WWYD - Day Nursery or Pre-school with wrap around childminder?

[Waspie]

My son is three and I'm debating whether to keep him in full time day nursery or to send him to our catchment school's pre-school, which is term time and morning only, and supplement this with a wrap around childminder. There seem to be several in my area who do pre-school drop off and pick up.

I work full time so I need 8am until 6pm child care four days a week.

My dilemma is that the only day nurseries are not particularly close to home and are unlikely to have any children with whom he will go to infant school. It seems more likely that the pre-school attached to the catchment school will have children who will go on to infant school there.

My son's current day nursery is closing so we have no choice but to move so he is going to have to get used to a new environment one way or the other.

The options are just going around my head and I can?t decide which would be best for my son. Please tell me, what would you do?

TIA

[ANTagony]

Does the school have enough places for when he is older?

Would a childminder offer a longer term consistency because they could continue to do pre/ post school/ holiday care once he's in full time?

[Waspie]

I've spoken to the council and he's pretty much guaranteed a place at the infant school (as far as they can commit anyway).

I was hoping not to be in this position for another 18 months but the nursery closure has forced my hand.

I think you're right, a childminder would probably offer longer term consistency. He is very social and doesn't have a problem mixing with others but I don't want to change his child care more than is completely necessary which I think may be the case if I choose a new day nursery.

I have always favoured nursery over a childminder because I thought that he would experience greater variety and mix with more children. But he would have this by spending the mornings in pre-school I guess.

[ANTagony]

I think generally its swings and roundabouts.
There is potentially a slight advantage of getting in with the other mums/ parents at the school so you've got extra childcare options which in my experience is something I've always shared with other school parents but not something I ever shared with other nursery parents. Might just be me though.

[sunsplash]

Hi waspie

I have been thinking about this but unlike you my hand hasn't been forced so to speak. Since you have to change I think the pre-school/childminder would provide stimulation as well as consistency and is likely to make school transition easier and since you're all but guaranteed a place in the school i would go for that option - less disruption i think! I also preferred nurseries but may change approach when DD turns 3.

[Waspie]

Thanks ladies, I appreciate your thoughts. I think I will investigate the childminder and pre-school option and, if it's viable, go with this.

I don't think any other nursery could match up to my son's current nursry anyway.