Should I pay for early education or just wait until ds is 3? Not sure how to do this! What did you do? Advice needed please!

[mumfor1standfinaltime]

Ds is 3 next January.
He has been offered a place at a local playgroup to start this September for 2 mornings a week.
It will cost £4.50 a session. I have visited the playgroup with ds to get a feel of the place, although I had no idea what to look for! It seemed friendly and staff were chatty to me, made me a cuppa.
I have put ds name down with 2 other local schools but haven't heard a dicky bird. I have said 'yes' to this playgroup. Do I wait and look at others too to keep my options open, and when will I hear from other playgroups/schools?

I would go for the one you feel happiest with. Different preschool have different ways of doing things but tbh I would have thought they could let you know very quickly whether they have room for ds and on what days.

So maybe I should look at the others first then, to keep my options open.
I haven't heard anything from the other 2 yet.

I think you probably need to look at a few to get a feel for it. Have you contacted your local child information service linked to council? Ours provided me with a list of pre-schools but also some very useful information about what to look for/what questions to ask etc.

pinkteddy - I have picked up a leaflet with info about which dates he is supposed to start school etc and a number to phone (local number).
I guess I will have to ring that. I find this whole thing so confusing!
Don't know what the hell I am 'supposed to do'!
Will I hear from the other schools before September do you think? I guess I will have to phone the other Schools and find out!

If he is not yet 3 you won't get help with funding until the term after his 3rd birthday. I would have thought you would hear from the other schools before the end of this school term. I have just cut and paste the following from our local authority website section on pre-schools which may be useful.

"Issues to consider: make a second visit to groups you are considering and take your child with you to see how they get on, speak to other parents using the setting, are the staff welcoming and enthusiastic?, do the children appear to be happy and well occupied?, is the setting well equipped and the toys in good condition?, consider the setting?s latest OfSTED inspection report, spend time in the setting and look for effective practice, trust your instincts ? you know your child better than anyone!"

hope helpful

Thanks pinkteddy, that was helpful. I did take ds with me for 1st visit and we stayed for about an hour. He seemed to like it.

I will perhaps pop back for another visit.

glad it was helpful! As I say childcare information service will have more info. Try looking on your local authority's website.