To move my daughter?

[MrsSamR]

Hello ladies,

I'm after some advice from you clever lot on what you'd do in my situation.

My DD is about to turn 3 and is at a private nursery which she loves. She has been there since she was 1 and has lots of little friends there. The setting is very much focused on outdoor play and is located on a farm with animals and woodland etc.

She will be moving up into the preschool room on her birthday next week where she was due to remain until she starts school next September.

We are just in the process of enrolling her into a local Prep school which has a nursery attached. The school have offered us a place at the nursery and I'm torn about what to do.

On the one hand this would mean that she would be mixing with the children who will later be her classmates (as all children in the nursery continue on into Reception).

The school nursery is also a bit more 'structured' in terms of its learning offering and would incorporate some phonics and early reading/writing etc.

As I say her current nursery is very much focused on outdoor play and running around and getting messy etc! I do love this about it but as she gets older I wonder if she should be doing more focused learning?

But as she is happy where she is part of me doesn't want to move her until we need to next year. Her younger sister will also be starting at her current nursery in October so it would mean just the 1 drop off rather than 2 (but that's a non issue in the grand scheme of things!)

Sorry for the ramble...what would you do? Keep her where she is or move her?

All advice welcome!

Keep your logistics simple. Is she is happy put them both into one nursery / one school.

The prep school will do nice insta pics ... but if she's happy that's all that matters.

Loads move just for reception (I moved all mine for reception having gone to a forest school nursery - all fine) also, another reason why I refused the nursery at the prep school they were strict by this term you do 2 full days and 1 morning in the minimum and in the summer term they had to be in 5 mornings and 3 pm at a minimum- so check out if that fits with you. I still wanted to do swimming clubs etc so it didn't work out.

Having done 3 private schools for my children and hours driving around - I'd get one through school 4-18 walking distance from home. Save the hassle 👍 easier for you makes a happy mummy 👍

Thanks for replying @fedupallthisrubbish - I think I just got wrapped up in the school while I was there today and like you say she'll be just as well to stay where she is and move next year as planned. That way I'll be doing one drop off and then I'll move her sister when she moves next year so we'll be doing one drop off again. It's tricky trying to always be making the right decisions on their behalf but I know there are pros and cons to both!

“The setting is very much focused on outdoor play and is located on a farm with animals and woodland etc. “

All the research shows this is far more important at 3 than early learning. Think about her physical and social and emotional development above everything else because that is the foundation for the future. It is also much better for her eyesight to be outdoors as much as possible. Early reading can be bad for eye sight. Happy and healthy is the best for a young child.

So if you really want to do prep, go for it, but I would not start early. Just make sure you keep the place for later entry - let’s say last term before she starts Reception (for example).

My daughter was in a childcare nursery but unhappy. So, earlier than planned, I moved her into the nursery attached to the prep school she would attend. I never regretted it. It’s an advantage to have the continuity of moving from nursery to reception in the same setting.

I now work in a prep school with a nursery. Our nursery is excellent and I think children benefit from starting early with us and moving through into school. We also spend time with staff mixing between nursery and reception, another huge benefit for the children during the time of transition.

@MrsSamR I think it also depends on what sort of prep school it is - Does it go to year 6 or year 9? Or is it a pre-prep only going to year 2?
If it is to year 6 or 9 I don't think it will make too much difference keeping her where she is. If it is a pre-prep (or possibly also a very academic prep) you should move her as she will be behind in reception.

My DS joined a pre-prep in reception and the other children were already reading the very basic level full sentences and writing their letters very well😱
My DS caught up but it made for a slightly more pressured start than I would have liked. I do think there is a pro of moving her now, at least she will be on par with the other children in what she has already been exposed to educationally.

I also completely agree with @JustanothermagicMonday1 that outdoor play, role playing and imagination are most important at that age too. So if you do move them perhaps you need to ensure they are getting a lot of this outside school.

The only reason I would move is so you are working within the system you are about to join for the next 13 years and your DD is not behind at the start- unfortunately the system here is academic even at the very early stages.

I also think @fedupallthisrubbish has a point, if our children all 'suit' the one school then great send them all there. However in my experience they are all so different and they all deserve the education that suits them the most wherever that may be.