Unchallenged at playschool????

[nonickno]

If your ds 4.1 was in tears and often sad because he didn't want to go to play school because he "knows the answer to everything and is bored" - would you move him? One of of his teachers has said to me that he isn't allowed to answer qs in circle time as he always knows the answer quicker than anyone else - they ask him to whisper in their ear????

Could you talk to the staff, and ask them to ask an especially hard question which is the one your DS always gets to answer aloud? It could always be the last question asked, so he'd predictably know this time he got to have his turn.

School Nurseries are not always better and have many more rules such as having to do 5 days a week. They also have lower staff ratios. In this area we don't have a school nursery but it really is no loss. Dd2 goes to a fabulous preschool and it certainly engaged dd1 who started school very advanced. I would talk to them and look at other places but don't assume school nursery is better.

School nursery is not always better in terms of academic development, because, as you say, the ratios are a lot larger. But the kids will be the right age for him. I don't think he can just be crying over the question issue as it is a minimal time spent on this. I think probably the fact he's been there 2 years in the same environment plus his little brother is now in there, plus a lot of his age group have moved on to 'big school'. Also 5 mornings a week is not too much in Jan, if he is going full days in September (particularly if he is already doing 5 days). It may be the right way to ease him into longer days.

This sounds to me like your ds is one of the eldest and perhaps needs to understand about turn taking during question time.
How about you arrange with the staff that he gets to answer one I the questions each day he is in,
Would give others a chance and he would feel validated.
Does your ds have. Best friend there? Someone is own age to play with?

In my experience school nurseries are not always better as I have just learnt. DD1 went to an excellent preschool last year in a village hall, not much to look at, v little funding but the things they did with them were amazing. The preschool got its first outstanding ofsted whilst I was there and I can see why.

Dd has always been ahead of herself and is the very oldest in her year, September baby. This year I moved her to the nursery school thinking she would be bored 2 years in the same place and a school nursery would stop her getting bored. I am so disappointed I moved her as she has done hardly anything there and they offer no feedback whatsoever.

Have you explained to the teachers what he has said to you so that they are aware of the fact he's bored and see what they suggest?

We had a similar issue with my dd1. She's also October birthday, played with the older children her first year then got upset when they all went to big school and she was back at preschool for a second year.
She played up for a bit but they recognised she was bored so started giving her bits of responsibility - ie. Helping the little one with drinks / coats etc, standing at the front and showing the others the phonics actions. They also got an older lady / helper in twice a week to do writing with those children who wanted to do it - she loved that!

Good luck!

I think it's worth having a word, but I wouldn't use the word "unchallenged" - it will make you look pushy and they may not take you seriously. Perhaps just say that he's been coming home saying he's bored and wants to move up with his friends and ask if they can have a chat with him about when he will move up and ask if there's anything you can do at home to practice the skill of him sitting still and waiting his turn, if it's this which he is finding hard because it is boring.

Could you meet up with the friends from last year after school or at the weekends? Is the school joined the the playgroup? Is he likely to go to the same school as any of them?