will be four years old. Sometimes it is possible to start from the beginning of the term following a child's third birthday, if places are available.

What times will my child be at nursery?

Nursery education funded places in Torfaen are allocated on a part-time basis (morning or afternoon sessions only) for five days per week. In certain limited circumstances, full time placements may be offered to four year olds

How do I apply?

You should receive an application form in the post in the September before your child's third birthday. If you have not received an application form by the end of September of that year, contact the Admissions team on 01633 647344.

Parents will be notified of the outcome of their application via the school/unit for which they applied.

What will my child do in nursery education?

Nursery schools and classes are part of the Foundation Phase. Through well-planned play, children will develop skills such as speaking, listening, persistence, concentration, learning to co-operate with other children, as well as early reading, writing and numbers. This will help ensure that your child experiences the best possible start to his/her education.

How do I find a nursery school or class?

Details of all the Local Authority nursery schools and classes are included in the Torfaen Parent/ Carers Schools Information Booklet. You will be sent this booklet with your application form.

Click on the image of either the English or Welsh version below to view the Torfaen Schools Infomation Booklet 2010 online:


(Welsh version starts on page 53 of the PDF)

Can my child attend a Playgroup or Day Nursery and still be funded for nursery education?

Some playgroups, cylchoedd meithrin and private day nurseries in Torfaen are registered to provide nursery education. Torfaen Local Education Authority can fund your child's placement at one of these settings on a part-time basis for a minimum of 10 hours over 4-5 days. Where a child attends a private day nursery, parents will be responsible for any additional cost over and above the funding allocated by Torfaen County Borough Council.

Registered nursery education providers from the private/voluntary sector are also listed in the Schools Information Booklet (as shown below). You can contact Torfaen Family Information Service on freephone 0800 0196 330 or email fis@torfaen.gov.uk to request details of registered nursery education providers at any time.