Very shy 3-year-old - should he start his school nursery or stay with his small childcare?

[Yellowwaves]

My 3-year-old has a place at school nursery starting this week. It's just mornings and his phased start is wednesday.

He is very shy and I'm worried that I'm making a mistake taking him out of his small childminder setting and putting him in school nursery.

The nursery is in large school - two form entry - and a really imposing huge building. It's outstanding - and the school he'll go to.

He also has a space at a much smaller private nursery that I haven't turned down yet. Or I could keep him where he is.

My reason for moving him is both money (his childminder is more expensive than school nursery) and because I wonder if starting school nursery this year at school will make next year easier on him.

But I'm worried that forcing him into a big setting will be bad for him... and that, by sending him to school nursery, I'm effectively starting his formal education at age 3. Feels so young!

Don't know what to do!

[HSMMaCM]

You know your child best. If you're worried about him starting in a big setting when he's 4, why would you make him do it when he's 3?

Your CM will be following the same EYFS curriculum and as long as she's taking him out and about, so he's mixing with other children, that should be fine.

We rush children into schools far too early in this country.

Anyway rant over . You know your child best.

[Yellowwaves]

You know- you're right. My instinct is telling me he's too young and it's too big. He's very, very shy - the group will probably overwhelm him.

I feel the same as you - children start school too early in the UK! I don't know why I'm starting him even earlier. (Well, I sort of was because it will save us a fortune )

I am going to keep his place at his childminder a bit longer. Thank you for helping me see what I already knew deep down!