Preschool-necessary or not?

[callmemamma]

I recently received an offer from my dd's childminder about preschool run by her friend.She is suggesting that my dd could do 1 session per week while at her care so she is ready to join for maybe 2 sessions per week next year or even more once we are entilted to 15 hrs funded by govt.
I quite like the idea but at the same time i know it might be financially challenging as i already pay for childcare and i'll be double paying for the hrs dd is at prescholl.dh disagrees he thinks we should be sending her regardless...
Can you tell me if your dc went to preschool any earlier than 3yo?Is it essential?
Any opinions greatly appreciated..

I wouldn't bother before at least two and a half. Mine went from that age - but we tried earlier and it was too early.

In any case it's not essential unless your childminder just parks them in front of the TV all day!

Also one session will not be enough for her to get used to it.

Definitely not essential - just personal choice.

At the age of two they're supposed to learn their social skills more effectively from one-on-one playing, rather than group situations iirc.

So entirely up to you, but don't bankrupt yourself to do it.

Thank you for quick reply!
It's exactly what I needed to hear to talk dh out of it as he says I am being tight

My DD was desperate to go at 2 and a half cause her friend started going! I waited til she was 3 and got a funded place, but if she hadn't been so keen I would have waited until she had one year there before school.

She loves it and is learning loads and now having packed lunch there. Also the uniform, register, listening, doing as you're told is all good practice for school, but they really don't need it any earlier than the year before they go to school.

Also the ones who went younger tended (not all - big generalisation!) to take longer to settle in (dd just ran in and never looked back!) and they're also not so confidently potty trained (if at all) which I just don't equate with school IYSWIM, so it doesn't feel right, to me, for then to go so young.

Go with whatever feels right for you! But she won't be losing out by not going yet

The children DS2's age have just started this academic year (he's 2y9m), but I'm waiting until next year, and then only for 2 sessions. So he'll just be there for a year before reception. We are paying for a nanny, seems daft to have him and the nanny farting about with preschool drop offs, when he's only just getting to the age of playing with others rather than parallel play.

pre school was fabulous for my ds. he started at about 28 months. he met lots of boys and girls who he subsequently started school with, so the transition from pre school to reception has been pretty painless. he also needed more mental stimulation than i was giving him, which the pre school encouraged. my ds2 will be starting soon too.

Pre-school can be good for children who don't have any other opportunity to play with other children but if they have siblings or get some playdates it's has no particular advantage over being at home with a close relative or childminder.

I do think it can help children to go to pre-school for a year or so before they start school. This is purely because staffing ratios are better in pre-school so they are able to be a bit more flexible in terms of helping the child get used to being part of a group, sharing, following a more set routine, etc.

I can the attraction for a childminder of being paid while the child attends pre-school but I don't think this is for the benefit of the child. If she thinks she's not providing enough time for your dd to socialise with her peers she should be taking her to a toddler group.