What age to start pre school?

[Mumcah]

My DD is 2.8 and I have found a lovely pre school round the corner from here.They are flexible with sessions so we'd probably start with 2 or 3 mornings a week.
I just wondered what age most children start pre school?My baby group friends children mainly go to nursery or childminders but we work funny hours so use a babysitter.
I did find a nice Montessori but it's a bit far away and very expensive,and like the idea of being literally round the corner from this one.Plus they have to do 5 sessions which I think is a bit much at first.

[JustDoMyLippyThenWeWillGo]

I agree that five sessions too much at that age. If it helps, I am going to put my dc into playgroup 2 mornings a week when he is 2.9 as think that will give him some independence and play, but no need for five days in overly structured environment at that age, if you are able to choose. Your plan sounds good to me

[Seona1973]

neither of mine started till they were 3 and they got their free sessions - they went for 5 mornings

[Mumcah]

Ok that's great.thanks ladies.DD is going for an hour next Friday (with me) so we can see what it's like.

[gabid]

My DS went to nursery 1 full day per week from about 6 months old. As he grew the nursery provision seemed similar if not better than the pre-school he started going to at 3 - they did similar things, lots of free play. However, DS seemed to settle well as he is very sociable but never liked big crowds and in the end didn't really enjoy the free play environment at pre-school.

DD will be 3 next October and we will start sending her to pre-school 2 mornings the following January. DD does not go to nursery so it will be the first time without mummy or daddy. DD is quite shy but I think we need to make sure she knows and trusts at least one person there before we leave her.

All children are different and sometimes I feel in retrospect DS would have been better off with a childminder and just a few other children - now he is in Y1 and thrives on the structure at school - but still, today he is going to a big birthday party and seems quite nervous and in two minds whether he wants to go at all.

[LondonSuperTrooper]

My DS started when he was 3 x

[SkyBluePearl]

two (or three sessions max) at 2.8 maybe. Depends on the child really but that would suit mine.

[mummyshreddingnora]

dd started on 2 sessions at 2.8 / 2.9 then we upped it once she got the funded sessions to 3 and then from sept (3.6 ish) to 4 sessions... they have a lunch club there so she got the choice of 5 mornings, with no lunch or 4 with - she chose the lunch clubs!

[AphraBen]

DS started 5 mornings montessori at 3.5 - and he loves it. DD will start 2 mornings per week in a play based preschool at 3.1 yrs old

horses for courses, go with what feels right for you and if it feels wrong, change it.