Which nursery would you choose?

[Queensguard]

Option A - preschool, term time only, outstanding Ofsted, small classes based on age group, clearly structured day

Option B - nursery, full time or term time, good Ofsted, mixed group of ages all in one room, less structured day, daily outings to local area (parks, woods, shops, farms etc)

The costs are comparable per day and both have a nice outdoor space that children can freely access. DS would be attending 2 days a week for now. Feel like Option A is more focused on learning through play and Option B is more about experiences. Think Option A would be better for preparing DS for school but Option B would maybe be more fun.

Nursery 2 definitely

Have you had a chance to visit the settings? You can get a better sense of these things in person. How engaged the children are and how involved the adults seem etc. I work in a nursery and the difference between 'good' and 'outstanding' can come down to very little. I would be considering the age ranges in the mixed age room. Sometimes it can work well, but with too much of an age gap may become difficult to meet all needs, depending on numbers of children. And I'd also consider if my childcare needs were likely to change so that term time would become an issue. I work term time but sometimes send my dc in occasionally during the longer holidays. I think if I'd visited and liked both equally then the trips out at setting B would swing it for me.

I wouldn’t even consider A compared to B and never rely on Ofsted.

Go and visit them both to make sure your gut feeling aligns with what you have written above.

How old is DS?

Do you work in school holidays?
I think visiting nurseries is important, but I’d have to go with B. I need the school holidays covered, so term time only is a nonstarter.

In my view there's huge value to preschools and the way they prepare children for the school day & routine. If you don't need them for longer hours or holiday times, I'd go for preschool over a nursery (my kids have done both)

Visit and meet the staff. I always think a place will only be good if the staff are lovely. My children are teens and still remember their play school aunties !!!

Do you need the childcare? If so, B is a no brainer. I’d lean towards A if you didn’t need it, especially if it was attached to the primary school you want him to go to..

@Neighneigh

In my view there's huge value to preschools and the way they prepare children for the school day & routine. If you don't need them for longer hours or holiday times, I'd go for preschool over a nursery (my kids have done both)

What does a 2 year old need prepping for school for?

Honest question.

DS is nearly 2 and the age range at both options is 2 - 4.

I don’t work in the school holidays so that’s not an issue. The preschool isn’t attached to a primary school so that’s not a consideration.

Both options have a good reputation locally. The preschool has been around much longer so I’ve found more recommendations/reviews but no-one’s said anything bad about either option.

I’ve visited a few nurseries and these were the two I liked best and luckily they both now have availability. Unfortunately they’re very different in approach and both have their advantages - hence why I’m stuck 😅 I know I’m in an incredibly fortunate position and probably overthinking things. DS is my only child so I’m new to this and I want to make the best decision I can.

At that age I'd go for nursery, option B.

If he was older, nearer 3, I'd have said pre-school.

Does that mean he is with you/family the other 5 days? If you do lots of outings then go with A, if you do lots of structured playdough etc then go with B.

I'd ideally prefer B until 3/3.5 then maybe A for school prep, but realistically you probably won't want to move him.

To clarify my post above, use nursery to offer the bit you are less good at/less like doing at home to give balance.

Location - is one nearer your house/work?

Option B means you get a break in school holidays if you need it.

This is so funny, I have EXACTLY the same dilemma - I wonder if we are looking in the same place?! (Beginning with D?!)

What I have decided to do is for the year that DD is 3, she goes to ‘Nursery 2’ for all of my work days and she is at home with me on the others.

For the year after, so the year before she starts school, I will split her placement - most likely 3 or 4 full days at nursery 2 on days I work, and either one or two mornings at nursery 1 depending on how many days I’m working at that point. I cannot be arsed dealing with scrabbling around making arrangements for a shorter day with wraparound or whatever when I’m rushing off to work.

That way, she gets the benefit of both.

@NuffSaidSam - I did consider maybe sending DS to B for a year and then switching to A if it seemed appropriate but I get the impression that A (the preschool) doesn’t usually have availability. There’s no guarantee that the hours available now will still be there in a year. Plus I thought that might be disruptive if DS was happy so that would diminish any benefit?

Then just keep him at B, until he can start school nursery after he turns 3.

I don't think a just turned two year old, a baby essentially, needs to be in a structured pre-school environment.

I’d choose B, in fact I’m moving my dc3 from a very structured nursery/pre school to a more relaxed one this year as I’ve decided they’ve got 14 years to sit and be structured in a school setting and only one more year to be free and relaxed.
I’m not sure how much ‘preparing’ they need for school really as long as they are happy and confident. Reading and learning can be done informally as well as formally.

Tough one! Totally depends on age and temperament of the child and how social they are. Some would struggle to mix with older children.

@Neighneigh

In my view there's huge value to preschools and the way they prepare children for the school day & routine. If you don't need them for longer hours or holiday times, I'd go for preschool over a nursery (my kids have done both)

Agree

I would go for a second look at b , can u take dc...? Is it a louder environment...with the mixed ages milling about.....they both sound good so try and picture child in there where do u see them....

@NuffSaidSam

Then just keep him at B, until he can start school nursery after he turns 3.

I don't think a just turned two year old, a baby essentially, needs to be in a structured pre-school environment.

Indeed!

They're two, they should be playing and learning how to be with people.

Not bloody being prepared for school...