DD (3) has just started at a lovely (non-school) preschool. She wasn't initially offered a place at a school nursery (over-subscribed london schools), but we stayed on the waiting list and now a place at the school nursery has come up for next term. There's sadly no way she'll get a reception place there, so only a consideration for nursery.
I don't know what to do, and I'm hoping you can give me your views!
In favour of her current preschool:
- staff are really kind and caring. They have a high staff ratio, and are always ready with a cuddle.
- she seems to like her key worker (One day last week she stayed on her lap for 30 mins, which I'm sure wouldn't be possible in a school nursery.)
- they seem switched on to EYF and I was impressed at their tracking/planning
- pretty well resourced (and change things around/have themes)
- ofsted outstanding
- have longer opening hours than school nursery and are flexible so logistics are easy. School nursey logistics are tricky and mean she'd miss time with me (I work part time) and also other activities
- the pre-school prefer not to take children for a single term, since they believe it's too unsettling for them, and I think they might have a point. DD struggles with new places (still cries at drop off). Shifting her after a term wasn't my intention but if I give up the school space we've unexpectedly been given I probably won't get it again in September
In favour of the school nursery:
- it's an absolutely idyllic setting: large bright rooms in a small school surrounded by woods.
- Separate lovely playground for nursery so they can be outside lots (current pre-school has free-flow to outside and makes good use of it, but not as lovely)
- I really, really like the feel of the school (calm, respectful of the children and each other) and I'm sure those values extend into the nursery.
- they do some free-flow between nursery and reception each day, so there's opportunity to mix with older children and their teachers an perhaps feel part of the wider school, which may help with the move to reception (even though that will be a different school)
- I get the impression that a school nursery will do more 'school' type tasks like learning letters than her current preschool (who do take small groups apart each day, but it's a small part of the session)
- I know that school nurseries have a qualified teacher, so that presumably helps learning too.
- DD has 5 terms in nursery before she starts reception, and I worry that she'll outgrow her cosy little setting by then
About DD:
- She's sensitive and struggles a LOT with separation, although once she feels safe somewhere she's quite confident and happy
- not worried about her academically just now. She seems bright and quick to learn, but not 'scary clever' so I don't think she would have unusual educational needs.
- BUT we're considering trying to get her into a selective indie for reception. Not a really-hard-to-get-into London one, but still selective. As I said, I think she's bright, but I worry she could be let down by lack of confidence with unknown adults, or by not having done enough of the 'learning' type things which 'posh' pre-schools and even school nurseries seem to do more of
Thank you for making it through that essay! What would you do?
so hopefully someone else with more knowledge of that aspect will be along soon.
Some do it by ballot, but that adds its own stress.