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Original poster

Which option would you choose?

29 replies

Rachell1 · 13/02/2023 15:52

Hi All,

I am in a predicament over which nursery to send my son to as they both offer different days/hours and are quite different to eachother.

Option 1 is a nursery which has ALL the things he loves (mud kitchens, amazing garden with toys and bikes and cars). Different play areas and it is located conveniently round the corner. They can have him x5 days a week for 3 hours and considering I am about to give birth, I thought I might appreciate the little break each day!

Option 2 is a pre school, it looks rather plain when you walk in, there aren’t really any toys to play with as the day is structured and toys and paints etc come out and go away throughout the day. It is much more educational, they wear a uniform and it overall it does seem a lot more……. well, like I say, educational. The downside is that it is a 15-20 min drive away (I don’t drive so will be relying on both parents to help me) and the pre school can only take him for 2 days per week 8am - 3pm. It is quite a long day for him and the remaining 3 days that he isn’t there might be tricky with him being home all day and a newborn!

I feel the first option is more convenient and tbh I feel he would have more fun (he is so full of energy and loves to play!) but then again, I feel the pre school is a missed opportunity, it is always full and the fact that a space has come up is rare.

What to do?!!

OP posts:
Ursulaursula82 · 13/02/2023 15:53

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Retrievemysanity · 13/02/2023 15:54

1 no question.

Christmasisshit · 13/02/2023 15:54
  1. No question.

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Childcare & nursery Families
Christmasisshit · 13/02/2023 15:54

Snap!

LampHat · 13/02/2023 15:56

how old is he? I’m struggling to see any downsides for 1, is he starting school in Sept? That would be the only reason to consider 2. And even then, I’d probably still say 1!

VanillaSox · 13/02/2023 15:57
  1. no question
Rauha · 13/02/2023 15:57

Option 1

FetchezLaVache · 13/02/2023 15:59

1 no contest.

SummerHouse · 13/02/2023 16:01

You had me at option 1.

I didn't need to read option 2 but when I did, it pushed me even further towards option 1.

Option 1, option 1, option 1!

Easiest dilemma ever!

mindutopia · 13/02/2023 16:04

Absolutely #1 and I would simply look to increase hours as time goes on and when a stop opens up. 3 hours a day 5 days a week is quite a lot of running around every day and it wouldn't be ideal for me. You really do want longer days at nursery and then longer days at home. But it will be temporary. They will have kids leave over the summer and you can move things around then.

desperatehousewife2 · 13/02/2023 16:16

Option 1, no contest

MuggleMe · 13/02/2023 16:21

How old is he? I mean, 1 no contest, and unless there's a closer preschool you can get to independently, it's fine for him to skip preschool entirely and go straight to reception.

Pinkypurplecloud · 13/02/2023 16:35

Option 1. Leaving aside 1 sounds better anyway, you’d be absolutely barking mad to go for a nursery you need other people to help you transport your child to and from instead of one you can walk to round the corner.

All nurseries, preschools, childminders etc have to follow the same eyfs curriculum anyway - some will put more emphasis on early phonics, mark making etc (personally I didn’t particularly want academics for little ones anyway) but they all have to cover the same ground and they should all prepare children for school just as well.

Original poster
Rachell1 · 13/02/2023 16:53

He is 2. I really do see how option 1 is far more convenient-especially if I can change it down the line so that he goes for say, 3 days 9-3, that would be amazing.

I’m really not planning on ever pushing for him to become some sort of child genius! But the reason for considering the pre school is because I do see them ‘teaching’ him more. Not as in chemistry and latin!! But as in the children were incredibly in check in terms of manners, they listened when they were asked of things. They were just so well behaved! Whereas the nursery round the corner, whilst the children were all lovely they were very much just left to get on and play and should they have a tantrum, it was kinda overlooked. Do you see what I mean? It was just clear that the nursery is there for them to have fun, whereas the pre school was also helping to shape them.

OP posts:
Retrievemysanity · 13/02/2023 21:02

At 2, he should be having fun. He will be with you more than he is at nursery and you will hopefully be teaching him manners and good behaviour which he will carry through with him to nursery and later, in to school. I hate places that have uniforms for little ones, I really do. He has his whole school life to wear a uniform and have a regimented day. Another thing to think about is friendships. Will he be more likely to go to school with kids from option 1 or 2. It’s not a massive factor but might be worth considering.

maeveiscurious · 14/02/2023 07:58

We gave preschool a miss for the nursery with the balance bikes and the racetrack. They had time in a morning and afternoon where they did their"writing". It was great fun, school can wait

CopperMaran · 14/02/2023 08:02

It will depend a little on your child. Option 1 would have suited 2 of mine but our youngest got very anxious in a similar setting and thrived when we move her to setting similar to option 2. She felt more understood by the adults and felt more secure with adult led play.

Ladyoftheprom · 14/02/2023 08:03

Definitely option 1

Finchgold · 14/02/2023 08:17

Option 1 all the way. They start formal learning early enough, early years should be learning through play. My child moved from full time nursery to one that only offered 3 hours in the morning and although the hours were pretty inconvenient for me I felt they worked really well for him. In his second year of that nursery I got a childminder to pick up and have him 3 afternoons which made it easier for me.

WeCome1 · 14/02/2023 08:19

At 2 don’t you want him home some days though? I’d consider fewer days.

WeCome1 · 14/02/2023 08:20

WeCome1 · 14/02/2023 08:19

At 2 don’t you want him home some days though? I’d consider fewer days.

For option 1, I mean.
You need to time it carefully so he doesn’t associate starting nursery with the new baby.

InsufficientMum · 14/02/2023 08:23

Definitely 1.
you can run him there even if you're feeling ill. Having to rely on someone to take him and pick up sounds horribly inconvenient. What happens when he gets taken ill and your parents have cropped him and gone off for the day? Or they want to go on holiday?

ZenNudist · 14/02/2023 08:24

1 is a no brainer

lljkk · 14/02/2023 08:25

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

PenelopeTitsDrop3121 · 14/02/2023 08:26

First one

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