3 year old reading

[princessglitter]

My dd started reading simple cvc words at 2.5 and now at 3 is reading storybooks, like the 0RT read at home series, level 3. She is quickly gaining confidence and is able to sound out words phonetically as well as remembering words like 'said.'

She is currently with a childminder and will not be starting school until Sept 2012, when she will be almost 5. Would I be wrong to keep her with her childminder until then, or would she be better in a pre school setting?

Given that she can read already, I am wondering if she may get bored at the childminders. It is much more convenient for her to stay there, as I work fulltime and the cm has longer opening hours.

Our preschool are not 'allowed' to do reading and writing unless child led. IMO she will be able to do more reading with a CM

Mine do a mix of CM and preschool but only for socialisation reasons, not reading/writing

In a private pre prep they would probably do more and you could get longer hours

That's interesting. DD is definitely wanting to read herself rather than me pushing her to, but don't know if she would be the same at pre school or not.

She loves her cm, so would be quite happy to stay there. I know they do trips to the library lots and cm has an outstanding ofsted, so clearly does lots of activities with the children.

Think a mixture of pre school and cm would be ideal, but we just can't do it, logistically.

Hmm, dd1 is in reception at private school and also good reader. They have been fab and have put her with year 1 for reading and she is with peer group the rest of time. Dd 2 is better than dd1 at this age and we did have her name down for the pre prep.

Only problem is the finances. dd1 only goes to prep school because we didn't get her into the school we wanted. Said school is expanding and we will definitely get dd2 in. We considered sending her to same school as dd1, but have decided against it. We will send her to state primary and then try to get dd1 in.

So am not going for pre prep as she won't be going on to the school :(

Ds1 was the same. He went to preschool to concentrate on 'other stuff'. It was fab that he could read from such a young age, but preschool isn't just about that, rather it's about learning in other ways, and especially fostering relationships with other children/adults.

Could she not do a couple of mornings at preschool and go on to the childinder afterwards? Get the best of both worlds then

TBH, i think DD2 will be just fine. I have no particular interest in pushing my DD's before school. They are 4 and 2 BTW. DD1 can do maths and write all the letters but no interest in reading. If she did, i would just help her explore it at home and let her have fun at preschool or the CM's. they will both go to state primary and do fine, i'm sure.

If you do want her 'pushed along' with it then i think you would have to go down the private route

Might ask cm if she would pick dd from pre school so she can do the free sessions - sounds like a good plan.

We could just about afford the private route, but with dd1 being at private, am tired of feeling like the poor ones! Am embarrassed to have friends back for playdates etc as our house is modest compared to theirs!

Think dd2 will be fine, will carry on with what we do at home and hopefully that will be enough..

Agree with the PP. My CM used to take and collect my DD from preschool for me. Of course, you still have to pay for the CM during this time, but your DD is likely to get loads out of preschool, and I always found using both to be a good compromise.

However, preschool is unlikely to do much with reading... at best you're likely to have them teaching your DD letter sounds.

CM will have a lower ratio than pre school, so is much more likely to be able to extend activities for your DD. Pre School follows the same curriculum as your CM, but she will gain experience of working and playing in a larger group with her peers. Depends what you want. If it is mostly reading time, then the CM is probably best placed for this.

I am a CM and there are plus points for both.

I'd keep her with the CM and take advantage of the free sessions at school that she'll soon be elligible for.
Your CM is now registered for SEN, that includes G&T (Gifted and Talented) as well as any learning difficulties the children in their care might experience.
Highlight your concerns with your CM, she will listen, and hopefully include more activites to encourage your dd even more. Note it down in her Learning Journey, and check back in a couple of weeks that progress has been made.
I'm a CM and that's what I'd do. HTH.

IME with a three year old who could read, pre-school did nothing to encourage it or bring it along. They were not equipped or experienced at dealing with it.

Ds got tons out of being at a state school pre-school but it was much more about social stuff and fun. No reading at all. They promised to look into some resource to do something with him and never got round to it.

So I definitely wouldn't assume they'd do much with her on that front. If she's so keen on reading she'll come on with it on her own and the CM sounds wonderful and will be more of a help due to the smaller group.