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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Children "starting school"?

147 replies

Jinglesplodge · 23/09/2018 19:51

So I need to know if I ABU - this one is really petty but it's starting to annoy me...

AIBU to find it irritating when people talk about their children going to school when they're talking about 2 or 3 year olds and they mean nursery or preschool? I can't even put my finger on why it bothers me but I just think kids spend enough years in school without telling them that's what they're doing at 2. Twice this weekend I've been chatting to friends who have said something along the lines of "oh, we wanted to do swimming lessons but Quentin is in school" or "I can't believe Susan is starting school next week".

I think I'm just tired and grumpy but I'd love to hear I'm not the only one!

OP posts:
FinallyMrsE · 23/09/2018 19:54

My daughter is 3 and in nursery at school, the same school her sister is in. She has never been to preschool or a nursery so she is starting school and goes 5 mornings a week, what would you like me to say? Confused

Herehere66 · 23/09/2018 19:54

Yanbu I prefer play group until they officially need to start school.

HerRoyalFattyness · 23/09/2018 19:55

My 3 year old tells people he is going to school.
He attends the preschool...attached to the school which his older siblings attend and he is required to wear the same uniform. So in his head, he is going to school.

I can't really get worked up about it to be honest.

Original poster
Jinglesplodge · 23/09/2018 19:56

You could say "nursery", since that's what it is and you managed to say it yourself in your post, but I'm willing to accept it's just me who finds irritation here!

OP posts:
Herehere66 · 23/09/2018 19:58

I even call pre school/nursery within a school play group as that's more what it is than "school".

School at that age poor buggers.
I think play group sounds much nicer than nursery too.

FinallyMrsE · 23/09/2018 19:58

I switch between nursery and school in conversation but to her I mostly say school as I'm usually talking to her and her sister so it's just easier. I'd never even thought i could be annoying someone

scrivette · 23/09/2018 19:59

It's been annoying me a bit lately too - but only because I keep getting confused about how old children are 'but I am sure they are only 3...!'

HaroldsSocalledBluetits · 23/09/2018 19:59

I feel uncomfortable about the formalisation of early years provision, OP, so share some of your misgivings I think. I mean, uniform is stupid anyway but on a three year old it's just wrong. And maybe I'm just an old hippy, but I also feel a bit Confused with the concept that a toddler has somewhere they need to be every day, care arrangements for working parents aside. Just too structured.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 23/09/2018 19:59

I don't think I've come across this, but it's not factually accurate is it? That would annoy me too. YANBU!

HellenaHandbasket · 23/09/2018 20:00

Ours never went, but I would agree with you. I always think playgroup has a nicer ring to it.

Perfectly1mperfect · 23/09/2018 20:02

I don't find it irritating butt do think it causes confusion. My kids went to a nursery attached to the school but I still called it nursery as to me school starts with reception.

sparkly72 · 23/09/2018 20:02

I'm with you ... makes me irrationally cross tooSmile

AntiHop · 23/09/2018 20:02

Yanbu gets on my nerves too.

Perfectly1mperfect · 23/09/2018 20:02

But not butt...lol BlushGrin

puzzledlady · 23/09/2018 20:03

my daughter started school at 3, pre-prep school - kindergarten. It is a form of school, isn't it? I went to school at 3 too. We both work so my daughter has been in 'school' since 1 - albeit nursery. And yes, she's in a uniform ( as was 1) - i find it quite cute (and i save a ton of money on clothes as she's in uniform most of the time!) i really dont see the issue OP.

Parker231 · 23/09/2018 20:04

Mine started school at age 3 having previously been at nursery. The went to the preschool attached to the main school. They would have corrected anyone who referred to it as anything other than school as they were so proud of going there in their uniform with a book bag and water bottle.

MsDugong · 23/09/2018 20:06

YANBU - it really annoys me too. My children attended a nursery unit in a school. I called it preschool, nursery or, very occasionally, nursery school.

Herehere66 · 23/09/2018 20:06

Parker231 was it full time school hours?

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 23/09/2018 20:06

My children started school when they went into reception. Before that they went to a nursery (attached to a school but not the school they went to as it didn’t have a nursery) and before that a playschool a couple of days a week.

I’ve heard people refer to reception as “going up to big school” WTAF!!

randomsabreuse · 23/09/2018 20:07

Our local school's nursery class is in the same room as reception, separate from the "nursery" owned separately on the school grounds. What else can you call it. It is available 5 mornings a week but flexible!

mycelialnetwork · 23/09/2018 20:07

Irritates me too op. I hate preschoolers in uniform too, although I suppose I understand having a t-shirt that you know is going to get covered in paint and glue. And yes the formalisation of preschool education is unnecessary. Let them play get muddy, run around like loons. Sitting at desks can wait.

MysteriousQuinn · 23/09/2018 20:07

Bothers me too. DD has just started preschool but I'd never call it school. In my head preschool/nursery/playgroup are a completely different thing to actual school.

IsTheRainEverComingBack · 23/09/2018 20:11

I agree. It’s not school, it’s nursery, even if that nursery is within a school it’s still a nursery.

Parker231 · 23/09/2018 20:13

Herehere - 8am - 6pm, same as when they were in nursery although I usually collected nearer to 5 than 6, dependent on work. Mainly play based but they also learnt loads without realising. Standard for working parents. When they went into Reception year we used breakfast and after school clubs.

Herehere66 · 23/09/2018 20:16

Parker231 ah and was that 5 days per week? I didn't think "school" was open 8-6

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