Two settings for same preschool. Choose Friends or Resources?

[MilkyVampire]

Hello all! I'm new on here, as signed up but never found the time to come on...

...until now as my DD aged 3.4yrs has finally started Nursery after 3 years at home with me socialising her and tearing my hair out! She's a handful!

So, she had the option of going to two different sites that are the same nursery. One is brand new for term time government funded kids, and one is old, worn and well loved you could say and has all the full year round, privately paying kids some that are now eligible for funding.

The nursery is well regarded by parents and my friend's DS's both go. The older one is my DD's best bud and I so wanted her to go with one of her friends to help her settle in and just to have one another. But I was told that wasn't an option... until Friday when after her first half day trial, they said she could be with her friend if I wanted!

So yesterday we trialed with her friend at his older setting and the first room I dropped her off in seemed to have a lovely welcoming atmosphere and I could see why my friend liked it. There were fairy lights in the breakfast room. My DD's buddy ran up to her very confused as to why his non nursery bud was now here in this world with him! It felt good!

I left quickly for an appointment and when I returned, she'd had a great morning! I thought that would be that BUT then I asked for a guided tour of the facilities, and I was really disappointed compared to the other new setting.

The room she'd been in was different from the one I'd left her in and was small with only one table to sit at that was out. The toilets were old and tatty. I couldn't see how there was space to do crafts. The outdoor area had all its murals worn away and just a basic spongy flooring. However there was a male worker, which is rare and they'd been playing some great games outside with hoops, cones and balls, which I knew she'd have loved! There's no grass area though there, though they 'plan' to add a side bit with some grass for planting etc. Though when I don't know.

The new setting by comparison has a larger well lit room with several new tables, new carpet in the story area, all resources were in wallets or in drawers tidy. There was a sand/water tray, wooden shop area. A little wooden slide/bridge climbing frame. And the outdoor area is a completely private, mature tree grassed area with a wooden pyramid den and chalk boards. Lovely really!

So, do I go with the better equipped, new resources setting, or the knackered one where her friend is?

It might sound clear cut but it's hard to call as she hasn't had her own chance to make friends like her buddy has in his setting and I'm sure that contributed to the nice atmosphere, whereas the kids don't know one another yet at the new one.

The two settings don't combine at all as far as I'm aware socially.

Would you put your child in with their friend, despite the place being knackered, or in the place with better facilities and let her make her own friends?