Considering options early!

[solosunflower]

Hello all,
I'm a solo parent to my 6 month old son. I have zero support or childcare options other than paid. I'm trying to get my head around everything. So, as it stands I'm thinking from 9 months 3 days a week at private nursery and 2 days with me. From 3 years, potentially 3 days private nursery and I was thinking about 2 morning sessions at the feeder nursery on the days when he's with me. I would like my son to spend some time with his peers. Does this sound workable? I will use UC to claim back nursery costs, will this still be doable if he spends a couple of mornings at feeder nursery too? I have considered using a childminder, rather than private nursery, so DS could do 5 days at feeder nursery (so three days CM and two days me), but I've not found a CM I'm happy with in the area. First time navigating childcare, so any advice or input would be fantastic! Thank you.

Hi, does sound workable but this definitely isn't early to think about it, I'd get in touch with some nurseries ASAP. We booked in December 2022 for our February 2024 spot x

Sounds totally fine, but I echo PP that you need to get your skates on - round me you need to book nursery at 6 months pregnant if you want a slot when they’re 1. Crazy, I know.

When you say feeder nursery, is that for a private school? Most schools do not use attendance at a nursery in admissions criteria but it may be nice for them to make friends in preschool. Considering now wouldn’t be considered early, we viewed nurseries when DS was a few weeks old, one could not offer the sessions we wanted for when he was one.

Eek, I better get a move on then!
When I say feeder nursery I mean the one attached to the infants he will attend. So two mornings there, and three full days at a private nursery.

I would carefully check the criteria for universal credit paying fees too, ask via your journal for clarification of the maximum they pay as I know people who have been caught out, the system may also change so i would concentrate on when you return to work now, which you'll probably not have much choice.

Unless you're very rural there's no such thing as "school they will attend" as living close isn't a guarantee, I understand what you mean but you need to be aware feeder nurseries don't exist and kid's living near primaries don't always get a place.

Concentrate on finding the best childcare you can for in a few months now, worry about preschool later.

With the "free hours" etc changing and conflicting promises from various political parties at the moment, you don't know what the offer will be like in 2 years for preschool.

There is no such thing as a guaranteed place because of attending the nursery next to the school. A split between two child care settings can be unsettling for the kids.

I was told by a UC adviser up to £950.92 for one child.

I think your child will benefit more from two full days with you than time at the "feeder nursery" so I wouldn't bother with that

My mum is convinced that my son will be at a disadvantage if he doesn't attend the nursery attached to the infants he's highly likely to attend. Not made friends etc.

Lots of kids don't attend school nurseries for all sorts of reasons. Mine didn't as we moved between Nursery and reception. The kids quickly forget.

That's good to know, thank you.
I have visits booked for a couple of private nurseries on Friday. Both have availability for Jan.

Are you working on the three full days?

I'm not sure if school nurseries would allow a two day a week attendance. They normally keep school hours, so you're either there five days or half days a week or not. It's not like a day nursery/childcare nursery.

Some school pre-schools insist on 5 days. He'd be with his peers at nursery anyway - he might be better sticking with them on any extra days rather than starting out in a whole new group only 2 mornings a week. You can assess nearer the time whether it's worth introducing the second setting, you don't need to decide now. In reception they are still very little - I don't think anyone at ours could tell who had come from which preschool a few weeks in. About two thirds at ours do not attend the attached preschool.

Nurseries will all do pre-school sort of stuff in the last year before starting school. They use the same EYFS structure as preschools attached to schools (as do childminders).

Thanks everyone. Well I'm back from my first nursery visit. The nursery stunk of feet, generally looked dirty and my son cried absolutely hysterically throughout!