preschool/state school/private school

[howdoyoudecide]

Need some outside perspective and advice.

Two DS - DS 2.5 (3 in March) DD 1.

I am back to work next week and childcare is as follows:

DS 2 days Nursery 3 Days CM.
DD 4 Days Nursery 1 Day CM.

This is so they can spend some time together during the week. Nursery too expensive for both to go full time. Bit of a pain with drop offs but nothing we can do about that. The nursery has a preschool. It looks great. Has loads of stuff and the kids seem engaged and happy but the outside space is really small. Not much bigger than our garden and there are over 30 kids in the preschool. Plus even with 30 hours free the price is still high. The original plan was to increase DS to full time at the nursery when he gets his free hours and reduce DD at Nursery and increase at Child Minder. Essentially swapping them over. Our overall childcare bill would drop by £400. The lack of outside space is bothering me.

There is a prep school very close to our house. They have a preschool. They offer wrap around care so the timings work for us. They only offer 15 hours funding not the 30 and looks like they have no plan to. But even without the extra 15 hours funding, our bill would reduce by another £300 a month! so a reduction of £700 in total. They have acres and acres of space, they do forest schooling (although I dont know what this is really - i know it is the 'in thing' and sounds out doorsy so is probably good). The pre schoolers eat with the other students etc etc.

Is it disruptive to move him once he is settled at nursery? He would need to increase his hours anyway as Child Minder doesnt offer any funding. Am I going to get sucked into private school? Their class sizes are 15 in reception vs 30 in the local state. The local state is a good school and people say nice things about it. But would that be more disruption - moving him away from friends he has made at the prep pre school? Ironically the school fees are less than our current nursery bill so paying for private primary is doable for both. People say you should chose the school that best fits the child. How will I know ? Should I just send him to the prep pre school and worry about it later?

We have some good choices for secondary where we live so probably wouldnt pay private for that. Plus DD will be in preschool for 2 years when it is her turn so need somewhere that will keep her busy and engaged.

Any advice?

Go for it. Wish we had moved our boys earlier. We didn't do it till yr 2&5 i.e. 7 and9 yrs old

In your scenario going for the preschool at the private prep makes perfect sense (on all levels). I'd definitely do that if I were in your position - can't really see a downside!

Ironically the school fees are less than our current nursery bill so paying for private primary is doable for both

Even factoring in the veeerry long private school holidays?

Minipie

My mum is a teacher and is willing to help with holidays. Lucky to have in laws living very close and young and healthy and will also help. And I get 38 days hols a year as does my husband. But yes. The schools fees are £750 per month over 12 months for one. We are currently paying £2200 for two full time child care per month over 12 months.

Ah ok, lucky you! will they help after school too?

I also don't see any downsides in shifting him, unless he's a child who tends to take a very long time to settle to new places.

In that situation, I would go for the pre-school in private prep- assuming you are happy with the pre-school.

You can make a judgement regarding prep vs state at a later date.

I've been in your situation, we chose to continue in private prep and it's worked out well. That said, the local state schools aren't great which swayed our decision re schools. In my experience few children from private prep go into state secondary- but would guess this depends on the local area (I understand that it is more common in grammar areas, for instance). In any case, you have plenty of time to make decisions about secondary school education so it doesn't have to be set in stone.

He took a long time to settle into nursery the first time when he was 9 months old. But he has taken to the CM really well so I am hopeful that he will be fine.

In laws will probably do 2 school runs a week as they will want to see the children. And then either CM or afterschool club or preferably we can have flexible working and do one or two pickups ourself. It is still affordable even if we use the clubs.

one of the teachers put her three through the prep and then sent them to the local secondary school. Which to be fair is a good school. No grammars round here. Private secondary will be dependent on our earnings at the time. Im not willing to sacrifice our quality of life for it. Of the 20 something students in year 6 last year, 9 went on to state school.

Just be aware that the private pre school tend to have longer holidays and shorter nursery days. I.e 8.30-3.30 term time only but an extra 4 weeks holiday to account for (on top of the 13 all schools offer)
That may be why it seems cheaper. Private schools do tend to offer high qualified staff and amazing facilities too.

the nursery day is 0830 - 4. Then he can join the afterschool club till 6 if needs be. They also do a tea in the club. I finish work at 4 so should be able to do pick up before 5. Same as the other nursery really. they charge for the club hours you use at the end of the term which i quite like as in the nursery I pay till 6 every day even though they would never be there that long. The school hols are 3 weeks longer in the summer.

One of our local, lovely, pre-prep nurseries keeps the school holidays of the expensive school to which it is attached, which is pretty much 3-4 weeks Christmas and Easter, 8 (or more) weeks in summer plus half terms. It's a lot of holiday to ask a grandparent to cover. Make sure you know what the term times are before you make the decision.

You are not comparing like with like cost wise otherwise.

Wrap around care tends to cost more- around 6.50-7 an hour (in a pre prep I used to volunteer at)
Add that to each day- that's an extra 35 a week.
I only say this because pre prep nurseries are great, but in no way are they cheaper. Especially as most won't offer the 30 hour funding.
If you are emphasising your choice more on what you feel will benefit the child, then go for it. But cost wise, the nursery will be more cost effective. I'm currently in the throes of it all now.

saysomething

Wrap around care tends to cost more- around 6.50-7 an hour (in a pre prep I used to volunteer at)

Depends on the school- no extra cost at ours.

I second a PP about factoring in longer holidays, lunchtime finishes at end of term, etc. as unless your mum works in the same school all tend to arrange their dates differently. Also uniform requirements even in nursery and additional activities. I was lucky that it was on an inclusive cost basis but friends have had nasty surprises elsewhere!

That said, if you can afford it, Nursery (and thereafter pre-prep) is incredible value for money compared to nursery and wraparound care.

I think for actual pre prep we will need to do the sums at the time to make sure it works and make sure with paying for some holiday club that it is financially viable but for the preschool, the extra £300 savings per month term time, plus not paying for holidays, even if we needed a Child Minder for some days, it is still a good saving and considering what the pre school has to offer will be worth it.

Grand parents would likely cover a week at xmas, a week at easter and two - three weeks inthe summer. My mum could cover 2 weeks in the summer, a week at easter and maybe a few days depending on when the half terms fall.

Thaks everyone. talking it out like this really helps.

If you like the pre prep nursery and it works for you don't worry about using it just as a nursery. DD went to a small private school and many children just did the nursery. It was a lovely start, lots of grounds and good staff ratios.

The set up at DD's was nursery did normal school hours and could access the breakfast and aftercare which had a very nominal fee £10 a day ish - so full time 8-6 if you wanted. They ate in main school with infants, joined in assembly, sports day. Mine used to like going to help the nursery with their lunch, aftercare big and small children played together often outside. Very much a family type atmosphere than just all 3/4 year olds. They only had 2 weeks more than state holiday wise and ran a 4 week summer club open to nursery in summer hols.

Dixie

That sounds much like this one. Although I think Holiday club is only available from age 4.

I think we are going to do it for pre school. Worry about school next Autumn