Pre reception class can’t work for working parents

[Onemorecrisp]

How do you access pre school as working parents ?
Sessions are 9-3 no wrap around available. They don’t even do pre or after pre school club/ breakfast club.
School says it’s important for transition.

Will have to be straight from private nursery to reception... not fair ??? Does it matter?

Just do private nursery. At the age of four it really doesn't matter in the long run about 'friends' etc. Lots of DC won't know anyone to start with and it's really not a big deal. Neither of mine did pre-school.

We don’t have any pre schools attached to schools in our area, so all children go straight to reception. They certainly don’t seem to have any issues. DD1 is in year 1, loves school and has loads or friends. DD2 started 2 weeks ago and is also loving it, no tears going in and no issues settling.

I have this same thought, and I was considering combining private nursery with the pre school for maybe two days per week. I've decided against it in the end, as I don't think they integrate as much as is implied and the pre school room at nursery is quite 'school-ish' in it's approach.

Round here it’s pretty much the accepted norm that childminders will do the wrap around care for preschool minders. Yes they charge for the full day, of course they do, they can’t fill the 3 hour space otherwise.

Also the two local private nurseries also do pick ups from some of the preschools in town.

With DS1 his childminder did pick up from preschool. Moved house when DS2 was born, so he ended up in private nursery then straight to school. Absolutely no difference I’m their school readiness or how they made friends, settled in, anything.

Not important at all for transition. Private nursery or child minder.

All my dc went from private nursery straight to Reception. None of the schools had any kind of pre-school class. One school had a private Nursery attached, but said that only about half of the children went on to the school (catchment reasons) and that it would not be a problem in any way if ds did not attend it.

All my dc settled in fine at their schools.

The main difference is, although they follow the same curriculum, school nurseries will always be teacher led. A private pre school often isn't. That's not to say that there aren't some fantastic private nurseries run by non teaching staff. Some private nurseries will employ a teacher.

Schools like children in their pre schools so they can get to know the children, assess them accurately and ensure they are ready for the school routine. It also means that if there are any behaviour/SEN concerns they can be picked up early on as it can be a long process for schools to access funding and support. School staff are likely to have Reception teaching experience so know exactly where the children need to be.

Some private nurseries are not so good at ensuring children are school ready, but they are in the minority. Its more of a problem if children are not receiving support at home.

By school ready it's things like being able to get dressed independently, use the toilet independently, use a knife and fork, follow instructions, hold a pencil etc. All things you can encourage at home.

I wanted my DC in a school nursery but we moved to an area with no school nurseries, which is rare these days. There was one huge teacher led nursery which was difficult for us to get to so we went private. Our private nursery was brilliant and DC has settled in to school really well.

Both my dc went straight to reception from private nursery no problem whatsoever. It costs more but specially for dc1 there was no guarantee that he get to go from the nursery to reception anyway I did not want him having to transition twice from nursery to preschool and then from preschool to reception in three different settings.

Ds2 was always going to get space at school if you went to the nursery because his brother was there. But by then I was happy with keeping him in the private nursery.

I'm a childminder most of mine go straight into reception at 4. We work on preparation for school...large group circle times separation from main carer seeking support from other adults (networking at childminder drop ins) self care like dressing, toileting selecting food, they sit and read stories, find and write own names, can count and understand concept ov number, recognise familiar letters and stage one phonics (more than basic school readiness. We practice building fine motor skills ready for writing. They have a circle of around friends many will go to the same school. None have had any difficulty going full time and teachers remark on how school ready they are.

I'm a childminder and my mindees stay with me until they start reception class. I am also an early years teacher. I have had some very positive feedback from their teachers after they have started school. It depends on the nursery / childminder / pre school / nursery school provision in your area, how good it is and whether the hours suit you.

I do sympathise but I disagree that pre schools are just for sahps. In my experience the majority of parents do work but may have more flexibility in their hours or days. Those that don't use childminders. Personally I used 15 of the free hours for nursery (2 and a half school days) and the other 15 for my childminder. I am part time so DC at home with me the other days. One of the major advantages of using a childminder from when they are babies is how easy continued out of school care is as they get older.

Dd went to a wonderful preschool with qualified teachers.

Both ds1 &ds2 went to a private nursery. Not a big chain with high staff turnover. They also had a QTS manager, his preschool room teacher took a year out and got an MA on education studies. There were a couple of teenage girls working there towards their NVQs but no reason to think the staff weren't well qualified. And ratios were much much better than school nursery.

The school may like children to attend their preschool but they dont control reception admissions so ultimately they dont know if attendees will even come there for reception.

My DD went straight from full-time private nursery to school reception class with no problems whatsoever. The nursery had a pre-school class, as I’m sure all nurseries do, so I don’t understand what the issue is?

DD was used to a long day at her private nursery. She was there from 7.30-6pm and found school hours really easy!

The benefit of being in a private nursery is that it is open all year round. Children that go to a school pre-school class have the 6-week break before starting reception. DD literally did Monday at Nursery pre-school and Tuesday in Reception. She wasn’t phased at all. Her pre-school class at the private nursery had more than prepared her.

My child went from a private nursery straight to reception as school nursery hours didn't suit us as I work...in a school!! He's doing just fine at school!

There is no guarantee that the children in a school nursery will even get a reception place at that school anyway

Do whatever works for you. Round here school nurseries are full time 9-3pm and they have to wear a uniform. Many children are better off in a more nurturing setting with higher staff ratios that you find in private nurseries.

The school nursery here does 09:00 - 11:45 and then 13:00 to about 4pm, and if you are doing morning and afternoon sessions you have to collect them for lunch and bring them back after. As you can imagine, lots of kids go to private nurseries.

Ignore the alarmist posts telling you your child will melt into a puddle of anxiety if it doesn't attend a school pre-school...
Check out private nurseries and ask about their EY provision. Dd's was excellent in school prep.

Lots of primary schools have no pre-school. Its unlikely they have reception classes full of 30 blubbering toddler like 4 yr olds who can't hold a pen or pull their pants up and down.
Certainly not the case at dd's school (which has no pre-school and most kids transition from a private nursery).

And look for a school that offers before and after school clubs. If they don't, its unlikely they'll have much empathy with working parents and are best avoided.

DD1 went to a community preschool. DD2 went to a school preschool. They were different, but I wouldn't commit to saying which was better.

The community preschool was more flexible. The School had set hours they were expected to attend. Both were term time only.

The community preschool was more play based. The school preschool had more formal teaching- but the school was quite academic. It also had access to the school facilities like library and music room.

Both had an optional uniform.

DD2 entered reception with basics of reading and writing, DD1 didn't... But she wasn't ready for it.

The community preschool missed the SEN, saying it was all in my head and I was paranoid. But did wonders for her confidence and cared for her well. She also got to play in the mud a lot.

We moved house just before each child started reception, they didn't even get transition sessions, but settled in fine.