ethel,
I think there is N1 n N2 too(not too sure though)
Nursery-Kindy education is non-compulsory.
for your boy, he should be in playgroup in Jan 2007
but again, it varies from school to school though they way they group the kids are abt the same.(some classify nursery as 2.5yrs, some as 3yrs)
registration/enrolment: depends on the popularity of the school.
some schools have a long wait list and requires you to register months/year before.
some has immediate vacancy.
some prefer you enrol when the new term starts so its easier transition for everyone.
some schools have a certain registration period.
most playgroups - nursery are about 2.5-3hrs, @ 2x-5x a week.
it depends on whats your objectives of sending your ds to school.
for most, its to give the children opportunity to socialise, less so learning the 3Rs.
normally its the parents who are 'not ready'
(me included

)
hence some parents look for pg with very small teacher:student ratio. (for our kids, abt 1:8 ?)
there are many choices around your place as its a new estate teeming with young parents.