hi
DD will start pre-school in september this year when she will be 2 and a half.
I put her name down very early on for a local pre-school (held in a church hall) that has always had a very good reputation and I know has a long waiting list. She has been offered 3 sessions starting in september going up to 5 in 2008.
I have also been to look at a montessori nursery and have been offered a place there for her too.
They are quite different in so many ways but both felt lovely and I think I and DD would be happy at either.
I asked the reception head at DS's school for her opinion and she told me that offically she is not allowed to offer her opinion but off the record the children that come from the church hall pre-school are by far the best prepared for school (confident, have good social skills, communicate well etc) and that if we have been offered a place then grab it.
However, I am still undecided.
The montessori has a fantastic outdoor area, is smaller and the room is only used for the pre-school so it is more like a private nursery I guess. They also offer full day sessions and it is £3 cheaper.
The church pre-school was slightly bigger, has a more limited outdoor area, doesn't offer full day sessions but is in a larger indoor space offering room for more physical activity.
Sorry, if you've read this far you're probably bored and can't understand why i can't just make a decision.
With DS it was so much easier and he was still in nappies when he started and so the choice was much smaller and one that i walked into just felt so right for both of us and sure enough, he had a very happy 18 months there. Unfortunately the ladies who owned it decided to retire .
Any comments gratefully received.
TIA