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Worried about pre-school education at a Private Nursery

14 replies

Fangache · 05/10/2005 11:14

My ds is 4. he goes to school next August. He goes to a private nursery 3 days a week whilst we work.... but it runs in conjunction with the local council and provides pre-school education.

We had a 'parents night' the other night and I spoke with ds's main carer. I asked about how she thought he was doing developmentally and she said "oh fine, he's doing great, I've heard him count all the way to 5 before!" ....What? He can count to feckin 25!!

It made me wonder whether they are actually doing any pre-school stuff at all!! There was a visiting Teacher sitting with us as well who comes once a week to the Nursery, but that clearly falls on days when ds isn't in coz she didn't know him.

I asked about letters too and she said oh he knows most of his letters, but doesn't really write them down. I said, how come all his pictures have his name on them (written by him). She looked surprised again!

She then added "if you think there is something that we should be focussing on with him then please do tell us".... Yeah what about spending a bit of time with him!

He recognises words too.... something that she didn't know and the Teacher took an interest in and said she would follow it up.

I love the Nursery, ds loves the Nursery, but I don't want him being held back and getting bored. I don't think ds is especially advanced, just normal..... but he is in his 2nd year of preschool and wonder if hes getting the same things as the recently turned 3 children!

Anyone know about the curriculum they are supposed to follow? And what happens when you're childs birthday falls in June which results in 2 full years of pre-school (in Scotland BTW).

TIA

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ladybundyful · 05/10/2005 11:28

fangache I thought that all private nurseries which are OFSTED inspected must follow the Early Years goals (same as in school nurseries) and Birth-3 Matters for the younger ones..so your child should be assessed in terms of what they'd expect for his age and strategies set to help him to develop. i recently had a keyworker meeting for my dd2 (who's 2) and there was a lot of feedback on her social/intellectual development but most importantly (for me) that she's happy there. i don't think it really matters that much whether they can identify all their letters/count to a certain number before they go to proper school, my dd1 started in reception in january and caught up with the other children who'd been there since the previous september very quickly.

seb1 · 05/10/2005 11:32

If you want to say what nursery is it and I will have a look for HMIE we don't do ofstead in Scotland

LadyFioOfTipton · 05/10/2005 11:36

they follow the early years cirriculum. Ofsted are quite strict as the what can and cant be done. They cant do things that are very advanced for example as it would confuse alot of the children. TBH I have been concerned that my sons nursery havent been 'teaching' him enough and then i pinch myself and remember he hasnt started SCHOOL yet. The most important thing imo is that they learn to socialise, get used to the structure of going out of the home and ENJOY tHEIRSELVES

Fangache · 05/10/2005 11:37

Ladybundyful - Thanks for your reply. I'm not really concerned that he's going to fall behind or what numbers he should be counting up (I'm confident he is normal ).... but I'm more concerned at the implication that they are not spending enough time observing/working with him. It really sounded like she didn't know him at all.

Seb1 - Its Little Stars Day Nursery, Falkirk.

Thanks.

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LadyFioOfTipton · 05/10/2005 11:39

FANGACHE oops they should know what he is capable of, he should have a key worker at least

Fangache · 05/10/2005 11:39

Fio - I should have explained better.... I'm really not looking for him to be taught all numbers and letters etc. I know he knows them from playing with his educational toys.

I want him to have fun..... but I still want his main carer to appear to be taking an interest in him.

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LadyFioOfTipton · 05/10/2005 11:40

yes i see what you mean now

mandieb2004 · 05/10/2005 11:40

I would say it was more of a case of learning to get along and play with other children ,not so much of a case of the three rrrS (shows how old I am ) . The only thing I would say is that if you have a computer at home teaching him mouse control is a good thing as he wont get bored in the lesson when he starts at school . I was also under the impression that they wernt supposed to teach them at this age because of the new ruling and it was all supposed to be learnt through play . I personally would be happy that he loves it . I really do think personal development is so very important as it makes for a happy child I mean how many people do we know that hold an extremly high position in industry and everyone thinks they are a pratt because they just dont know how to get along with other people I believe they start learning this skill at nursery .

ladybundyful · 05/10/2005 11:44

sounds a bit weird, fangache. dd2's carers (including those who aren't directly involved in being her keyworker) all know a lot about her likes/dislikes and where she's at eg with potty training etc. i got a quite detailed report under different headings - probably about 4 sheets of A4

mandieb2004 · 05/10/2005 11:52

Sorry that will teach me not to read all the thread .I see where you are coming from now .,jumped the gun a bit there ,yes she should know who he is ,hope she pulls her socks up .

Fangache · 05/10/2005 11:56

Thanks folks. She was his KeyWorker a while back in a different Nursery, when he was only 2. Honestly I think she was just reciting what she remembers of him back then!

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mandieb2004 · 05/10/2005 11:58

Dozy mare

seb1 · 05/10/2005 12:16

Fangache, found the care commission report for you couldn't find a HMIE report

little stars

Fangache · 05/10/2005 12:24

Thanks Seb1, thats really useful.

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