Settling in: two vs three half days

[crazytiredboth]

I am looking at nursery options for my DTs next year, they’ll be 15 months when I intend to send them. The nursery I viewed today said they’d have to attend a minimum of three days a week (can be half sessions) as they don’t believe children settle in if they attend less than this.

Do you think there’s any truth to this? It’s Montessori if it makes a difference, purely because that’s our nearest nursery.

I’m looking at another nursery next week (also Montessori but slightly further away) which does allow two half days a week which ideally is what I’m after, but not if it comes at the price of them being continually unsettled!

I also wonder if from a social standpoint it’s better to be at a nursery closer to home if they otherwise seem to have a similar vibe and inspection reports? There’s not a great deal in it distance wise, but they are different boroughs. (London)

Tia

I say at least 2 full days a week. I know lots of settings that do one day, but in my experience, even though they may enjoy it and learn a lot, they never really become 'one of the gang' if you know what I mean.

I'd say 2 half days isnt enough.

They need at least 1 full day in my opinion then 1 or 2 half days as well

As a general rule, children are more likely to settle where they attend for more days. But this isn’t a strict number problem and there is no one 'right' answer. Children are unique and will each respond differently. Some can settle quickly on one day a week; some don’t settle on five.

NUrseries need to have a fixed rule on this for new starters, so you just have to go with it or find another nursery if it’s a deal breaker.

Thanks all. For the official settling in period itself, the nursery suggests one hour (free of charge) for five consecutive days. But beyond that this head teacher was saying the child still won’t settle if only in two days a week.

I’m hoping because they are twins and have each other that it might help them a bit, but that it probably wishful thinking!

My dd was a little older starting nursery, just over 2, but she just did one full day a week with no issues at all. I really appreciated the nursery staff who gave the feeling that she was absolutely 'part of the gang' and knew her quirks and individual needs just as well, even though it was only one day a week. It did take her a few weeks to settle in happily I guess but I think that's just normal however many days they do! Depends on the child really.

EyeDrops is right. A lot depends on the child.

My DD only does one day a week. Started the end of September and it was only last week she seemed to settle. I have childcare for the other days so didn’t want to send her more often if we could help it. She’s 18 months old.

My son is older ( 2 and a half) but he started in September doing 2 mornings at preschool and settled fine.

I'm a cm and have some children 2 days some 2 half days some more the children do settle. I've had some start at 4 months no problem. I do settling in visits at child and parents pace so start with a couple of play dates then build up. I guess as nurseries tend not to use the key worker system as it was intended its harder as you can have random staff working in a room according to staffing levels and non contact time. If a setting wont offer the hours you need but is pushing you to spend more money and less time with your child keep looking until you find one that does offer what you want and feel comfortable with. Have you looked at Childminders who are regulated and inspected by the same body to the same standards? Saying a child won settle in a couple of day is like saying they wont stop with aunty and will never settle unless they go 3 days a week which is ludicrous, yes they may take a bit longer but they do settle if the environment is right for them.