School nursery or keep at childminder?

[mama1987]

My daughter turns 3 in December, and from January she will be able to start at the nursery attached to the school she will eventually attend. The dilemma I’m having is that she has been with a wonderful childminder since she was 1, and she adores her - so I’m wondering whether to even move her at all. Or at least wait until she’s closer to starting school before moving her to the nursery, perhaps the 12 months before? Will she be missing out if I don’t move her before then? Another consideration is that the childminder wouldn’t be able to pick up and drop off from nursery, so we would have to utilise the wraparound care at nursery meaning a long day for my daughter as she would be there 8-5. This would only be for one day a week though (that’s the only space they will have for her), will she find it hard to cope with the long hours? Will she also find it hard to settle into nursery when she would only be attending one day a week?

I was just about to say my kids loved the school nursery and to go for it.

But I think in your case I'd leave things as they are because I think a 9 hour day is too long for a 3 year old, and it might be quite unsettling anyway just once a week.

Oh god. Don't move her! School nursery ratios are terrible. She'll have a much better experience at the childminders.

Will the nursery be closed in the school holidays?

I’d definitely wait until September to move her if you do, most the children there now will be starting school in September.

My DC didn’t go to the school preschool as we wouldn’t have been able to sort childcare for the school holidays (holiday clubs didn’t accept them until they were in school or age 5). They have been absolutely fine but my plan for my youngest is to send them to school pre school 1 day and private nursery 2 days, that way they can still go to nursery during school holidays.

If school holidays weren’t a problem I would just send them to the school pre school in the year before they started school.

Thanks everyone. I think we will keep her at the childminders for the time being. Have also worked out it’s going to cost us an extra £80 a month in wraparound fees, so would like to put that off for as long as possible.

I'm a childminder non of my minders go to school nursery we do all the same things they get at nursery including networking in larger groups...15 to 20 for story times, group lunches, group play and outings. Teachers always say how easily they settle in to reception.

Ours were at private nursery rather than a childminder, they then went to a preschool nursery for the last academic year before starting school (typical here regardless of childcare needs) with private nursery wraparound.

We found the preschool to be invaluable for school readiness - the big group, behaviour expectations, carpet time etc. I wouldn't want to go straight from childminder to school.

Last academic year before school is best imo.

Doesn't that depend on the childminder? We do carpet time in large groups daily...the smallest being 10 children but often up to 30. School readiness is independence skills sitting for stories, paying attention, being ready to hold a pencil, being confident to ask for help all things every childcare setting is graded on.

I'm debating this at the moment as well. For me, the pros of the school nursery are the it's on my street, so we can walk, provides free food, and the hours over and above the free ones are still cheaper than the childminder, and the hours are longer (8-6 though I wouldn't use that full time but the flexibility can be handy) so in terms of finances and convenience (no car journeys in rush hour, no making packed lunches, etc, it wins hands down. On the other hand, we love our childminder and love that home from home experience she's given him including the types of places I'd take him on my days off (toddler groups, library, soft play, park).

It's a tough decision to make! I'm the same in wondering whether to wait an extra term or two before switching but then the idea of not having that stressful journey across town and saving money and no more making packed lunches that barely get eaten...it's also tempting to go ASAP.