SCHOOL NURSERY V PRIVATE NURSERY

[didihearthatright123456]

My 2.5 year old twins are due to start their free 30 hours nursery place in September next year. I know this seems a long way off but their current private nursery is pressuring me to confirm whether they'll still be there next year or not.

The scenario's I've got are the following:-

Private Nursery

Attend every morning 5 days per week all year round

Attend for 2.5 days all year round

School Nursery

1st choice of nursery won't confirm that they have a spot until Easter next year

2nd choice has confirmed that they have a place, their 30 hours runs from 9-3 Monday - Thursday and then half a day Friday.

My dilema is this:-

1st choice school is a CofE school. I regularly go to this church and run a playgroup at the church each week, so whilst it won't guarantee them a spot when it comes to a Primary place it's a good start.

I ideally want the girls to go to a nursery where they'll go to primary (isn't that most peoples preference though??), so although I have a nursery place at 2nd choice, I'd ideally like them to have a seamless journey through nursery and then primary at my 1st choice.

The hours for private nursery aren't really ideal for me, although it is a bonus that it's all year round and not just term time.

So should I confirm to the private nursery that they'll be attending next September, and then just see how things play out come Easter? I have zero idea how these things work, is this what most people do? Confirm with several places and then choose what fits best???

I have no ill intentions here in deceiving anyone, I'm just trying to navigate my through it

Don't worry about the transition from school nursery to school.

Being at the school's nursery is no guarantee of a place and not every child in reception will have attended that nursery.

My son was the only child from his preschool to go to his school and he's settled pretty well. We've decided to send our daughter to his old preschool rather than his schools nursery. The hours at the preschool just work better for us, even though as a sibling she is high up the priority list.

Just go for whichever one works out best for you

How much do you need the cover in the school holidays? I'm planning on keeping my DD2 at her private nursery after September next year when her free hours kick in because the school nursery is closed in the school holidays (obviously) and I'd need alternative childcare arrangements for her. It's not so bad for DD1 (in Reception) as she can go to holiday clubs and after school club during the week but they don't take children younger than 4.

I agree with a PP not to worry too much about the transition to school. I really worried about this as DD1 is quite shy and a reserved child....she has settled absolutely brilliantly, far better than I would have imagined and has already made lots of new friends since starting in September.

Don't worry about the transition between nursery and school - a lot of the kids won't have been at the nursery and they tend to settle quickly. DD didn't even know any of the other kids in her Reception as no one from her nursery went there but had made friends within days.

What makes it easiest for you with family life? How will you cover school hols if they go to the school nursery - most holiday clubs won't take younger than 4, some will only take Year 1 upwards.

I ideally want the girls to go to a nursery where they'll go to primary (isn't that most peoples preference though??), so although I have a nursery place at 2nd choice, I'd ideally like them to have a seamless journey through nursery and then primary at my 1st choice.

It doesn't work like that.

Lots of parents who send their kids to the school nursery won't send them to the school as they may live out of the catchment area, may move and any hundred other reasons.

The fact that your children will be attending any nursery will help get them ready for school.

Go with whichever one works better for you next year, don't think too far ahead. Half days are a total ball ache imo.

With regards private nursery hassling you, is it a case of paying a non refundable deposit to secure your place, and then just having to sacrifice that if you get your first choice school nursery? If you're in a position to do that, then that's probably what I would do.

My 3 years old goes to the school nursery. She gets the 30 hours funding, hours are 8.30 to 3.25, Monday to Friday. Very similar set up to how my 5 years old was in reception so I see it as getting used to her school career from next year.
She won’t be going to this school as my son goes to a different one where she will be going. My son school doesn’t have a nursery hence she’s at a different school. My son went to 2 different private nurseries and I can say I 100% prefer the school nursery.