Aargh - any WOHPs able to advise on best way to transition from CM to nursery/pre-school?

[LadyBiscuit]

DS1 is nearly 3 so will soon be eligible for the 12/15 hours early years education thing. At the moment he is with a CM while I work 4.5 days a week.

I want to take advantage (well I have to from a financial POV apart from anything else) of the free nursery place he's eligible for but my CM won't do pick ups/drop offs (all her other charges are younger). So I either put him in a day nursery one day a week and leave him with the CM for the remainder of the time. But then that is just a stopgap solution as I would like him to go to a proper nursery school before he starts school proper so he gets used to structured days etc. But those are all morning sessions which means I would need someone to pick him up and drop him off.

So would I be better trying to find another CM now who will do that or transitioning him slowly so that I try and find him a nursery in September and move him to a new CM who will do the drop offs over the summer. And why didn't I think of this before now?? (you don't have to answer that question )

Any advice/experience welcome - really not sure what is best for him.

I would leave him at current childminder through summer with one full day in nursery over the summer (and one less at the cildminder obviously). Then, I would just move him to the nursery when the free places are available. I would definitely not find another childminder in the meatime because then he has to move childcare arrangements twice. And I wouldn't bother with ferrying him to and fro in the middle of the day either -- especially not if all the other children at the nursery are there the whole day. He might not want to leave his mates when they are staying on.

Also, if someone else picks him up from nursery, when will you get to talk to the nursery if there are any issues you need to raise.

Thanks, that was my gut feeling but thought I would check. The nursery 'school' I want him to go to does morning sessions only I think 9-12 so I would need a CM who would be able to drop him off and then collect him and keep him until I get back from work. Or I could change my hours so I start at 10 3 days I guess so that I could do the drop offs on the days he goes to nursery.

It's going to be a bit hard for him to change nursery and CM at the same time though - might see if I can stagger it so he starts with the CM first before term starts. If you have a CM that only looks after them part of the day, do you have to pay for full day's care?

Is your childminder eligible to claim the government funding for you? She should be providing the same level of care and education as a pre school, or nursery. If not, then I would only move him once, not twice. (I am a CM and the mid-day pre school run is a real pain for the other children, who want to play, eat, sleep, or whatever, not get in the car)

My council won't pay it to CMs for some annoying reason The school run thing in the middle of the day would be walking rather than driving because we're in central London but I do appreciate that it's a PITA. Does that mean that I'm going to struggle to find a CM who will do it? I guess you have to be a SAHM to send your child to nursery school. That sucks

I'm a Childminder and have always done the pre school nursery drop off/pick p from the primary school. However parents do not benefit financially because I still charge for the whole day. This is because there is no way I can fill those 2.5 hours each day with another child. It also means disruption for other younger children who may be napping at the times off drop off/pickup.

In some cases it may take a childminder perhaps 15 to 20 minutes for the journey to and from the nursery. When you also take into account the time it takes to put on coats, hats, gloves etc in winter it means I might have only 1.5 hours at home before going to pick up again. I do however pay for the snack & drink the child has at the nursery (our school charges for that).

I find that parents want the children to go to the nursery at the school for the 2.5 hour session purely for the child's benefit, as it helps them get used to a structured setting with a greater number of other children before they start school. They also often form friendships which carry over into Reception. I think this is the best way to view the 12.5 hours free education. It shouldn't be viewed as childcare (just as school should not be viewed as child care). The children are there for educational reasons.

thanks onadayliketoday - that's very helpful. I completely appreciate that you have to charge for a whole day and how long it takes you to get there and back. It's good to know that there are CMs out there who would do it though - will just have to see if I can find one who will. And of course find a nursery school that has a place!

yes it would actually mean any more money for you finanacially though as you'll have to pay the cm the same amount

sorry meant to say it won't mean you are better off financially