Nursery but mixed with reception?!

[musicaljojo]

My three year old is due to start nursery school in September and I recieved a letter from them this morning explaining that they are going to mix the reception and nursery children together, with two teachers and 6 TA's.

There will also be no stay and play but a session in which they can explore for an hour in Sept before they start the following week but no parents can stay.

I am worried because my three year old has never visited this place, I've never met any of the staff and has never been in a nursery setting before, he's always stayed with grandparents whilst I've been at work, it's extremely daunting and it's the little things like me showing him where the toilets are and the fact that I'm leaving him with people he's never met before.

Should I look for another preschool or maybe even a private nursery for him, ? He's an intelligent child, it's more for the social aspect that I'd like him to go.
Is it just first time mummy worries or would anyone else feel worried about this?

My DD started in a setting like that. It was great, plenty of adults, more space and more activities. Great prep for reception as well.

Both my children started preschool having never been left in a setting before. It was much easier for Ds2 as he had seen DS1 go (2 year difference), but ultimately DS1 was fine. He cried the first day, and I wish I had explained to him better that I would be back, as he would have understood. I am sure your child will be fine and enjoy it. Try and talk about it at home in a positive and exciting way.

The current guidance is no parents allowed in the setting so does not not matter if you change setting you still will not be allowed in. You could ask if you could maybe stay in the garden with him for a while, while he meets the staff as this is how childminders are doing the settling sessions.

How many children is that in the room?

I'm not sure yet @essexmum777 we haven't been told an awful lot from the nursery which is why I'm so anxious.

For me it would depend very much on numbers.

If we're talking very small classes (say fewer than ten kids in reception) then maybe I'd be ok with this.

However, despite attending childcare since 9m my DD (just turned 3) is like a rabbit in headlights if she's in a big noisy setting with tons of older kids.

Her nursery was merged with another nursery and she was put in with older children (some about to start school) and is showing some signs of being unsettled, not to mention her head being filled with big kid ideas like 'I'm not your friend anymore' which wouldn't have even occurred to her and her peers before they got mixed with the older kids.