To think 20 hours of nursery is ok?

[cadburyegg]

My DH has come back from a school open evening concerned that our nearly 4 yo DS1 won’t be prepared for school because he only does 2 days at nursery. We pay for 8-6 2 days a week, so 20 hours. I’m on maternity leave with DS2 at the moment and when I go back I will only be working 2 days, so we can’t really afford/justify the cost of an additional nursery day when we don’t need the childcare. Nursery is about £63 a day.

Apparently the headteacher said that kids who have been doing a decent amount of preschool / nursery settle better at school and are more prepared.

I have looked at the village preschool but didn’t feel it was the right fit for DS1 for various reasons. There arent really many other nursery/preschool options.

I think DS1 will be able to learn a lot at home before school next year but DH thinks he would benefit more from being in a more formal setting particularly now my attention is stretched with DS2, but the staff ratios for 3 year olds are 1:8.

AIBU? Thoughts?

The most DD1 ever did was 18 hours. She’s in reception now, settled brilliantly, loves school, was reading fluently before she started and has made loads of friends.
DD2 is 3 (4 in July) and won’t do more than 15 hours. I’m not concerned about her starting school at all.

I would wonder if something more regular would help with settling in? Can you swap your two days to do four mornings for example?

My 2 only did their free hours which at the time was 5x2.5 hours a week. They settled in at school fine

Children of a well educated, engaged mother (or father but studies always emphasise maternal educational level because mothers are still overwhelmingly likely to be the main child carer) do equally well or better if at home before school age. Good number with engaged, trained staff bring children without the advantage of a well educated, engaged parent up to the same standard.

So if you're a well educated, engaged mother he'll be fine either way Seriously though, that's true.

Obviously if you never speak to your kid and just chucked happy meals in his direction while swearing in your breath, shell out for full time nursery

If you needed to work full time he'd also be just as well off at nursery. You don't need to though, and it won't do any good just as it won't do any harm.

Do you not qualify for the 30 hours funding?

20 hrs ia nore than enoughñenever dis more rhan the 15 teunded at the time.

Could you spread it across more days while you are on maternity? 5hrs x 4 days is far more like the school week.

my phone did something weird there! Sorry about all the spellings!!!

Mine only did 3 days at nursery and was absolutely fine with school. I worked 3 days and I enjoyed our 2 days off together. On a Thursday we went swimming and Friday to pre school music class. Fond memories, no regrets at all. She’s 12 now.

20 hours is more than enough. Don't give it another minutes thought. It's always good to get some experience of an educational setting and build relationships with their peers but 20 hours is easily sufficient. Not all headteachers know what they are talking about even if they like to think they do.

The right amount is what’s comfortable and affordable for you. My dd was in 40 hours a week from when she was 2 (so 2.5 years by the time she started school). I definitely think the ones who had more time in nursery eased into it easier just because they were already in a routine. She wasn’t exhausted by the end of the school day and she was socialised to certain expectations already, but honestly after a month or two, it really didn’t make much difference. Ultimately, the ones who’ve adjusted better have had more support at home and generally less chaotic lives - issues much bigger than a few hours at nursery. So I wouldn’t stress about it too much, but I would plan life so that when school starts, one or both of you can be available and engaged and supportive through the transition.

It’s fine but you should qualify at least for 15 hours free care

Mine only did 3 morning - 9 hours. My youngest only did 6 hours - 2 mornings. They were fine. We had lots of fun ourselves - went to groups, went swimming, met friends....etc etc

My DD does three full mornings at her private nursery- so 15 hours a week and it’s totally enough for her. She gets to hang out with her friends, and follow the early years curriculum when she is there - but she has lots of free time with me and gets to play and learn at her own pace. My son was in nursery four full days (I was working long hours in a demanding job which I’ve now given up!) and struggled a bit at school in the beginning - I think partly because he hadn’t had enough free time. It really depends on the child, and not what school and nursery say is standard. If you think he’s doing well then he’s probably fine. If he is comfortable with other children and adults other than you, and he can dress and undress himself, can do some mark making, listen to stories and recognise some letters, can count, sing songs and play imaginative games by the time he starts school, he will be fine!

(Only personal experience here!)

20 hours is plenty.
Not sure why you are paying for it (maybe not available where you live?). Here, all 3 yrs olda are entitled to 15 hours EEE (Early Education Entitlement ) - ie, 'funding' from the term after they turn 3.
the fact it is 15 hours is a bit of a clue that the 20 hours your dc is getting is absolutely fine.

My DS started in Reception this year having previously done two full days a week at a private nursery. He didn’t attend the pre-school of the school he’s at now (we didn’t know about it, it was a pleasant surprise we were offered a Reception place at the school he’s at as we hadn’t expected him to get in), plus he’s a late July summerborn so I was worried how he’d settle with being so young....and he’s fine! The teachers we’ve seen said he’s settled in wonderfully, he seems to like the school routine although he’s tired and ready for the Christmas holidays (aren’t we all)

You get 30 hours free now unless you earn over £90k. Which I assume you don’t if you’re worrying about cost.

My DD went to Nursery once a week from 8am-6pm and to playgroup once a week from 9.3pam-1.30pm and settled into school no problem at all. She adores school and will usually run off without even saying goodbye.

You have to qualify for the 30 free hours

Ds1 only did 5 hours of a local playscheme a week for 6 months before school.

Ds2 was with a cm for two days a week.

Both settled fine at school.

You can usually get 30 hours free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

in work - or getting parental leave, sick leave or annual leave

each earning at least theNational Minimum Wage or Living Wagefor 16 hours a week - this is £125.28 if you’re over 25

Thanks for the replies. Our nursery doesn’t offer the funded 30 hours, only 15, which works out to about 11 hours per week all year round . I know the funding can be stretched but there aren’t many other settings around.

I’m going back to work at the beginning of February so it wouldn’t really be worthwhile changing his hours for the month I have left. I don’t think my work would let me change to 4x mornings. It will be a combination of my mum and DH who look after DS2 and those hours won’t work for them either. But it’s something to think about...

As others have said, you can apply for 30 hours if cost is a concern.

With both of my DS, neither has done full days in the run up to school. From 6 months to 2YO, eldest was full time with a childminder. Then I was on mat leave with youngest. We get 15 hours here funded from 2, so eldest had that with the childminder while I was on mat leave. Then half days at nursery school and onto reception. He settled fine into school.

My youngest has been home with me, then the 15 hours free at a nursery last year when he was 2. He's now at nursery at school and with a childminder in the afternoon now I'm back full time.

The only advantage I can see it giving kids is they are used to the routine of being out every day and perhaps the longer day at school. I know kids can find the first few weeks in reception tiring because they're not used to being out all day.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Ancient saying warning of the dangers of focusing too much on formal education.
2 days of nursery is fine. Your DH can download some age appropriate counting games on his phone and engage with your DC while they're playing. He should read to him every day and get a hold of some games like lotto or dominoes. His engagement and attention will be really beneficial. And of course keep on with the bedtime stories.

All my family have done 10-15 hours with their kids and they've all settled in fine. It's nothing to do with how long they're at nursery,
Just as long as they get used to getting up, getting ready, going to nursery, having a routine and being around people, they will settle into school easier because they've already 'done it'