Pre-school. How many per 'class'?

[beatie]

My dd starts a new pre-school in September. She'll be almost 3. It is a sessional pre-school so she'll attend for 3 mornings a week.

I'm starting to panic about it. DD currently attends a nursery (attached to a private school) one and a half days per week whilst I study. She is in a room with 11 others. The older Pre-schoolers have 16 per room and sometimes the two rooms mix together.

The Pre-school she'll attend in September is held in one church hall and will have 30 children in the one (big) room. Does this seem like a lot and will it be harded for my (shyish) dd to settle in? The Pre-school of course has the correct ratio of staff - 6 - but all of the children follow the same activities at the same time. They're not split into certain groups with a keyworker.

What are other's experiences?

dd1 is in a preschool attatched to a school
There are 24 children with whatever number of adults - I think 3 with extra helpers and students?
I've been there as a parent helper and it never seems like that many - once they are doing whatever activites are set up
hope your dd enjoys it!

Hi Beatie...my DD went to playgroup and it sounds similar, she started at two and a half...it was one big room but lots of staff like yours. she did have a keyworker but (I think they only have to have keyworkers when they are funded places?) but there were lots of different activities to choose from with members of staff at each activitiy. Is it a well established playgroup? do you know any other parents who send there children there? maybe it is tried and tested and works for them?

also...DD is 4 now and attends the local nursery where the ratio is 1:13 , Almost 40 kids and only 3 members of staff and the occaisional student so there are quite a lot of staff at your pre-school.

It seems like a lovely place - regardless. I am attending an open afternoon for all new pre-schoolers and parents next week so I am sure I will have my worries set at ease then.

I feel embarrassed to say that my fears have arisen because one of my mummy friend's dd will be attending a rural Independent school. She'll start the nursery in September and will be one of 6! Quite a difference. But, I realise, my dd would find it harder to transition to (state) school in two years time if she went from being one of 6 to one of 30.

Wow, one of 6!! That sounds great from an educational point of view, but not so great on the socialising front. There is more to life than reading and writing , isn't there? It would be a very quiet place wouldn't it?
I am sure you will get all your answers next week . Good luck and let us know how you get on!!!

Beatie - your daughter will be one of 5, so even better than independant school girl's one of 6. It's just that all the adults and kids are mixed up together in your case, which can have huge advantages. If your friend's dd is in a class with someone who needs extra time, there is no other adult to take up the flow. OTOH, with your dd, if one adukt is focusing on one child, there are plenty other adults around to mix in.

I know you're all right and making sense. I think I just want to baby her for a bit longer and I'm probably inflicting my own nerves onto the situation where she will be fine