To think most three / four year olds are in FT preschool?

[thinnerthanher]

I ask because I don’t see any of them. My own nearly four year old has just one day off with me but I don’t really see why at groups or events. AIBU?

I’m not sure what you’re asking. When DD was 3 she was at nursery three days a week and she started school just after turning 4.

My 4.5 year old has Fridays off with me and her brother, her 3 year old brother does 3 days while I work. We’re in Scotland so she won’t start school till next August.

Most of my friends kids have 3 or 4 days at preschool, only the ones who can’t use funding outside of 9-3 mon to fri.

So the last thing I want is to sound sarcastic and I know text can come across badly but I’m asking if most three and four year olds are attending a nursery or preschool setting full time (once the thirty funded hours come in, in other words.) I ask because I just don’t see any, even in groups where it’s 0-4, they are composed pretty much entirely of one and two year olds.

I don't really know any that are in a preschool/nursery full time, depends what you mean by full time though? DD went to nursery 3 and half a days a week up until she started school

It may vary by area, but I don't think that's true where I am. The norm seems to be nursery/preschool for part of the week and either a parent who works part time, grandparents, or a childminder the rest of the time.

I take mine to set groups 3 days a week and there are always preschool age children there (though some come with grandparents rather than mum or dad).

My (just turned) 3yo is in pre-pre school 9-12, 5 days per week

Ah I thought that was the case. As above really, DD was in nursery 3 days and then started school 5 days when she was 4.

None of mine or my friends 3 or 4 years old were or are in full time childcare. (About 15 children).

Maybe people are over the groups by that age and would rather hang out with friends they've made and their children's friends instead of random people.

Neither of mine were in nursery/preschool at 3 or 4, and I didn't go to groups with them.

Most of DD1's peers were in 3-4 days. DD1 did 3 days until she started school. I think classes etc generally do cater to younger kids as parents as more likely to be at home, but we found stuff to do that I could take both her and DD2 to together until she started school, and we are in a village so I'd imagine somewhere busier would have more options. DD1 was definitely one of the older ones there though, but she never seemed to mind.

Probably, I do wonder if the groups are just aimed at a younger age group than DS, but I have a younger child who still enjoys them!

I know some who are, others not. Most of the 3/4 year olds I know have outgrown toddler style groups and do things like swimming or ballet classes if they have a day off. By that age you also generally already know some people with the same day off to spend time with, they are easier to take on outings (eg mid-week zoo trips when it is quiet) or they also like to stay at home and play with toys.

Maybe they're not going to the groups because they're at pre-school.....??

Umm yes … that’s what I’m asking!

In England all 3 years are entitled to 15 hours of education/childcare and pretty much every 3 year old I know did that if they weren't already in a full time childcare settings. Usually the 3 hours a day in a pre-school or nursery class setting.
I actually have noticed that you hardly see any children over the age of 1 out and about in places like shopping centres these days and just the other day I was thinking "where are all the toddlers?".
Most are in childcare settings I assume.

But to add to my comment above: yes, a lot of 3/4 years olds are in nursery/preschool.

I was going to start a thread on this! Took a day off this week to cover grandparents holiday so went to a toddler group and realised by 3.5 year old was the eldest by far and it was probably too babyish for her.

I also have a midweek day off but tend to see friends or do our own thing, sometimes go to library story time which is usually babies. Mine loves babies so doesn't mind!

I think when people get the 3 year funding they often add an extra nursery day. Or if grandparents have been doing lots of care they send them to preschool.

I think Friday is most common part time day off so there might be more 3 to 4 year olds around then.

That’s true re Fridays. It’s the quietest day at nursery too.

Here (NI) there is a funded preschool year, so most DC who will start school next Sept are in a preschool Monday-Friday but that's typically just mornings. Ours is unusual in that it's FT so the day runs 9-1, most run 9-12.

Longer hours in private day care nurseries depend on parents' working hours.

No funded hours here.

Mine went to a childminder, who took him to preschool two mornings a week, while I worked full time.

30 hours only covers 22 year-round so I used to work 3 days a week until DS started school. On our days off I would either take him out (National Trust/Longleat/Soft Play) or meet friends who didn't work. I think I stopped groups pretty much as soon as he turned 1 and I went back to work. He was 1-3 in The COVID Times though!

Mine did the funded hours at that age (4 days a week) and we had a childminder for the additional hours we needed care. Fridays they were with me. DD started Reception 3 months after her 4th birthday.

Ds is one of the older ones (November birthday) feels massive compared to the other kids!

In England all 3 years are entitled to 15 hours of education/childcare and pretty much every 3 year old I know did that if they weren't already in a full time childcare settings. Usually the 3 hours a day in a pre-school or nursery class setting.

This has been usual for a while.

When DSis had day off with her youngest - mix of childminder and preschooler she did other things with him - trips out walks visits to DGP meet up with other parents.

Mine are teens but did mornings preschool term time - so might be around at groups in afternoon in winter or school holidays but we often did other things like day trips to parks/museums/nearby cities. Mostly why I sent them to pre-school TBH - as could have been with me as they out grew groups and school liked them to do their preschool as gentle introduction to reception.

@thinnerthanher when was your child 3?
Most do go to pre-school/nursery class the September after they turn 3.
If yours has literally just turned 3 that's not that unusual to still be at home if you are a SAHM.