Pre school advice please!

[Emilycreaven999]

My son won't start the school nursery ( if he even gets a place! ) until he is 3 years 11 months.
I'm a stay at home mum, he is never away from me or my husband and Im not sure if he should go to a local pre school before he goes there?
He's a very sociable kid, we are out everyday at different places but it isn't the same as him being away from me.
Any advice??

If there is a local playgroup that would be able to start him after the christmas holidays then I would think about putting him in for a couple of half day sessions a week.

Thanks for your advice

My son will be that age too when starting at preschool so will get a full year before starting reception. I too have worried about this mainly due to the negative comments and disbelief that he's not already going! I take him to all sorts of things and we just potter around together so as much as it drives me a little bit crazy sometimes I think i will miss him terribly when he starts his mornings at preschool. Would be great to hear from some mums that have already done this?!! Did they settle in ok? Not too clingy etc?

I found my 3 year old was ready for preschool. I know some of peers were clingy to start with but settled within a week or two. It depends on the setting. It's hard to let them go but honestly, their social development is at the stage where they play with peers instead of side by side so they should be doing it.

My little boy will start next Sept when he's 3.5 but he currently going to a play group 2 mornings a week 9-1 and he loves it! Definitely worth doing!

Thankyou for the replies
I just didn't want ro start him in January when he gets his funded hours and then have to move him in September if he does get a nursey place if that makes sense?
I know kids adapt but didn't want him to " have to "

Sounds like due to his age he will be getting a full 3 terms anyway. My DS is May born so only got his funding September just gone and will start school next September so is only actually entitled to 3 terms funded so your DS would have had the same amount of pre school as him when he starts school

This is time with your child that you never get back.
If you and he are happy to be at home/playgroups whatever then keep doing that. I don't think it is necessary to be conditioned to be 'ready' for school nursery. The school nursery should have staff ready and skilled to help your son adapt whether he is used to being in a care setting or not.
He might find it difficult to be away from you if he never has been before, but that will happen at either place anyway.
Do whatever you feel is best for your family.
FWIW, my DD was in a nursery (2 mornings a week) from being 9 months old. She would probably have loved me being a SAHM but it wasn't possible and I'm not sure it would have been ideal for me! She was ok at her private day nursery, but really happy at the school one, where she did 2 full days and then 3 full days one term before starting Reception.