When will your 4yo stop daycare before school?

[teekay88]

Hi there

So long story short I have a 4.5yo at nursery 3 days per week. He's been there since 2.5 and we've fairly consistently had issues with them. This week a couple of issues have come to a head which have clarified to us that it's not the best environment for our son to be in.

In the background we had been looking for childminders to cover wraparound care for when he starts school in September. One childminder I've been messaging every now and again since 6 months ago who hasn't had capacity until now but some space has opened up. She is 2 roads away from us, seems like a really nice set up, and happens to be linked to the school we now know he has a place at.

My thinking is, that taking into account the childminders availability (I know they get snapped up), the fact we want our son to get used to her before school, and the issues with nursery, it may just make sense to move him over to her fairly soon and use the summer as transition time. Of course we've got the dilemma of him leaving his friends earlier than planned (although I will say there are only really 3-4 he is close with in the room now) and whether he will miss out on anything much by not being there for the end of year stuff.

Last year when I remember his older friends leaving for school i'm sure they left at varying times throughout the summer, not necessarily all in August, but I'm not sure what the norm is

I'd be grateful for any advice and/or to know when you are planning to take your child out of nursery?

If she doesn't always have availability, has some now, looks like it would be a positive solution for your childcare going forward - then don't wait, grab it asap! It doesn't matter what everyone else is doing/has done. Is she able to cover the three days a week he does now, and then can switch to before and after school care from September?

For what it's worth most kids starting reception in September probably stay in their previous childcare until school begins, because parents still need to work, and then they'll switch to some form of school + term time wraparound like breakfast clubs/after school clubs.

It's a few years since this was us but we stayed at nursery/pre school room really until August as I was working.

Ours did a graduation party and ceremony which was so lovely as mine had been at the place since he was 1 so before jumping ship try and find out about that as it'd be a shame for it to be missed but maybe you're not bothered.

Does your new school do wrap around care at all such as breakfast club or after school club as I'd explore that as your child would be with others his own age as opposed to toddler/babies which could be boring for a 4/5 year old. This applies to now as well, will they have the stimulation they need for the next few months?

But if availability is tight for childminder and this is what you'd prefer then it may make sense to grab the place or see if they will have others before school starts.

I would move him as soon as the childminder has space.

In my experience, nursery/pre school do a graduation party etc, but your son won't miss what he doesn't know is happening.

I found out childminder so much better than nursery/pre school, especially during the summer. Several days a week the childminder took the kids out to national trust type places, which was so much more fun than nursery.

It would also give a good long settling in period, before he then has to settle in to school as well.