Huge preschool class

[Weakmocha]

Hi all

Does anyone have experience of really big preschool classes? DD will be 4 in September and we're thinking of sending her to the preschool of the school she'll be attending the next year. It gets good reviews from local parents, has great facilities, outstanding Ofsted etc but the 3+ room is one huge class of 65 kids 😯

Apparently it's quite structured (they break into small groups for maths and phonics sessions in the morning and afternoon) which stops it falling into complete chaos. DD will be one of the oldest in the year (I definitely wouldn't have sent her there last year at 3) and she's relatively confident and gregarious, so I think if anyone could cope with it she could, but it still makes me a bit nervous.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

DD1 was in what I thought was a big class (about 40). They did break into groups a lot, but there was also a lot of chaos.

Even in groups the room was noisy, and the garden was bedlam. A big class meant lots of staff to get used to, too.

She’s now in her second year of preschool (she’s old for her year), and being in a group of 20 is far, far better.

It might work for confident kids who like busyness. Perhaps also if they’re the older end of the group. But I’d never choose it again.

Thanks @Eloraa

Hmmm, it's tricky. Sorry your DD had a difficult time. Did you move her to a different preschool for the 2nd year?

My dad is currently in a class of 30.. it took her a little while to settle but she loves it now. There's a big difference between 30 and 65 though!

This set up is very common and usually calmer than you'd think, can you visit during a day time?

If she's going to the school there then defo send her. Means a totally seamless transition to reception.
The big free flow nurseries work as they find the kids with shared interests eg building, dressing up etc

Thanks @deeprealisation

And yes, we did visit, and it didn't seem crazily chaotic. I want to speak to them after Easter and check whether they split into the same smaller groups every day as I think that would give her more of a feeling of security/belonging.

I think most do as they'll have a key worker / staff member so would normally go into their groups for group work

My eldest went to a preschool like this, and it was chaos. Organised chaos, but still so loud and just too many people and open plan so really overstimulating. There were quite a number of part time staff too so whilst she had a key worker there were a lot of adults to get used to. She did fine there but it just wasnt the environment we wanted for our kids. She stayed at that school for reception and then moved to a smaller school as it was all so impersonal due to the size and it has been much better. My youngest two have been through the preschool in the smaller setting and it has been infinitely better.

DS went to a nursery school like this. They had 120 children on roll - 60 in the morning and 60 in the afternoon. In paper it was not what I had in mind at all. In practice it was fantastic and we loved it as soon as we visited. Lots of experienced staff for group times, but an enormous building and lots of outdoor space, so it never felt cramped or crowded during free flow time.

If the staffing and building is right it can work really well.