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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:
spacefighter · 23/09/2018 20:16

My DD likes to think she is going to school like her older siblings so if she's happy saying that then so am I.

BikeRunSki · 23/09/2018 20:18

I’m with you Jingle. School is the educational establishment you start attending full time, the September you are 4.

ProfessorMoody · 23/09/2018 20:19

In Wales, children can start school at 3, and commonly do, though it's not compulsory. It's not a nursery, it's school. The staff are trained teachers and it's called the Nursery "class". It's not pre-school. KS1/The Foundation Phase goes from age 3-7.

Gersemi · 23/09/2018 20:20

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

That she is starting nursery, pretty obviously.

Parker231 · 23/09/2018 20:20

Herehere - yes open 8-6 for school and breakfast and after school clubs.

Trinpy · 23/09/2018 20:21

When my eldest was in preschool we always called it school because that's what he called it! And he and all the other children he was at preschool with also talked about starting 'big school'. It did feel like a big school to them.

My youngest dc started preschool in September and I've noticed he calls it school sometimes too. I think he likes feeling he's a grown up schoolboy like his brother.

I'm sure you all say stuff that annoys me too Grin.

iMatter · 23/09/2018 20:21

And then they "graduate" from nursery.

Snort.

SheSparkles · 23/09/2018 20:23

Totally agree with you. Although the place my kids went to was part of the school it was referred to as nursery by both the parents and staff.

This is obviously a new thing, up there with “we’re” pregnant 🙄

Allthepinkunicorns · 23/09/2018 20:23

My ds started the nursery attached to his school at 3 so we told him he was going to school as he was, he wore uniform like all the other kids. He started to learn to write and read, yes they learnt through play but it was still in a school setting.

Parker231 · 23/09/2018 20:24

Does it really matter what it is called? If the DC’s want to call any nursery/preschool/reception years ‘school ‘ and they are happy, that is what matters.

randomsabreuse · 23/09/2018 20:24

Uniform is a winner for me - only a limited number of clothes to label and get covered in stuff - plus it avoids the morning negotiation about not wearing pyjama bottoms plus a party dress that would be ruined!

Mymomsbetterthanyomom · 23/09/2018 20:24

I totally get you!
It's because it's daycare,not school!

Fatted · 23/09/2018 20:25

We call it school because that's what it is!! My 3YO goes to nursery at the same school his brother goes to. He has to wear a uniform same as all of the other older pupils. So in his eyes, he is going to school.

He went to a private nursery last year. If we say he is now going to nursery, he will correct us and say that he is going to school. He likes the idea of being (in his eyes) a big boy like his brother and going off to school.

megletthesecond · 23/09/2018 20:26

Yanbu.
There's nursery and / or pre-school then school reception year.

busybuildingdens · 23/09/2018 20:26

OMG OP!! Yes! I totally agree with you! It has always annoyed me irrationally! Someone I knew used to go on and on about her DC being at school, and then all of a sudden started talking about “when DC starts school...” I was very confused, but she had been talking about nursery up until that point. So why not just say that then?!

cadburyegg · 23/09/2018 20:28

YANBU!!! This really irritates me. someone I know posted pictures on Facebook of her daughter starting “big school” a few weeks ago, with her new uniform and everything. She talks about the “school run” etc now. Except her daughter isn’t yet 4, she’s just started nursery.

My DS1 is in nursery 2 days a week (20 hours) and people always ask me why he isn’t at preschool, erm because the nursery is better than our local preschool, they do just as many educational activities as preschool if not more, and I don’t need more childcare. 20 hours a week is perfectly fine until he starts reception in a year’s time.

FuzzBallMushroomP · 23/09/2018 20:30

I hate this. More than I realised. A relative of DH talks about her boy going to school. No he's really not. Plus she'll make a huge fuss when he actually goes to school so can't have it both ways.

UnicornSparkles1 · 23/09/2018 20:30

YANBU. It's very irritating.

My daughter went to nursery (in the grounds of a primary school if that makes any difference). She now goes to school (reception). It's really not difficult.

Original poster
Jinglesplodge · 23/09/2018 20:33

Wow. I'm impressed not to have been eaten alive so far. Thanks to everyone who is making me feel less alone in my petty indignation...

OP posts:
puddleduckmummy · 23/09/2018 20:37

I'm with you, it's nursery. My daughters nursery (not attached to any kind of school) sent out an email recently saying there were thinking about implementing a uniform because parents have asked for them!! Why??? Why do kids under the age of 5 need a uniform?

EekThreek · 23/09/2018 20:38

DS has just started going to the nursery at DD1's school, and was previously at a day nursery so he is very particular about this being Nursery School and will correct anyone who gets it wrong. He's got his full 30 hours there, so he's doing school hours.

When I'm yelling at them to get their shoes on chivvying them along in the morning, I tell them we've got to get to school because frankly I cba to say "we've got to get to school and nursery". School is the building we're heading for, so I am technically correct.

I can't get worked up about it though

MaisyPops · 23/09/2018 20:39

I agree. Aged 3-4 is nursery or nursery school or pre school.

firesong · 23/09/2018 20:39

Yeah, I heard friends referring to doing the "school run" when taking their kids to nursery... a bit weird!

jarhead123 · 23/09/2018 20:40

Annoys me too! It's not school til they go into Reception. Before then its just nursery/pre school and it's optional.

continuallychargingmyphone · 23/09/2018 20:42

There’s no real difference though fire if the nursery is on or near school premises!