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Pre-school dilemma -- WWYD?

8 replies

MegBusset · 19/09/2008 13:11

DS will be two in February and we'd hoped to start sending him to pre-school then for two days a morning, so he will be settled in by the time DC2 comes along in April.

There are two pre-schools near us, one is a mainstream and one is a Montessori. Both seem nice although we prefer the mainstream one as it is less focused on teaching, and more on free play which I think would be more suitable for him at 2.

The Montessori have places available from Feb and would let us book them now with a £130 deposit. However, the mainstream one will not let us prebook and don't have a waiting list system -- we would have to call in January and find out if there was a place available. They say it's quite likely that they will be full until September.

So WWYD? Enrol him at the Montessori so that he's got a guaranteed place in Feb then change him to the mainstream one in Sept? Is it a bad idea to swap pre-schools after 6 months?

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MegBusset · 19/09/2008 19:11

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TheBlonde · 19/09/2008 19:19

I did similar with DS
He went to a montessori from April - July and then switched to a regular preschool in Sept that was nearer to home
The summer break is long so changing wasn't an issue for us

No wait list seems a bit mad

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LIZS · 19/09/2008 19:21

why do you need to move him ?

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Redwood · 19/09/2008 19:21

I would go for the montessori, as both my dd who is now 5 and ds who is 3 go to one and I think it is excellent and they are/were very happy. But the one near you may be different, do you ahve anyone locally you can get an opinion from, where do you live - can you say vaguely?

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MegBusset · 19/09/2008 20:40

Thanks for replies.

LIZS: I suppose I wouldn't need to move him if he settled in fine at the Montessori, but if I thought he would prefer the mainstream one then I would need to move him in September.

Redwood: The Montessori nursery has only been open since Jan so it's hard to get a word-of-mouth opinion. I do like it but wonder if it's a bit too learning-focused for a just 2yo. What age did yours start?

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chankins · 19/09/2008 20:45

My dds both went to our local montessori at aged 3 years, and the learning approach was just right for them, and prepared them nicely for starting school the year after.

Not sure how they are run for 2 year old though. I would go back and ask about this.

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Redwood · 19/09/2008 20:46

both at 2 and at that age they were learnign through structured play and then as they get older it comes closed to direct learnign we would regonise but I love the calming influence also makes them tidy and good at sharing and helping others....