4 year olds and pre-school nursery

8 replies

puddle · 03/08/2006 10:23

My dd is 4 in September. She doesn't go to school for another year - when she does she'll be one of the oldest in the class.

I have her down to start pre-school in September. She is down to do 4 mornings a week 9.15 - 12.45. The other day she goes to a private nursery from 8 until 5.00 (she has been at this nursery for three years and is very happy there - we need her to continue there this one day because it's a day when dp and I are both at work).

There is quite a big difference between the nursery and pre-school - at nursery she is in a small group of children aged from 2-4. At pre-school she'll be in a big class of 20 children mostly the same age.

I am now worried that the combination of 1 very long day at nursery plus 4 days in a busy pre school environment will be too much for her. We can easily drop a session as dp and I have juggled our work so that one or other of us is at home the other four days. But I am keen to prepare her for school next year - she'll be full time from the start, unlike my ds who did half days until Xmas (ideal, IMO).

If you have a 4 year old, how much do they do?

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Bramshott · 03/08/2006 10:58

My DD is 4 in January and for the past half term has been doing two long days (9-5) in day nursery, and three mornings (9.30-12.30) in pre-school. Although she's noticeably tired-er by the end of the week, I find we have much less "are we going to nursery today - I don't want to go to nursery today" now that we have a routine where she goes somewhere 5 days a week and knows that if we're not going somewhere, it must be the weekend!

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puddle · 03/08/2006 11:45

Thanks Bramshott - good point about getting them into the habit of something every day.

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puddle · 03/08/2006 11:50

Thanks Bramshott - good point about getting them into the habit of something every day.

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Lasvegas · 03/08/2006 12:57

My DD will be 4 in Dec and starts proper school Sept 07. Next month she is going to pre-school 5 days 8.45am -3.00pm. She is currently in mixed age day nursery 5 days a week 8.00am - 5.00pm. I don't think it will be too much for her as she will spend more time relaxing in own home as pre-school has holidys and day nursery is 52 weeks a year(I do of course have 5 weeks annual leave so she does have time at home then). I think she is ready for the next stage as her concentration span is very good.

brimfull · 03/08/2006 13:03

my ds is 4 this september aswell.
He's been doing 4 mornings a week and will continue to do 4.I like having a day when we can get up late ,or go out for the day.
I don't think it will cause any problems when he goes to school.I'm of the mind that he'll be in school soon enough and I want to enjoy the freedom now.Tbh I wouldn't mind reducing him to three days ,but I won't because he loves it and I do value the free time.

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puddle · 03/08/2006 13:16

ggirl - have a 'down' day is what I'm in two minds about. Although we have to get up anyway to get ds to school.

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Azure · 03/08/2006 13:21

My DS was 4 late August last year and started reception 2 weeks later, full school days apart from Wednesday half-day. He was absolutely fine. Prior to that he was at the school nursery for half a year (full days apart from Wednesday), again fine despite being the youngest. I'm sure your DD will soon get used to the new routine.

Clary · 03/08/2006 13:34

puddle I would say she will be fine.
Yes, pre-school can be a lot more full-on than daycare, but lots of 4yos do something every day and I think it's good preparation.
FWIW My ds3 was 3 in April, so will be the same school yr as yr dd. He has been doing two playschool sessions a week since last Sept, and from this Sept moves to our fab local nursery for five morning sessions. My other two did somethign similar (actually they are summer babes so were even younger) and were totally fine.

Flip