The Perse Pelican Cambridge

[Biddy1996]

Looking to send my little boy to the perse pelican in 2027. Please can anyone advise the best nursery to attend a couple of days a week before he attends the Perse from any experience?

We have looked around a couple of nurseries in Cambridge particularly the Stephen Perse but have found in some classes there are no British children and although we are happy with diversity we feel this doesn’t represent the reality of Cambridge.

How are you determining if nursery children are British?

Ask the Perse. I’m sure your question and their answer will tell each party a lot about the other.

Born in Britain and English speaking would be good at an British nursery

Have you asked for their birth certificates then?

Really helpful post trylinescore. We were told yesterday at their open day the 7 children they had in the nursery were international and English isn’t their first language. This isn’t an issue if there is a split but our child being the only English speaking child in a British school isn’t what we want. If we wanted this we would send him to an international school or move to China.

Presumably the staff aren't speaking to them in another language and the children are enrolled in a Cambridge nursery to speak English. I would be far more concerned about there only being 7 in the nursery.

Wow only children born in Britain are allowed into a nursery in Britain? I'm sorry @Biddy1996 but think about what you are saying.

What if someone is a legitimate migrant to this country with their DC – are they not allowed to send them to nursery? How about school?

And they have to speak English as their mother tongue? Is that really what you are saying? Tbf if they are at nursery in the UK I am sure they will be learning English even if it's not their first language.

What are you concerned about? I agree with a PP that I would be concerned about a nursery with only seven children tbh – if that’s what you meant? Does not sound viable.

Clearly didn’t read my last post, didn’t want my child to be in a class of 7 children speaking a foreign language to another and him being left out. Pretty sure that’s a fine concern for me to have. This post isn’t about political views. Get off your high horse.

My (admittedly limited) experience of private schools in Cambridge are that they have a fair proportion of children with English as a second or additional language - I know several Chinese families who have switched/are switching to the Perse or similar for Y3 and other families for secondary. Schools in Cambridge are generally diverse (my daughter's state primary really celebrates their languages).

Are you looking at Perse admission aged 3? Before that children tend to parallel play rather than play together so I wouldn't be too concerned as long as the other children and helpers/leaders didn't all speak the same language which might lead to your child accidentally being excluded. I'd be happy with a mix.

When she was 3.5 my daughter became best friends with a girl who had just arrived in the UK speaking next to no English and they played and chatted without realising they spoke different languages. When children are ready to play they'll find a way.

The Perse is going to have a lot of international students, OP. Will you be ok with that?

The likelihood is that children at the Perse/Perse Pelican will grow up to be bi or multilingual, from many different countries, and will mostly speak in English at school as the common denominator. And they're only 3 when they start, they aren't going to be having deep chats.

Do you live in central Cambridge? I would just go for a decent nursery near your house - you're facing years of traffic jams getting your kid to school at the Perse.

Cambridge has a very international vibe as so many are associated with the uni and come for short or long periods.

you’ll find that at many of the state primary schools as well.

if you want less diversity try out into South Cambridgeshire.

Born in Britain and English speaking would be good at an British nursery

This is what you said. That’s what I find astonishing. I'm not on any high horse to say that’s an unacceptable point of view.

Are you saying that you looked at a nursery that had only seven children on roll (!) and they all spoke the same language, which wasn't English?

If there are multiple languages spoken, which is much more likely, let's face it, then as others say, English becomes the lingua franca, especially if in the UK.

Just to point out, for those who don't know Cambridge - this isn't a regular private day nursery. The Perse is a highly prestigious private school and the Pelican Perse is a selective prep school. The OP wants their child to go to a nursery that will give them the best chance of getting into the selective prep at age 3.

The Stephen Perse nurseries are funded by the Perse school, they are absolutely fine for money 😂. The one I know of (because I walk past it regularly) is an old Victorian building, I imagine the room sizes dictate class size.

The Perse and its offshoots will attract very wealthy international families, of which there are a great many in Cambridge.