My son 20 months and is currently with a childminder 2.5 days a week. The rest of the time he is with myself or his dad. Really happy with the childminder, he has a good bond with her and she is very caring / attentive. She is only a small setting with 2 or 3 children but they go to lots of playgroups, and I take him to classes 3 times a week as well as playdates etc so I'm not worried about the social side of things for now. She also does activities with him like art, messy play, going to the park, baking etc and I try to as well. I wanted him to be a more homely environment while he's small and form a close bond with someone, so I'm happy with where he is for now.
The plan has always been that he'll start going to a local nursery or preschool sometime between 2/3 years old, but still have wrap around care from his childminder, so he'll either go for mornings at the preschool or 9am-3pm and she'll pick him up / drop him off.
But I've found out that the 3 local school nurseries / preschool will only take him from the term after he turns 3, as his birthday is beginning of summer term this means he will be 3 years and 4 months before starting nursery.
I'm wondering if that's a bit late?
There are some a little bit further away that take them from 2, so he could start doing mornings there (probably from around 2.5) and CM has said she can collect him if it's a half day, then when he's 3 and 4 months change to the local preschool (so he can do 9-3.30 potentially) but I'm not whether it's worth it, will he benefit a lot from going at 2.5 or do you think he'll be absolutely fine starting at 3 year 4 months. Don't want to hold him back in his development! But equally happy to hold off on nursery /not in a rush as I think he has a good set up at the mo and would be less disruption to keep it as it is for now.
What do people think? Are there any childminders out there who have thoughts on this?
Thanks :-)