To move my children to another nursery

[susiesmith]

I feel really upset with the nursery my children go to to the extent that I am considering trying to move them. My dh thinks I am being unresaonable - what do you think.

My 2 kids go to the most expensive nursery in our area. We used pay about £100 a day nursery fees, it has gone down a bit now the eldest is 3 and gets early years grant. But still expensive. We thought we were paying a lot but getting alot for money. However, I am increasingly not so sure.

I have noticed when I pop in unannonced that my 3 years yr olds group is often watching cartoons on the interactive whiteboard. I mean he watches Tv at home but I am not paying top dollar for him to be babysat by a TV.

(I am aware lots of birthday parties go in the 3 yr olds class that he is not invited to - but as we have not had a birthday party ourselves so I was just thinking you probably have to do one yourself for your child to be invite to others.)

But the final straw for me has come today - and I now just think it is all just a bit cliquey. I newish worker gave us a letter about swimming lessons yesterday. I noticed that it should have been returned by 6th oct, we only got it yesterday. I went in today and said we only got the letter yesterday but we want Louie to do the lessons. We were told the class was full. I really think the letters were given out to the clique first - and particularly the children of staff before us. I even suspect I would never have got the the letter only the new member of staff gave it to me.

I am really angry as feel there was no equality of opportunity - I feel it was dilebrate. I am being unreasonable- should i move my kids? Dh thinks I am overeacting but I dont want to pay a £300 a month more than I would elsewhere to be left out of things.

It was a nursery run by former Asquith people that I moved my child away from. He had a very bad experience, and the cost cutting and corner cutting made me want him out of there asap.

Just wondering if the party / clique part is linked to the primary schools the children will go on to attend ?

Here there are groups of mums who are keen to ask whose who and pal up with the mums of the children who will attend the same primary, making extra play-dates, ensuring party invites for those they will be in class with.

I think its understandable, just mums trying to smooth friendships for their little ones, but can be a bit daunting till you find your own group.

This might sound radical but could you pull both children out of nursery and keep them at home - particularly for the older one, only two terms to go before you lose them to the school system for ever.

Why not max out on mum and child time, you could have so much fun together - go swimming every day, visit granny, shop and cook, glue and stick, jump in puddles, crunch leaves, being the journey of a lifetime and learn to read, for the money you are paying you could do lots of fun classes, pre-school gymnastics, music,messy-play group.

I really think the year before children start school is the perfect year to spend with them - it is every mums reward for pregnancy, labour, sleep-deprivation, weaning, potty-training, tantrums, teething - you did it all, you battled through - now you get to really really enjoy your little ones, seize the day, when school starts you will never again have the oppotunity.