Full time playgroup versus half day school?

[MandyD]

My son (just turned 3) has been attending a lovely full-time playgroup since the age of 2½. He got this placement funded by the local council due to having some problems with his development and behaviour caused by past hearing loss (now has grommets) and eating problems.

Now we have moved a bit further away from the playgroup and need to get 2 buses there and back. There is a lovely primary school just at the end of our road and ds keeps asking when he can go there.

He might be able to get a place in September if the nursery class is not full already, but I'm sure it would be for half days only. I have two questions, firstly would he be too bored going from a full-day environment to a half-day?

Secondly, does anyone know whether nursery classes (separate building attacged to the main school) serve a lunch because we've had some success with his eating problem where he now eats with the other children at playgroup but still won't eat at home.

MandyD

I think you need to talk to both the playgroup and the nursery to see what they think. The playgroup must know him very well, and have obviously been very succesful with him. You may find that the choice is not quite on you yet - perhaps the nursery could take him from January, so you could avoid the worst of the winter on the buses! And he could have a bit longer to progress in an environment where he is obviously happy. But do go and talk to them - make an appointment to talk to the nursery teacher outside a nursery session so she knows what your specific worries are. My sister is a nursery teacher and I know from talking to her how seriosuly she thinks about each child.