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?

No, but you asked why you don't see many children of 3 and 4 at the groups and events you go to...

Mine were never in pre school full time. I didn't take them to groups either though.

That's a shame, the church playgroups are where you can most easily manage both older and younger interests. Totally understand you might not like them though.

I guess that's the tricky thing with an older one, DS was locked away in school at 4. At 3, most do some pre-school, he had 2 afternoons off each week; I would have preferred one full day and an afternoon but they mandated either 5 ams or 5 pms. Afternoon clubs were fairly full on Thursday/ Fridays so maybe sign up to something like that.

Yes, so I’m sure a fair few go back FT when their child is three and has the funded hours which makes sense? This is what i am wondering I suppose, how common it is to be part time or not working at all with slightly older preschoolers.

The church playgroups round here are rubbish to be honest. And plus DS was a bit of a terror until he was about two and a half and I’d have just spent the duration of it following him around ensuring he didn’t attack anyone.

All of my children went to school nursery the September after their third birthday. It was either morning or afternoon sessions, not full time.

Big variation of area. My DD wasn’t entitled to 30 yrs because I’m at sahm. At least 5 out of 26 the children in morning school nursery had sahms so were only in morning nursery. We went to lots of groups in the afternoon, all aimed at age 3 plus and they were all busy groups.

Just to add one of the groups was the first and then franchaised their branded. They said in some areas there wasn’t enough demand for pre school classes.

There is absolutely nothing on in the afternoons here! We’re absolutely spoilt for choice in the mornings but in the afternoon there’s nothing.

It’s the opposite here, DS2 goes to preschool 4 days a week and it seems that all of the other children go a couple of mornings only or a couple of days only.

I don't think most preschoolers are going to the toddler and music type groups, unless they have younger siblings. We used to go to swimming lessons, cookery classes, gymnastics and dance classes all specifically aimed at 3-4 year olds. Or just out and about to soft plays and children's farms in the afternoons when the younger toddlers are napping.

Most kids I know do four days in nursery/preschool while their mums either work those days or are at home with a smaller sibling. My son does 3 days at nursery and I don't think any kids in his class do less than that.

Even the SAHMs I know who don't need childcare tend to start sending their kid 3 days a week (usually 9-3 preschool) once they get to 3, as the socialising is important to them.

We go to classes on the week days I’m with him and there’s a decent number of 3-5 year olds at them. Those are specifically aimed at older children though and more skills based than sensory or free play. I agree that most mums stop taking kids to at age to the playgroups aimed at smaller children though, even if technically the age range is 0-5 or whatever.

None of mine went to pre school full time.
Ds1 went 2 full days a week
Ds2 went one full day and 1 half
Ds3 didn't go.
Ds4 went 2 mornings
Ds5 went 5 mornings

Ds2 was part time in reception until Easter so he went to toddler groups until he was nearly 5

But the overwhelming response on this thread has been that children aren't in pre-school/nursery 5 days a week. Nursery staff and teachers have pointed out it's not the norm in their settings. Working part-time with under 5s is incredibly common as is working part-time with KS1 children. I don't know anyone who went back because their child was now 3 but this might be because I'm not in a lower-earning area where wages don't cover nursery costs.

I don’t know if there is a consensus. Probably area dependent to a large extent. It’s interesting to discuss anyway (well i think so!)

I'm in Scotland and my 4 year old goes 5 days a week to a school nursery (Mon - Thu: 8.45-3.30pm and Fri: 8.45-12pm). He absolutely loves it and has such good friends who he sees every day. We tend to do classes post 3.30pm 😊

Where I am most kids are in FT nursery/preschool at that age. Mine were in 2.5 days or 5 mornings. It was a bit hard in the year before reception as my 3/4 year old felt a little older than most of the kids at playgroup/activities.

No, they aren’t, but if they have some time in pre-school maybe the parents don’t bother with toddler groups anymore.

It depends on the area, but probably no. However they may be at home, in playgroups or classes.

The nurseries my DC went to had minimum hours of Mon to Fri mornings in term time for the year before they started school. Many children stayed for longer hours and all year round.

In terms of activities, I didn’t do any parent and child structured groups when they were that age because they had learning in nursery (would take younger sibling when older child in nursery). I did take them to sports/dance etc lessons but they were drop off or parent watches from a distance, this was the norm for most people I knew.

My 3yo is starting to be the oldest in most of the groups we go to. Had the same experience with my older child, who turned 3 in the October and for nearly the next two years we hardly saw any children the same age at groups. Fridays seem to be the best to find other part time mums at stuff.

I think a lot do preschool 3-4 days and just chill at home on the other days.

Mine did 3 days. 3/4 days seemed common at her nursery. We went to a craft class and ballet class on her days home.