Moving from day nursery to school nursery

[Anonymous64748276117]

Our little one is 2.5, and currently attends a day nursery 4 days a week.

I've been considering moving her to the school nursery near to our house for a while, they have the wrap around care and the fees are significantly lower than what we pay at the day nursery, but I also worry that she's too young, will miss her friends and might be unsettled.

There's also the worry about childcare during school holidays.

What did you all do? When did you move your kids and how was it?

We had my son in private nursery 2 days per week but applied for a place in the school nursery as soon as we could. The transition has been fine and he will hopefully get a place in the reception (find out mid April). You don't get as many updates as you do from the private but it's gotten him into a routine and I've had to find my feet with working different hours at work etc but at least I've managed to sort this now and know it'll be like this for a good few years.

If you're concerned about the transition have you thought of splitting the week, half with school nursery and half with private nursery? There's a girl in my sons class who does that, it'll also mean half the week during school hols you're sorted and then you could look into school clubs or something like that

@Stef92 thanks for the reply, I'm glad things went well for you!

I've compared the costs and it would literally be half of what we currently pay (on a funded week). I hadn't thought about doing a 50/50 place but that could potentially work and would keep some childcare during the holidays so I'll take a look into that!

She isn’t too young - at that age friendships are transitory and mainly driven by the parents and kids are so adaptable. The money side is key there but the big worry would be the holidays. What would you have to do during those weeks?

Isn't it less just because you're not spreading the hours across the whole year?

I don't understand why people opt for the headache of term time only until they have to, unless they're not working or working in a term time only job themselves. Very few holiday clubs will take under reception age.

@OverTheRaincloud our nursery don't spread the hours over the whole year, we pay full time fees during the holiday and have "funded" hours during term time.

I understand the dilemma of handling childcare during the holidays which is one of the reasons why I'm unsure of what to do, but we'd be saving over £4k per year in term time fees if we did move her now, and if we moved her in September we'd save £2.5k per year (again only looking at term time fees)

@Notgivenuphope that's what I'm trying to work out, my parents do childcare 1 afternoon per week which they would change to a full day, then between me and DP we'd have to manage with annual leave.

Our current nursery does have a holiday club but I need to check if they'd accept her

Never moved her to a school nursery. She just carried on at the day nursery then moved to reception.

She's year 6 and I've never regretted it.

I don't know of any holiday clubs (even ones at nurseries) which accept under reception age.

I’d move her in September then you can keep her in the private nursery over the summer holidays and she will start at the school nursery the year before she starts school.

I kept my eldest in private nursery and they have been fine moving up to reception but almost everyone already knew each other including the parents. I will be moving my youngest to the school nursery for the year prior to starting school.

It sounds quite stressful - wouldn't you rather use your AL to take time off together and do things as a family, rather than just use it for childcare?
I guess it depends how much you need to make the saving.

The care during school holidays would be the stumbling block, as of course I've compared the costs and it would literally be half of what we currently pay (on a funded week) makes it a no brainer otherwise.

But what will you do when she starts school ?

Don't worry about her 'friends' . At this age / stage dc play with whoever is near them.

Thanks for all the thoughts/past experiences.

Do most children start at school aged 4?

It's the September after they turn 4

So yes

I don't plan to move my child as I work part time and like having days off with him, I don't want to have to only take holidays during the school
Holiday time, and the nurseries attached to schools near me seem to not be coping with their send children's needs.

Do you do holiday abroad? You might lose this saving by your travel costs increasing

@Unexpectedlysinglemum we do holiday abroad probably twice per year, but with "school" not being compulsory until age 5 I think we might be okay with taking time out during term time without any sanctions? Not 100% sure though