Full time school after no time at nursery?

[mollysmum82]

DD has just turned two and I'm starting to think about putting her name on the waiting list for preschools. I've looked after her full time so far and she hasn't been to a nursery as yet so I'm a bit concerned about how she'll settle in. I work in the evenings so looking after in the day isn't an issue, its more I want her to have experience of being left with other children/adults before she starts school full time. One of my concerns is all the preschools I've looked at say you have to do five half days or more. I'm worried this will be too much for her, going from nothing to five mornings. Has anyone else done this? How did your LOs cope, if you don't mind me asking? Or did anyone bypass the nursery stage altogether and just put their DCs into school?

Thanks very much in advance

[dearheart]

All the teachers I know say nursery makes a huge difference to a child's experience of school, so I would definitely do something from three years. The preschools near me are brilliant but I needed more flexible hours. Both dds went to private nursery - which too vouchers - for two short days a week. That worked v well for us. Personally I hate the five day week, and there does seem to be more strictness around attendance.

[Simic]

My dd went from nothing to five mornings and I think it wasn´t any worse to get used to than if she´d only had a few mornings. The first few weeks she was really tired by Friday but she soon got into the swing of things. I think it is do-able. And I think it is easier to get used to than when children only go for one morning a week - they get to build up a real, loving relationship with the staff much quicker. When it comes down to it, it´s a question of how good the preschool and the staff are...

[An0therName]

really do they say 5 days a week? both the pre-schools my DS when to were much more flexiable - are the ones you looked at attached to a school - they tend to be a bit less flexiable - keep looking
that said I knew a boy who had always been at home -june birthday - went straight pretty much to 5 mornings a week at nursery september he was 3 - just fine
but agree something the year before school is very useful -really help her prepare - so if she is not yet 2 -I would have thought that woudl be in 2 years! you could start eairler and mine did - but its the year before school is the one that will make the difference.
one other thought its nice although not essential for the pre-school to have some children that might be a school with your child

[HoneyPablo]

I would agree that going to a nursery or pre-school makes a huge difference in how children cope at school and with life in general. It's not called the Early Years Foundation Stage for nothing- it is the basis for all future learning.
You have lots of options, you can use a sessional pre-school or you can send her to a nursery school attached to a school or you can even send her to a private day nursery. They all deliver the EYFS and many day nurseries provide the free 15 hours nursery education grant. They are also more likely to be flexible with regards to sessions.
Just ask everyone you know where they send/sent their pre-schoolers. You are more likely to find a decent nursery through personal recommendation rather than by trawling through OFSTED reports (which are often out of date and don't represent a true picture)

[Tarenath]

To add a different view,
My eldest is 4.5 and has never been to nursery. He's fine with being left at classes etc, socialising in small groups etc. He gets a bit more overwhelmed with larger groups but I think that's just the way he is. When he was younger we used to go to a very busy playgroup and he made it very clear that he didn't like it and would try to escape. I've found that keeping him at home has helped make his relationship with us more secure so that he is happier to be left if that makes sense. He isn't clingy at all.

In terms of going straight into 5 days a week, I've looked after children that have gone to school based nurseries etc. They have coped fine with going five sessions straight away. It does tend to make them tired and grumpy towards the end of the week to begin with but they do get used to it.

[Littlefish]

I'm a nursery teacher. I have two children who've just started, having been at home up to this point. They are both starting with only 2 sessions a week, and will build up gradually to 5 sessions a week. However, I haven't looked at the funding implications of this. - that's my job for next week!

[BlowHole]

My Ds has just started 5 x 3 hour sessions a week. It's early days, but he seems to be coping fine. He has never been to any other nursery or child care.

[Frawli]

Something that I think is good to consider is how long they'll be at the preschool too. My friend's little boy started at preschool when he had just turned two and because his birthday is at the beginning of the school year he had 2 full school years there before he could go to the nursery attached to his school for the school year in which he turned 4. 2 years in a preschool is quite a long time depending on how it's pitched. He was quite bored of it by that time.

[BarmyBiscuit]

My DS never went to any playgroup or nurseries before starting 5 days a week and I was worried he wouldn't like it but apart from the first day when he cried for ten minutes, he has been fine and he loves it.

[mollysmum82]

Thanks so much for all your replies, its interesting to hear about your experiences and I really appreciate your help x

[kiwidreamer]

My DS turned 3 at the end of July and completed his first week at pre-school last week, straight in to 5 mornings from being home with me full time. He is a fairly adaptable lad but with the arrival of his baby sister a few months ago I was a little concerned how he would settle. We had the option of 3 mornings but if we took the 3 we wouldn't have been able to increase to 5, and with DS having to start school this time next year we decided to go for the 5 mornings and see how he coped, if he wasn't enjoying it then we'd look at scaling back. He has taken to it like a duck to water, I stayed with him for a visiting session the week before and on the first proper day he was 100% happy for me to leave him, and the rest of the week went great too. I like to think that it could be because he is a very secure little boy who knows mummy will be waiting for him after snack and singing time because I was able to spend those early years at home with him he isn't fearful of being left.

[yellowsubmarine41]

In you position, I'd put her name down at any you like and you can make the decision nearer the time. Children change a lot over the course of a year - you might feel that she's more than ready for it this time next year.

[Seona1973]

both mine started doing 5 x 2.5hr sessions just after they turned 3. DD hadnt been to anything else before that but ds had been in the sports centre creche a couple of times a week from about 18 months old so was more used to being left with others. Both settled into nursery fine and both settled into school fine too (ds just started school in August at age 4y 10m)

[mollysmum82]

Thanks for your help - its such a relief! I think I'm struggling more with the idea of leaving her than she will be :)