Confused about daycare nursery versus sessional nursery....

[varmit]

Hi there

Can anyone can enlighten me on this issue. My 22 month old has been attending a full day care nursery since he was a year old, just one day a week when I go to work. I have applied for and been offered a place at a sessional nursery, to start when he is three, which is five mornings a week for three hours. This is obviously not as convenient for working mums, and I would need to arrange a nanny to collect him at lunchtime and spend the afternoon with him. But I have been under the impression that these are more education based sessions, and would benefit him in the year before he starts school. Now I'm wondering if I'll be making a rod for my own back as not only is it just mornings, but also termly, so there will be lots of extra nanny time to incorporate when I'm at work. I want to do what's best for my son, but I'm confused as to what the real difference is between these types of nurseries.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Thanks!

[nurseryvoice]

A lot of parents get confused about this.
Basically if your child attends a private day nursrey you can get funding for the sessions there anyway.
So if you have one day then you can have 2 x sessions ie one in am one in pm
your bill will be reduced by those hours
so in affect could have a day at half price term time and full price not term time.
you can then if you wish have the other 3 sessions either at your private day nursery or at the pre school.
Dont let pre schools fob you off you are allowed to share the funding between 2 settings.
Ask your nursery for details.
All private day nurseries that receive funding have to follow exactly the same format and the eyfs as the traditional pre schools.

[CMOTdibbler]

His day care nursery have to do exactly the same things as anyone else, so if it's extra hassle, leave him there.

My Ds is 3 and in the preschool room of his daycare nursery - they do a lot of pencil skills, number and matching games etc to prepare for school.

I'll get money off his bill for his early education funding

[purepurple]

I work in a day nursery, so have experience of this.
Both places will be doing the same things, following the same framework, The Early Years Foundation Stage.
When your child is entitled to the funding ( the term after their 3rd birthday) your fees will be reduced at the day nursery (term time only)
You can leave your DC at the day nursery, he will not be behind when he starts school as the pre-school room will be enough preparation for him. He will still be following the Early Years Foundation Stage for the first year of school anyway. There is now no distinction between 'care' and 'education', the child is allowed to develop holistically.

[varmit]

Thanks so much for all your feedback. I think I'll wait and see how he is a few months down the line and make a decision about it all then. My only concern with the day nursery is that it caters for alot of children of varying age, in a relatively small environment. Inevitably this makes it more chaotic and I think a morning session in a smaller, calmer place may help him concentrate.
Thanks again!