Worst of all nursery options

[SleepingStandingUp]

DTwins start nursery Jan when they're 3. They get standard 15 hours.

They didn't qualify for 2's as we earn over the threshold. Fair enough.

Everyone gets 15 hours at 3.

We qualify for the 30 hours BUT because they'd need to stay till end of day so over the 6 hours, it's £15a week EACH. Plus packed lunch or £22 for lunches. So £50 basically. For a week of "free nursery". Which I can't justify financially. I'm a carer so not in paid work.

If we didn't qualify then I'd have no option to send them but I do and can't make it work which is worse because it feels like I'm failing them.

13/30 kids will have accessed early years from 2. 13/30 will access 30 hours so have additional learning in the afternoons. It's possible 2/39 will have been to private nursery part time and have transitioned over to school.

2/30 have had no early years education and will only be getting 15 hours. Mine.

I feel like they're getting the worst of both options and I'm failing them in their education before they even start.

Plus they're twins and typically their speech is behind, I get no 121 time with them, their attention and ability to focus is crappy, they can't write their name, they can count to 5 but don't know their letters. All stuff those coking up from nursery will know.

Fuxk.

It's def the last bit that worries me. It's a good school, staffing is pretty stable (main Nursery Teacher is same one yr3 son had, early years lead is his old Reception class teacher etc. And they really impressed upon us all the extra learning which they'll be doing. So partly I think home to play is actually good. And part thinks I'm letting my kids get behind...

Personally I appreciate the 30 minute gap may seem a lot but I think it will literally go in a flash! My son never goes out on the dot of his finish time for nursery. Usually it takes at least 10 mins to chat over his day get coats on etc then the walk around the building and you might need to keep them occupied for 15/20 mins max? Do they still use a buggy? Rain cover in the rain and books and on a sunny day the park or a walk about

I only had the 15 hrs. They did a mix of morning sessions and/or full days. We paid more at the end as they got closer to starting school, just to get them used to longer days, but it isn't necessary at all.
How far away from the school do you live? Are you walking or driving? Can you put them in a pushchair for a bit, would they sleep?
Is there an option to do a morning session until lunch, then pick them up. You can give them lunch at home then go back later for your son.

I also had a half an hour gap between nursery and school pick up. I just took them for a walk. Stick them in wellies and a puddle suit and they'll be fine.
Mine only did the 15hrs anyway. My youngest is a little older than yours and can't write her name and knows none of her letter, this really isn't an issue at all.

In the half hour gap - go to the park, the library or a cafe depending on what is nearby. Go for a walk. Sit in the car with a snack and an ipad.

Or, if you don't want to hang around - just put them in for the morning and pick them up at lunch. Loads of people do that too.

They can go for 15 hours, so half day but half the class will be staying time 3ish and msot of the 15 hour kids will have started at 2yo. Mine start at 3 yo and do 15 hours so I'm worried they'll be behind

I feel like I spent half my life standing around waiting for one child or another. My kids just played in the school playground (usually with other preschool friends) when there was a gap between pick ups.

A whole half an hour for the same school does seem a bit excessive though. Surely there are lots of parents in the same position?

Why can't they just do several mornings 9-12 or whatever and you pick them up at lunchtime and have them for the afternoon till school pick-up at 3.30 or whenever?

Just send them for the 15 hours. You are worrying too much imo about them being behind. Loads of kids don't even go to nursery and loads just do the 15 hours. Neither of my kids knew letters by the time they were three, despite going to nursery. They learnt to write their names at school.

@brainstories568 @Blueeyedgirl21
not walking distance there and back in half hour, and even if we just walk in circles, I've got two 3 yo in the pouring rain for half and hour and then a mile walk home.
No precedent at school as never offered these hours before. Parents at meeting either first time parents or seemed resolved to pay.
No options for long days, I asked. Its 15 hours am, 30 hrs til 2.40 or pay til 3.20.
No car.

And also yes, even with one child, by the time you’ve got coats and shoes etc on, chatted to the teacher, admired whatever piece of art has been made today and walked slowly round to wherever you meet the older kid, that’s probably 10-15 min gone. More with twins.

Add in a snack and a trip back to the car to put all the crap in it and linger a bit more at pick up and I don’t think you’ll be waiting around too long at all

They really won't be behind! Mine started at 3 on 15 hrs and there was no difference between them and those that had started younger and/or done longer days. It's all just play, and getting them used to being with other children in a group setting. You are really overthinking this.

Maybe I am unreasonable and walking around in the rain for an hour or even just an hour of walking after nursery every day will be fine.

I would just hang around for 30 mins. By the time you collect and get out of there it'll be 25, snack and a wander and chat and it'll go in no time. And if you are using a car it's an absolute non issue. Get in the car, have some snacks.

You’re overthinking it. They will get 15 free hours and that is a good start. That’s what it’s there for, so they get the early years education. Just send them for the time they’re eligible and don’t worry about it further. It would be worse if you don’t send them at all.

I’d send them all day since you’re entitled to, and just suck up the 30 min hanging about time. Annoying, but having to walk home and then back again for older child pick up is more time consuming.

They won’t be behind though on 15 hours so I wouldn’t worry about that. Choose which option works best for you.

No, there will only be 13 places and not all of those will have older siblings, most will pay. The only one that I can see might arise has a Gran who lives a few doros away so will go there. I couldn't impose my twins on top.

Also did they play in tbe playground pre covid by any chance? We could utilise a bit of open space outside but it's alongside the yr6 class so I doubt they'd be thrilled.

The gap comes from the 3 yo doing 8. 40-11.40 and the 2 yo which will form the extra hours for 3 yo doing 12 25 till 3.25 cos the staff obv need a lunch break. So let out will be 2.40 at office or 3.25 so it's a 45 gap

Prob @Comedycook @inappropriateraspberry prob what I need telling

The cost is because you want more than the (vastly underfunded) funded hours? So you want preschool to have them extra for free so you don't have to entertain your own children for half an hour? Blimey.

So your choices are:

Send them mornings only
Send them full days and be inconvenienced hanging around for 30 minutes
Send them full days and pay for the extra time at nursery

All these choices are equally good for your children and aren't going to put them 'ahead' or 'behind' any other preschooler, so just pick the option that works best for you.

Only a mile but with 3 kids... Not sure if they'll sleep altho I'll be bringing the buggy. DS used to come out HYPER!!

Yes the drop both, collect at 11.40 then back at 3.15 for DS is the default plan.

In the half hour gap - go to the park 10+ minutes each way,, the library 10 minutes by bus or a cafe I wish depending on what is nearby. Sit in the car with a snack and an ipad. I don't drive else this wouldn't be an issue

Go for a walk I can't speak for my kids but frankly, I do not want to spend months walking around a built up housing estate in pouring rain, ice or snow for 30 (it's actually 45 but point taken about handover times altho it'll be quick dispatch from school office not class) every day and then try and get three kids a mile home (which isn't far, unless you have three kids 😂).

At least were determining I'd rather they had to play educational catch up than hang around every day in shit English weather 😂😂

Yes, clearly I'd said that the staff should do child care for me whenever I demand because I'm a lazy arse mother who thinks the world owes me anything I want and I only had so many kids on the assumption that someone else would raise them. That's exactly what "I feel shit because I can't afford to give them the most hours" translates into.

15 hours is fine, hang onto the double pushchair for that annoying gap.

@Katapolts thank you, over thinking and assuming my best isn't good enough might be a deeply I bedded habit

I'm hanging on to that pushchair for dear life, believe me 😂😂😂😂

I honestly wouldn’t be stressed about the 30 mins or the lack of 30hrs whichever you choose. Had 3 under 5, none did nursery until the term before 4 and never had a car. They’ll likely get in the habit of giving you your eldest first. I was allowed my middle one 10mins early from her first (school) nursery so that we could make it to
her big sister’s school on time. Her dad just got one two minutes early and one two minutes late but he has longer legs than me !