To consider this childcare plan

[WhenZogateSuperworm]

I’m getting really stressed about childcare for 2.9 year old DS and at the minute am considering the plan below from January when I return to work from Maternity leave. He is currently settled at the childminders and the village preschool on Fridays but Monday and Wednesday he is home with me as I’m on mat leave.

Monday- Half day at school nursery
Tuesday- full day in childminders as I’m at work
Wednesday- half day in school nursery
Thursday- full day in childminders while I work
Friday- half day at village preschool (purely so he can meet some children he will attend the village school with.

From September next year I would have to work Mondays as well so would be doing full day and wraparound care at the school nursery on this day. By this point DS will be a month off being 4.

I’m really anxious about unknown’s and big decisions and DH is so laid back he won’t even discuss with me as he doesn’t have an opinion.

Am I crazy to use 3 different providers for DS? Using the village preschool more isn’t an option as they don’t open Mondays. I could drop this altogether and do 3 days in the school nursery but it isn’t the school he will go to and so he won’t get to meet anyone he starts school with.

Three different providers sounds a nightmare all around. Can he not just go to the childminder full time? Or do more hours at the preschool?

why don't you just use the childminder Mondays and Wednesdays as well?

2 different providers is bad enough, but 3! you wont know whether youre coming or going! and neither will he!

I wouldn't do 3 settings, no. It sounds like the village preschool isn't much use childcare wise. I would try to keep it as simple as possible, and use one provider if possible , or at most 2. 3 would be very unsettling I think.

You can do playdates with local children.

I only need childcare on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Jan-Sept and then Monday, Tuesday Thursday from Sept onwards.

My childminder doesn’t have space on Mondays from the Sept and the preschool doesn’t open. So I thought it was best for him to start the school nursery in jan for half days to prepare him for the long day he has to do there on Mondays from Sept.

I know 3 sounds crazy... I’m just trying to find an option that’s best for DS in the long term.

Could he do childminder and village preschool? I think it’s a good idea for him to meet and make friends with children he’ll attend school with.

Oops- just saw your issue on the Mondays. Sorry! In which case childminder and school nursery and he’ll just have to make new friends when he starts school- which is entirely possible! Some of the children I worked with in preschool went to school without knowing anyone and they were fine.

Will the village preschool even take him for one half day only? Most nurseries ask for at least 2 sessions.

I know I’ve just contradicted myself but honestly, whilst it might be ideal for him to have friends prior to starting school, it won’t be the end of the world if he doesn’t.

I might have missed something, but if your childminder doesn’t have space on Mondays then what are your plans from September when you work on that day?

Also will the school nursery do just some days? Most school nurseries like the sessions spread over 5 days

I think it would be quite unsettling to have so many providers. I’d drop the village preschool. Neither of my kids went to thier school nursery and they both made friends quickly when they started in reception. I’d really try and focus on what works for your family in the present moment rather than preparing ahead, as children do adapt and make friends surprisingly quickly. Hi

@PrincessSarene that’s why I’m having to look at the school nursery for Mondays. My DD can have space at the childminders but she can’t fit both in.

@drspouse yes he has been doing Friday mornings at the ore school since October last year and is well settled there which is why I’ve considered keeping him there on Fridays. I could put him there Wednesday as well but then it would just be one long day in the school nursery on Mondays which I think he would find difficult to settle to.

I also dont know any school nurseries where two half days only is an option

@IVEgottheDECAF luckily this one does as it’s a rural school that is undersubscribed so they can be very flexible.

Hi, my DD is just over 2 1/2 and since she was 9 months has gone to nursery Mon & Tues, with me Wed, SIL Thu and MIL Friday. She is fine with this set up, but it has been consistent for coming up to 2 years now so its a routine that works for us.
I would say send DS to the preschool of the school they will be attending, and use the childminder where possible as I assume they will be doing some wraparound care when he starts school full time?

I just thought I had found a solution when I hit another stumbling block- if I only work 2 days I don’t think I’m entitled to 30 hours childcare

Ive spoken to my childminder and she will have space on a Monday provided I use it right from January as she can’t hold it open unused. I was going to use the 30 free hours to put him in 3 days to make sure the space is there and then in the September she definitely has an extra space for baby as one of her others will be school age.

But if I only get 15 hours this isn’t an option.

I wouldn’t bother with preschool. My daughter is going to nursery with some of the kids she will go to reception with, she’s not remotely interested in them and has made firm friends with a girl who’s going to be homeschooled. Her other mates have moved to the coast!

OP, will the school nursery be enough hours to cover your working day though?

I’m sorted! I can have 30 hours free and the childminder can fit him in so the plan is:

Monday- childminder
Tuesday- childminder
Wednesday- home
Thursday- childminder
Friday- preschool morning.
This is the same as he was doing before I went on Maternity leave so he should be fine.

Excellent. Glad that’s worked out for you

Brilliant. Glad it all worked out!