How much pre- school is the right amount?

[itisthattimeagain]

Next year my DS will go to preschool for a year before he starts school. So he'll be 3, and starting school at 4.

I'm a SAHM and so I don't need pre-school for childcare, but of course I want him to gain the experience and spend time without me.

So how often should I send him? I was thinking 2 days (9-3 ) is that too little ?

DS1 did 16 hours (2 days 9-12, 2 days 9-2) in his pre school year. I only had to pay for one hour a week as he had 15 hours funded. He had done two morning sessions a week for the two terms before that as well.

He is very outgoing and sociable and really enjoyed it, and the routine did set him up well for school.

I would say that most of the children in their pre school year were doing about the same number of sessions.

I was also glad of the break as I had DS2 to look after by then! And even without that complication, I would have struggled to entertain and stimulate an energetic 4 year old for 5 days a week tbh.

Mine goes for one full school hours day (9am-3pm) and two mornings (9am-12.30pm). She’ll be old in her year group (and possibly bored) so I may up her hours a little bit early next year.

I’ve found with mine that more frequent but shorter days is best. That way they get the most out of the daily routine. For my kids, the ideal was 8/9-12, 5 days a week. Dc2 did only 2 full-time days a week at one stage and I feel like he was forgotten a bit compared to the kids who went more frequently and he would get upset when activities (stuff like teddy bear picnic day) fell on his off days.

Up to you . Mine had a nanny at home who did lots of meeting up with other nannies and kids things for education and learning social skills . So no preschool , just straight into reception at 4 .

Mine did every morning 9-12. That way they got into the routine of getting up and dressed and going and it worked well to dispel any worries about whether today was a school day or not.

In a similar position, we did one morning and one afternoon and he was fine starting school. Two "full" days will be plenty.

Depends on the child. DD1 was one of the older ones and did 3 full days (9-3). DD2 is in her pre school year now but is a July baby so just 3. She does 15 house (2 days 9-3, 1 day 12-3). I may increase it after Christmas. Both love/loved it and thrived.

Depends on your routine I think. If music/gym/swimming in your area is all on an afternoon or he likes napping still then go for 3 or 4 mornings. If days are best then 2 or 3 days

My DS did 5 days a week from age 2, 12pm-3pm. Suited us really well as we did activities in the morning and most toddler groups are in the morning where we live.

My daughter did 6 months of 2 afternoon sessions 12.30-3pm, she was 3 in June and I've just upped her hours to 9-3 x 3 days a week

Where I come from, children do five days a week 9-12 for the academic year after their third birthday.

Mine did everyday 9-3 as we qualified for 30 free hours. He really loved it and has settled well into school.

Mine do their 15 free hours. So 2 days 9 till 3 and one morning 9 till 12.

Are you looking at private nursery or school nursery? Many school nurseries stipulate the hours ie 8.45-11.45 and 12.15-3.15 and they do not offer full days. They also expect children in 5 days as that's what they base their (funding) learning on.

DS goes afternoons atm, morning next term

Where i am children do 9-4.30 Mon-Fri from the September the calendar year they turn 3. DS is a December baby, so the youngest, he started at 2.9yo. He'd previously done a year of playschool (kindergarten??) 9-noon.

There are 3 optional years, but they must start the calendar year they turn 6. At almost-7yo, DS is about to start year 2 (? I think.... Not sure of UK equivalent).

Bar the odd tear, they all go in pretty happily. Of course it is mostly play at that age and if they stay in school for lunch they have a siesta, you supply a small pillow and blanket for when it's winter, teddy bear optional

For the 3 youngest years there are no half days (except at the start of term, 2 weeks of mornings, then in all day). It's free, so every child starts at 3yo/almost 3yo.

It will be a community preschool so not attached to a school and not a private daycare. So they offer mornings 9-12 or afternoons 12-3 or full days 9-3.

My 2.5 year old has just started and does 12 until 3 all 5 days a week. Means she spends time with me in the mornings but gets to be with other kids her own age (barring her sister) for the afternoon.

Mine did 3 morning , rising to 4 mornings. This was plenty and they thrived at school. It gives enough time to do other stuff like swimming lessons or sports classes

I'm a SAHM too OP, so I just look at it as a chance for DD to socialise with other children. She started in January on two mornings a week 9-12 and moved up to 3 mornings at Easter. I want to move her up to 4 after Christmas but she has been crying all evening that she doesn't want to go to school anymore and just wants to be with me . She settled in fine to start with but seems to have now hit a more clingy stage. She is still only three. I'm taking a very softly-softly approach with getting her accustomed to full-time schooling and I'm sure other posters will be a bit about my strategy but I'm just trying to say that you probably know best what your child is ready for and if you have a pre-school who can accomodate it then you can start slow and build up gradually.

Dd did 3 mornings a week for the first year, then 4 mornings for the second year. I think that was just right. She had plenty of time to make friends and get used to being away from me and her confidence grew massively. However, we still had plenty of time to play at home, go out to places etc.

My ds has just started pre school he does mon wed fri 9-3 tue thur 9-12 I felt it was important to have him in everyday to get him prepared for school