My son is 2.5 and goes to a fabulous childminder 3 days a week. We're really happy with the care she provides and he's doing well. She runs a sort of mini nursery from her home with lots of assistants and little ones from about 9 months to 4 years, with about three or four little ones around DS's age. They are out and about a lot and do all the usual activities you'd expect. The only thing they don't seem to do that much of, compared with nursery, is messy play (eg, water/sand). And they only generally go outside in the morning at this time of year when they go out to to the park (childminder doesn't have a garden) whereas at nursery the kids always seem to be outside.
I'm undecided what to do when he turns 3 - whether to keep him with the childminder or move him to nursery. Is there much to be gained by moving him for just 1 year (he'll start school just a few weeks after he turns 4)?
I suppose I'm a bit worried about the transition to school with him being young for the school year, and I wondered whether nursery might make things easier (he used to be quite reserved but has got a lot more assertive in recent months and he generally adjusts pretty well to new situations).