The year before they start school

[Daisiesonthegarden]

DS is 3, 4 in December. He currently does three days in a private nursery while I work and two days with me and his sister (1.)

He has outgrown the baby / toddler sort of groups and finds them a little dull on a weekly basis (although doesn’t mind every so often.) However his sister still likes them.

I am wondering whether to enrol him in a preschool for two mornings a week to help with the transition to school. Or is that a bit mean if I’m home anyway? I feel like he does get pushed aside a bit as I deal with the baby and he isn’t massively keen on nursery and often says he doesn’t want to go although staff say he’s happy when he’s there.

If you can afford it, why not?

Largely because I don’t want him to feel pushed out or as if he’s being sent away while I spend time with the younger one - which wouldn’t be the case, it’s just difficult as things he’d enjoy are too old for her and things she likes are too young for him!

What about a morning at pre-school for him & an extra morning at nursery for his sister (or would they charge full day?)

A bit of 121 time with both?

I did this. I was injured and it helped me get through the week.

It was fine but in hindsight, an extra day in nursery would have been better socially than doing 2 days each in 2 different settings. Other kids won't be so inclined to develop close friendships with a child who's only in a couple of days a week. They do make and break friends quickly at this age though and it wasn't a big problem.

Personally I think the benefits of getting to know your YR classmates early through preschool are overstated. By a few weeks into YR they will be all mixed in.

I wouldn't. Enjoy the time with him. If ness increase his days at nursery

It’s only 6 hours a week away from you and it sounds like he would benefit from it.

DS went to preschool. He enjoyed it.

I was a sahp and both my kids went to all day nursery two days a week. Made the transition to all day school a breeze.

Scotland so not sure if it's a bit different here but my dd was at private nursery, I put her into preschool nursery last year at 4 and it was the best thing for her, has totally prepared her for school and she now knows most of the kids she'll be starting school with.

If you are in England just see if you can get him extra sessions in nursery.

Nursery will be doing the EFYS anyway with the kids who are going to school to get them school ready.

Even my childminder did it, though DD went to a nursery as well.

We used both a nursery and a preschool for our last year (half year each because of house move) and there was absolutely no difference in preparation for school. Except maybe the nursery was more focused in some ways on socialisation, serving lunches together communally, forest school, helping others, etc.

Enjoy your time together. You’ll miss it when your life is built around the school run and term times. I expect he’ll learn more about being ready for school from learning patience on a day out with a sibling than in a preschool. They follow the same EYFS curriculum anyway.