Nursery or preschool vs childminder

[PaulaD120]

My son has been with a childminder 2 days per week since he was 8 months old. He is nearly 3 and I have come to the predicament of whether to put him into nursery or keep him with the childminder. The childminder does not drop off/ collect at any nursery but there is a playschool that will offer this at a ridiculous fee. We need the collection and drop offs as my partner and I both work until after nursery hours.
Alternatively, the childminder can have him at reasonable times and this will be free childcare as per the 30 free hours scheme.
Not sure what to do as my child has a great relationship with the childminder and if we stay with her she can offer a wrap around service and school runs when my child is 5. Will my son miss out on development if he doesn't go to nursery, stays with the childminder, and just starts full time school when he is 5?
I often take my son to play group so he is always around other children but his speech development is slow.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[BackforGood]

He won't miss out if he is used to going to groups.
Having wrap around care all ready for school is a real bonus. If she also offers the funded hours, I'd leave him where he is.

[PaulaD120]

Thankyou. It's nice to have advice.
I didn't know whether it would slow his development as he is only at groups 3 hours a week.

[insancerre]

The childminder has to follow the EYFS same as the nursery or preschool
He won't miss out on anything
I would be inclined to keep him where he is, if it is convenient for you and he is settled
Plus you will have it all soreted for when he starts school

[Pluckedpencil]

Definitely leave him where he is. More one to one time, it is proven in various studies too the under 2s are better with a childminder due to raised levels of aggression thought to be triggered by slightly raised levels of cortisol- only slightly on average...but still, no point moving him from what is actually the advised option for an under 2. No problems at all with nurseries by the way, it's just a lot of people are under the false impression that under 2s need 'socialisation' when in reality they need strong attachment to a primary caregiver and that's it. Please don't pile on me, I know nursery is pretty much as good and maybe better for some children, especially good quality nurseries.

[HSMMaCM]

If you are happy with your CM and she is going to provide school care too, then I'd stay. It sounds like he's getting and and interacting with other children and adults.

[ChristmasAccountant]

Recently had similar as I went back to work after DC2 and childminder had no space for a baby.
After much deliberation we put both DC (eldest was 3, now 4) in a nursery.
The difference in DC1 is remarkable - he's socialising more, learning more and seems much more stimulated than he was with CM which I think is great for him.
It may be the same EYFS but the nursery environment has been massively beneficial for dc1.

[eurochick]

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. We had decided against pre-School. Our little one is with a brilliant nanny. After visiting schools in advance of Reception applications, a number of teachers mentioned they could clearly tell which children had been in a pre-school type environment. As ours will be one of the youngest in the year and seems to be less good at following instructions than her peers we decided we should give her a taste of that environment before school, so we've just put her in pre-School for two mornings a week. That way she still spends most time with her nanny but gets a taste of pre-School. She's just started and seems to love it so far.

[PaulaD120]

Very helpful messages. My child doesn't socialise well so will probably loom at keeping child minder 2 days and putting him in pre-school the other 2.5. It's hard as i work shifts, but this should work and at least I will will still have the childminder during holidays. I won't bother with the nursery unless my childminder can't do the two days I need. Thanks everyone. All very helpful!!!