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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

2 - 5yrs in same group at nursery???

25 replies

noonar · 15/08/2006 10:24

dd2 just turned 2 and started nursery this week. we chose this nursery as its really close and only has 16 children they usually have eight in the 2-3 group and 8 in the 4-5 group. it has a calm, non-institution- like atmosphere, because if its size.

the thing is, i'm starting to realize that dd is with the older children alot of the time, as the groups mix quite a bit, especially when fewer children are in. anyway, i can't decide if this is
a) a good thing as it will help her speech/social skills by being with older ones too.
or
b) a bad thing as some of her developmental needs may be overlooked as some of the more vocal 4 yr olds dictate the 'pace'.

the nursery staff say that some nurseries choose to mix the ages to create a more family atmosphere. what do y'all think?

ps she can talk in proper sentences so can communicate some of her needs quite well

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CountessDracula · 15/08/2006 10:30

At dd's nursery the group is 2.5 to 5, they do mix them though they also split them up a lot.

I think it's a good thing, no real reason it's just that it obviously works and they all get on well. I haven't noticed any of the younger ones getting ignored though they are quieter and more watchful, I guess they are absorbing and learning what the older ones are doing.

Original poster

noonar · 15/08/2006 18:50

thanks cd, do you think that the little ones might be a bit marginalised though, if they seem quieter? glad to hear it's working for you.good to have another perspective.

OP posts:

Jimjams2 · 15/08/2006 18:53

I think it actually favours the younger ones, and is harder to meet the older ones needs (having had 2 children go through a 2-5 all in one nursery, and one about to start). I like it.

DS1 had SN and couldn't talk at all whilst there, but didn't have any problems with the mixed age stuff.

DS2 - really helped his speech.

ds3- hmm bit worried that he'll be beating up the big ones, we'll see......

Original poster

noonar · 16/08/2006 09:50

i've just left her at nursery, she chose to play with some older children. they were putting those tiny plastic pegs in a peg board- if you bought them at a toy shop they'd say 'not suitable for 0-3 due to small parts' written on the box! now i'm worried that cos of the mix of ages, she's going to have access to unsuitable toys she can choke on and real scissors etc etc. am i being overprotective? she was under close supervision, but they can't watch them every second.

OP posts:

heiferjamese · 16/08/2006 10:43

my DD 2.7 goes 2 mornings per week.. They have 2-3 and 3-4 then 4-5.

But I know that around lunch time they all go together for about 2 hours.

I was worried about this at first for the same reasons you pointed out but have to be honest, my DD loves it.. The older ones kind of mother her and she follows around like a little puppy dog. I wouldn't want this all day etc, but for a short time I think it is good for her...

Agree that she needs some time in her own age group to fully develope as I know that she wouldn't be quite to verbal with the older ones around.

Re toys etc - wouldn't worry me as they would be plenty of supervision...

Original poster

noonar · 16/08/2006 10:48

thanks heifer!

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Bozza · 16/08/2006 10:49

noonar - chances are that if she had an older sibling she would be exposed to unsuitable toys anyway. My DD is 2.3 and was doing the hama beads (sounds like what you are talking about) with my 5 yo DS the other day. OK at the kitchen table and under supervision. But she also plays with him with small size lego, playmobil etc with less supervision.

I think with such a small nursery they are bound to mix the ages a bit just to keep staffing ratios sorted. Just observe for a while and see if your concerns are justified. Do you need her to go to the nursery for childcare or did you put her in for her own development?

lapsedrunner · 16/08/2006 10:50

In Kindergarten here (not UK) it is standard practice to have one group of 3-6 year olds, it works really well.

Jimjams2 · 16/08/2006 10:51

ds3 (19 months) refuses to play with baby toys. I think all the toys he plays with are for the over 3's- he wants to be like ds2. The only things I don't allow ds2 to have near him without supervision are small dice and counters, geomag and playmobil.

fennel · 16/08/2006 10:52

It sounds very like dd3's nursery, she's 2. She's very happy in a group of 9 2-4 year olds. the three youngest have their own special carer who does toddlerish things with them when the older ones are doing more sophisticated things.

dd3 has two older sisters so is very used to being wtih older children anyway, but she's certainly not struggling there.

CarolinaMao · 16/08/2006 10:53

no experience of this, but I know some experts (e.g Penelope Leach) reckon it's much better to mix ages like this - the older ones learn nurturing and leadership-type skills and the younger ones benefit from their help and generally seeing them in action.

Bozza · 16/08/2006 10:54

That is often the case with younger siblings though isn't it jimjams. Apart from the happyland and a first baby annabel DD's toys are all 3+. I remember once about a year ago panicking because I couldn't find the keyboard for the check-in desk in DS's playmobil airport and the only explanation was that DD had swallowed it.

She hadn't.

Original poster

noonar · 16/08/2006 10:54

thanks to you both, she has a sister 4.5- so is exposed to 'unsuitable' toys, but i kno i'm supervising her closely and don't have a whole group to watch. i guess this is partly where my concerns stem from... she has loads of time already fitting in with older children- ie sis and her friends. so i think i just wanted things to be pitched at her level for a change. good to have your take on things .ta.

OP posts:

Bozza · 16/08/2006 10:55

Were you not made aware of this before you started? Sorry about assuming she didn't have older siblings.

Original poster

noonar · 16/08/2006 10:59

i knew the set up, but as she's the youngest in the group by a few months,and she kinda stands out- i wasnt banking on that. i think that when the older ones start school in sept, some younger ones will arrive to redress the balance. very intersted in leach's views. thanks.

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Bugsy2 · 16/08/2006 11:05

At my dd's nursery they have a mixed group from 2 to nearly 5yr olds. Wasn't a problem for dd ever & now she is one of the oldest in the group, she often tells me about the "cute" little ones. At her nursery they encourage the older ones to help the young ones with their drinks & snacks etc.
Also, the nursery should not be putting out any unsuitable toys for any age group - it would be negligent if it did that. DD's nursery will have a whole range of activities laid out on the tables in the morning, some will be more attractive to the younger ages & some to the older ones, but none of them are potentially harmful.

Original poster

noonar · 16/08/2006 11:14

hhmmm...what should i do about choking hazards then? don't want to complain already!

OP posts:

scotlou · 16/08/2006 11:23

I wouldn't worry about the "unsuitable" toys. Remember - although she's in a group with older ones, the staffing levels for her age group must still apply - so she wil have plenty of supervision. I rember being surprised when I first left ds at nuresry (at around 2) tey played with beads and things that I certainly didn't allow at home - but they were extremely careful about supervision.

Bugsy2 · 16/08/2006 11:25

I wouldn't complain at this stage noonar, but why don't you have a chat to her assigned nursery teacher or the nursery manager & just explain that you are a bit anxious about her being exposed to toys & activities that are beyond her age limit - such as tiny pegs and ask how they propose to minimise the risks - or something along those lines.
I dredged further back into my memory stores & remembered that DS started at a mixed age nursery too when he was only 2 & as far as I can tell it wasn't a problem for him either.
Is this the same nursery you used for your older daughter?

Original poster

noonar · 16/08/2006 11:30

no its not the same one, as her's was close to mum's house. she's now moved so no longer makes sense to send them there. thanks for the advice...i won't go in guns blazing.

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Jimjams2 · 16/08/2006 12:09

ds3 will be the youngest by a distance when he starts one day a week in Sept. Usually they only take them from 2, but have special permission to take him from Sept (he's not 2 until Jan, long story as to why I need him to go there). I'm not worried other than how he'll cope without a sleep (he may just crash out - which he can do, but I suspect he'll be too nosy).

I'm kind of expecting him to get lots of attention! As long as they don't expect the little ones to be able to behave like older ones in terms of attention/length of time sitting down etc I don't realy think it matters. I;d just ask about choking hazards ina friendly way. I'm going to ask about lollipops (they're in the treat box) with reference to ds3 (I'll prob send in buttons for him) as I think he's too young for them.

Bozza · 16/08/2006 12:11

jimjams I don't think either of my two could have coped with a nursery day without a nap at that age. DD is 2.3 and still has above an hour a day at nursery at naptime (ie after lunch). So no signs of her giving it up soon. She has only managed two days ever in her life without a nap.

Original poster

noonar · 16/08/2006 12:22

surely they must be able to accommodate naps, jj?

OP posts:

Jimjams2 · 16/08/2006 17:28

He's allowed a nap,I just think he's too nosey, so will fight it!! He quite often goes without if there's something mre interesting going on (or he has 20 mins), He certainly wouldn't survive a whole week, but I think he might a day. He'll fall asleep over tea though!

Gobblunarcharsky · 16/08/2006 17:50

Ds2 (and ds3 from September) go to a sessional (morning) nursery for children from 2 to 5. They are altogether for much of the session but they are also separated for specific activities. There is another room where the rising 5s often go for number work, letters etc.

Ds1 went here too and it's not been an issue with any of mine.

It's probably more positive than it is negative I'd have thought.

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