Anyone's child go to *school* nursery on PT basis?

[Honeymum]

Hi all
We took the decision to move DD1 (coming up to age 4) from her day nursery (where she'd been since 7 months old) near my office, to another one close to home. This was done to enable her to go to the preschool unit at our local primary school. She's settled into the preschool unit fine, and made lots of local friends (which is what I wanted her to do) but she is less happy at the new day nursery. She's now into her fifth week, and for the first time this morning screamed when I left and had to be dragged away!! She's complaining that she's there too long (her day is slightly longer now) and I think she is bored there.

Should I ask the headmistress if she could go to the school nursery on a part-time basis (two days a week) and switch her back to her original nursery (where DD2 goes)? I know they are undersubscribed at school, but I also know that the policy is full-time or no-time (discriminates against working mums IMO). Anyone else do part-time at school nursery? What do you all think?

I don't have any solutions but I think this is very common. When dd was in the pre-school bit at school, there were 2 little boys who loved the pre-school but hated going back to their nurseries afterwards (and these were nurseries they had been in since they were babies). I think pre-school is much more exciting than nursery because it is a short, sharp burst and afterwards they are very tired and probably find the whole nursery thing a bit much.

How long has this new arrangement been going?

Honeymum I have no experience of doing school nursery p/t, but I did just what you're doing and changed DDs nursery from one near to where I worked to one locally v.near the school.

It was the best decision I ever made - she now settled into school better than I could ever have hoped for. But enough of my smug story.

I think you need to persevere - if your DD goes back to her previous nursery I think it will confuse her even more. If she's making friends, she's probably ok - maybe she senses your disquiet and is playing on it. Speak to the nursery staff, ask them how she's getting on - and speak to her just in case there's anything underlying. Why do you think she might be bored?

oh sorry, just seen 5th week

I'm not sure I'd be thinking of changing everything yet. After all, she's had 2 big changes - going to pre-school and a new nursery - maybe she needs a bit more time. Have you spoken to the nursery about it? Or have you considered getting a childminder to cover the other half of the day (rather than a nursery)?

Honeymum

We are in a similar situation - switched dd1 (4 in nov) to school nursery in afternoon so that we could get her into reception at our preferred private school. Not ideal especially as she and dd2 have a mix of nanny and creche 4 mornings a week to (1) keep their creche place (2) be around old friends and (3) have someone around to do the school runs.

dd1 has spent the whole summer talking about going to big school but now says she wants to stay at home with the nanny or mummy/daddy

hopefully its just a settling in phase but it breaks my heart when I leave them/chat about our days. i know that 5 mins later she is fine but we make the decisions we think are best and hope that it all works out ok

Incidentally, DD goes back to her (local) nursery as it has an after school club and is none too keen as she reckons she's a school girl now, not a 'baby'.

Hi Everyone
Thanks for the superspeedy response.

I think she's bored, Mum2girls, because at her new nursery the age groups are mixed for part of the day (early morning and late in the day), when they either have breakfast together or play outside, and I think there isn't enough appropriate stuff for the older ones to do at these times. During the core of the day (from 10 til 3.30 ish) the preschoolers are with their excellent teacher, but the rest of the time I'm not sure exactly what happens (apart from lots of outdoor play).

Foxinsocks - thought of the childminder option but I've never been keen on that and fazed a bit by the idea of finding a good one.

DS2 went to the school nursery for 3 sessions (half days) a week and to full time day nursery for 2. He did this for about 6 months until he decided he wanted to be at the school nursery every dy.

My DS1 did something similar to Soupdragon's. I worked part time so on preschool days didn't work. But I presume you work full time, Honeymum? I can see why moving in the middle of the day from one environment to another might be confusing. It may not be that's it's two different places, but that it's 2 places on the same day (only guessing)

I would persevere for a bit and then if it's not working, switch back to the old day nursery for 2 or 3days and see if you can do the preschool part time, then perhaps a childminder/grandparent on those afternoons, if that's a possibility.

Good luck!

Hi again
Wordsmith, I work Mon to Wed, so in a perfect world she'd go to day nursery only on those days, and on Thursdays and Fridays she'd go to school. But the school have said in the past that they can't do this (despite not being full). I am thinking of writing to the headmistress to see if she'll change her mind. If we had a grandparent nearby she could do half a day at day nursery and half a day at school nursery - but we don't, so we can't.

It's a pain isn't ? We chose DS1's school partly on the basis that the pre-school could be part time. but it's independently run from the school so can make up its own rules. The other school he could have gone to had a f/t preschool and it's just not feasible if you're trying to work full days. I think it's prob a directive from the LEA. However with falling rolls you'd have thought they would be less picky. Is there another (non-affiliated) pre-school nearby? You'll probably find most of the children there would also end up going to the same school, so you's still get most of the benefits.