CMs - please tell me what you think

[love2sleep]

I have already posted this on the preschool topic but have realised that the opinions of CMs would be most helpful. I need to decide is there is much to be gained by sending ds1 to a preschool/nursery.

DS1 has just turned 3 and he goes to a fabulous CM 3 days a week where he has contact with older children (4, 7, 8, 11) and does loads of fab activities.

We had assumed that he would go to a local nursery for a couple of sessions a week for a year from September before going to school next September, but now I am wondering if he will really benefit from it. I'm going to see the nursery on Monday so would really appreciate some thoughts on what I need to be thinking about. I know that DH is keen for him to go but I think that we send our kids to school far too young and the assumption that they go to nursery/preschool is just extending that. What will he miss out on if he doesn't go? I have no worries with the "learning" side of things (he is very bright) but are there important social things that he needs to learn before school, or will he just catch up when he gets there?

What are your thoughts on what a nursery/preschool can offer over an above what you lovely CMs offer. Also how much extra hassle is it for you to integrate the care that you offer with a nursery?

Thanks

I think each child is different, but from a personal perspective, my own dd definitely needed to go to preschool and loves it there.

Two of my mindees will be starting preschool either this year or in January.

For my own dd (as she is my only experience of preschool!), she has gained in confidence (although she was already rather confident before!), she is learning things she probably would not have learned at home. She has made some lovely friends and is continuously learning the need to share, be sensitive, kind, stick up for herself etc. All these things she gets at home too, but it is very different in a 'school' environment.

From a cm perspective, yes doing preschools run does sometimes cause extra effort, but it is not hassle (for me anyway!). We know these are things that we need to do as part of our job.

Unfortunately, from 1st September with the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage, in theory, there should be no difference. The EYFS sets out a number of goals that children should be aiming for by the time they are 5 and CMs and nurseries should both be tailoring their care towards those goals. If you read from page 12 onwards of the EYFS Statutory Framework you will see that some of the goals will challenge the brightest of children, so what chance will the average child have?

Our children already start formal learning far earlier than other countries and, paradoxically, it is the countries whose children start later who get the best results. Finnish children, who start school at 7 and spend the least time in school, are at the top of the European literacy tables. Many other Scandinavian countries achieve similar results.

Evidence recently given to the Commons Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families showed that a report from the government's own experts recommending the EYFS goals be aimed at 6 year olds and that the goals should also not be statutory was ignored by the government and the EYFS juggernaut continues. The reasons for ignoring the report can only be guessed at.

The Open EYE group are actively campaigning against the EYFS in its present form and have a petition on the No 10 web site requesting that it be downgraded to professional guidelines.

My apologies for hijacking your question, but I firmly believe that the government are going completely the wrong way about improving educational standards and it is this generation of children who are going to suffer as a result of it.

thanks for these posts.

Any other CMs have an opinion about whether your mindees really benefited from going to nursery?

3 is perfect age to go to nursery, is it a school nursery as he will benefit frpm meeting future class mates. i dont really like the idea of uner 3 s going to nurssery , i used to work on one and the por babies really under 2s were so just dumped in the play swing all day and the better your hild is the more just left .

It isn't a school nursery but quite a lot of the los there will be going to the same school as him.

Maybe I'm just trying to justify the easy option which is leaving him with the lovely CM

is his cm accredited if so you can get funding for up to 5 sessions with her my dd1 loved pre-school etc but not every child is right for pre-school only you will know that about your child - many childminders are able to offer the same quality of learning plus to increase the social skills attend community groups etc

His CM is in the process of being accreditied so fingers crossed it won't take too much longer as I'm sure we won't want to use all our sessions at the nursery.
I agree that every child is different, but I'm getting the feeling that most people have seen preschool/nursery as a positive thing and I find that helpful.

All my mindee's have evenuatlly started with a pre-school / nursery. I have a 3 year old that will start in Sept this year, and I will be picking him from pre-school.

I think you should definately send him to pre-school as it's a completely different setting and will help prepare him from school.

Is your CM willing to intergrate nursery with her daily rountine?

Thanks.
Yes the CM is very happy to do this. It was just me that was dithering

None of my mindees have gone to preschool at thre, but thatis because I am Acreditted and I follow the Early Years Curriculum for the 3+ children, and can draw down the nursery grant.

All my parents felt that they would rather the children have more time for play and to experience 'outside the setting' play, we go swimming, soft play farm visits, nature walks etc.

I would say out of the 14 children I have had of that age in the last 6 years only one would have benefitted from pre school, she definitly needed more children of her age around, at the time all my mindees were alot younger, previously I always had at least two the same age and often all three aged 3 or above.

Thanks. Nice to hear the other opionion.
As of September she will just have my two boys (age 1 and 3) during the day and then a range of ages before/after school.

How on earth do you manage swimming with them?

I have a frind who comes with me with her little girl, here we are allowed 2 under 8's each

And honest I can spell, but omg I cant type