How important is preschool?

Ilikepinacoladass · 2023-05-10T19:03:03+00:00

My DS is currently with a lovely childminder, he's been there since 14 months with no issues at all. He'll be 3 in June and starting preschool from sept 3 mornings a week with wraparound care by his childminder. My issue is that I'm not so keen on the preschool he's due to go to. It has lots of positives, outstanding Ofsted, low ratios, been going a long time, staff been there a long time, but I just didn't get a good vibe from the staff both times I've been to visit. There is another preschool I prefer the staff are very warm and friendly and he seemed to prefer it there (had to drag him out kicking and screaming when we visited). It would mean moving him to a different childminder though, and also him doing 9-3 at the preschool rather than just mornings. How important is preschool, is it worth the disruption in changing childminders to go to one you think is better, or is that crazy and just keep him where he is settled and spend a few mornings a week at a preschool that I'm not 100% about??

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pinksquash13 · 10/05/2023 20:06

Tricky. I wouldn't be keen to change child minder if he's settled. Will any of the options impact wrap around care when he goes to school? I think I'd send to first pre school and change if he didn't like it or you continued to get a bad feel.

Silvergoldandglitter · 10/05/2023 20:07

My ds never went to preschool or nursery. He went to a childminder before he was at school age. No issued at all.

MyopicBunny · 10/05/2023 20:09

How much socialisation does he get with the child minder? As far as I know, evidence suggests that children benefit massively from preschool from the age of 3, which is why it's universally funded by the government.

Original poster

Ilikepinacoladass · 10/05/2023 20:12

pinksquash13 · 10/05/2023 20:06

Tricky. I wouldn't be keen to change child minder if he's settled. Will any of the options impact wrap around care when he goes to school? I think I'd send to first pre school and change if he didn't like it or you continued to get a bad feel.

Not sure which school he'll go to yet but in all likelihood the new childminder wouldn't be able to do wraparound from his primary so he'd only be with her a year. Current childminder may be able to wraparound for reception year, but only for a school that I think he's unlikely to get into. So in all likelihood would then be looking for another CM for primary school (or just do breakfast/ after school club I guess)

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PuttingDownRoots · 10/05/2023 20:13

It will depend how good the childminder is and how old the other kids are. 3yos play differently to 1yos for example so may not get the same stimulation. Conversely if there's another 3yo there, and the childminder does lots of age appropriate stuff and school readiness it could be fine.

MerryMarigold · 10/05/2023 20:14

I work in a preschool. I'd say go to the one where he may make friends who will go to the same primary school as this will really help his transition into reception.

I wouldn't worry too much about the one you like less if he's just going there for mornings - as long as he has his childminder for safety. He'll end up enjoying it wherever he goes, I think. First impressions can be misleading and the huge change of childminder plus preschool will be a lot.

Original poster

Ilikepinacoladass · 10/05/2023 20:14

MyopicBunny · 10/05/2023 20:09

How much socialisation does he get with the child minder? As far as I know, evidence suggests that children benefit massively from preschool from the age of 3, which is why it's universally funded by the government.

He gets quite a bit, and I take him to groups on my days. I was happy with him to stay with her to be honest but she said preschool would be good, at least for the mornings.

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Original poster

Ilikepinacoladass · 10/05/2023 20:17

MerryMarigold · 10/05/2023 20:14

I work in a preschool. I'd say go to the one where he may make friends who will go to the same primary school as this will really help his transition into reception.

I wouldn't worry too much about the one you like less if he's just going there for mornings - as long as he has his childminder for safety. He'll end up enjoying it wherever he goes, I think. First impressions can be misleading and the huge change of childminder plus preschool will be a lot.

Thanks, yes I agree, it would be a big change for him starting preschool and a new childminder at the same time.

I think I just need to get over this idea that he needs to go to an amazing preschool/ my feelings about the first one, as all the other signs point to the fact that it's perfectly good!

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Original poster

Ilikepinacoladass · 10/05/2023 20:18

PuttingDownRoots · 10/05/2023 20:13

It will depend how good the childminder is and how old the other kids are. 3yos play differently to 1yos for example so may not get the same stimulation. Conversely if there's another 3yo there, and the childminder does lots of age appropriate stuff and school readiness it could be fine.

Both of my options involve him going to preschool as well as childminder care. It's just which preschool / childminder

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Dacadactyl · 10/05/2023 20:19

If he's been away from you at a childminder then I'd say the disruption from moving setting isn't worth it. I'd keep him at the childminder without a doubt.

Mine went to preschool for a couple of hours once they'd turned 3, but only cos they'd never been away from me and I wanted them to get ready for the transition to school nursery.

Original poster

Ilikepinacoladass · 10/05/2023 20:37

Dacadactyl · 10/05/2023 20:19

If he's been away from you at a childminder then I'd say the disruption from moving setting isn't worth it. I'd keep him at the childminder without a doubt.

Mine went to preschool for a couple of hours once they'd turned 3, but only cos they'd never been away from me and I wanted them to get ready for the transition to school nursery.

Don't even get me started on school nursery, that was another option (plus childminder wraparound), but have decided 5 days a week is too much for him (and me haha) at the mo and will just wait until reception.

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KateyCuckoo · 10/05/2023 20:53

MyopicBunny · 10/05/2023 20:09

How much socialisation does he get with the child minder? As far as I know, evidence suggests that children benefit massively from preschool from the age of 3, which is why it's universally funded by the government.

Well funding can be used at any early years setting (including childminders) not just preschools 💁‍♀️

Skybluepinky · 10/05/2023 20:57

If yr childminder offers funded places stay with her, years ago children just went straight from their home to school they didn’t have issues.

MerryMarigold · 10/05/2023 22:39

Preschool does really help with the structure of school as it's usually semi structured and they are expected to sit still for a bit on the carpet which is great practise. It's also fantastic socially.

OP is just asking which preschool would be better. I don't think it makes a massive difference unless he's really unhappy of course. Usually kids who have been to childminder's settle quickly.

Original poster

Ilikepinacoladass · 11/05/2023 06:39

@MerryMarigold
Thanks, yes that's right, wondering if it's worth the disruption of moving CMs for him to go to a preschool I prefer, or keep him at current CM and him go to one I got less great vibes from. I think the consensus is keep him where he is.

The other option current CM can do is the school nursery which I liked the look of, but he'll need to go 5 days a week (would just be morning's) - not sure how strict they are on this though!? And think that's too much for him at the mo, I have 2 days off in the week so can have him with me. Me and his dad are separated so we split weekends, so he already has quite a lot going on in his life and don't want to overwhelm him, plus it would mean I only get one full day a week with him (is that selfish?). Plus we're out of the catchment area for that school so he'd be unlikely to get into the main school! (Although has been offered a place at the nursery)

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daffodilandtulip · 11/05/2023 06:59

I'm a childminder and most stay with me until reception. Parents always get good feedback about their development and social skills etc from the school; and the child has no issues making friends or settling into the routine.

Assignedtoworryyourmother · 11/05/2023 07:20

The type of childcare a child receives as a preschooler, be it CM, nursery, day care or home with parent/family, does not matter as much as the quality of the interactions throughout the day. If your child is developing lots of language, if they are exposed to a language and literature rich environment, if independence is encouraged and fostered, the care giver is interested and interesting, if the relationship between adult/s and child is good, then children will thrive. If there is opportunity for interaction with other children, even better, but this doesn't have to be constant.

tikkanaan · 11/05/2023 07:23

Ilikepinacoladass · 10/05/2023 20:12

Not sure which school he'll go to yet but in all likelihood the new childminder wouldn't be able to do wraparound from his primary so he'd only be with her a year. Current childminder may be able to wraparound for reception year, but only for a school that I think he's unlikely to get into. So in all likelihood would then be looking for another CM for primary school (or just do breakfast/ after school club I guess)

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In that case I'd swap now

Original poster

Ilikepinacoladass · 11/05/2023 07:40

tikkanaan · 11/05/2023 07:23

In that case I'd swap now

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Swap to what? We don't know which primary he'll go to yet, but neither current or new CM suggested can do wraparound for our nearest (and most likely to get into primary) unfortunately

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LadyJ2023 · 11/05/2023 07:56

None of my oldest went to preschool and none of my 3 youngest will either all happy bunnies

UndercoverCop · 11/05/2023 08:16

I like the school readiness element from the nursery/preschool we use. It's not just the socialisation aspect. DS can hold a pencil, write his name, count to thirty, knows his colours and how mixing then creates new ones, shapes etc. He's used to small lesson type structures eg they find a spider in the forest area, they then build on that with an activity about spiders, they have dance, Spanish and football lessons delivered by external coaches/teachers so he's used to moving from one subject to another.
I'm confident the transition to school isn't going to be difficult for him and he can focus on building friendships and getting used to the school routine.
Which setting is going to do that for your child?

Original poster

Ilikepinacoladass · 11/05/2023 08:58

@UndercoverCop
I think the reception year is also a lot of playing/ getting them ready for school too? The things I'm looking for in terms of getting him school ready would be getting used to be in a bigger group without me or CM there, learning to follow instructions etc, which both the preschools would do. So maybe both would be totally fine.

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MerryMarigold · 11/05/2023 09:20

If he probably won't get into the school then I wouldn't bother with the school nursery. Keep as much continuity as you can. No point disrupting him 2 years running.

everythingisfigureoutabble · 11/05/2023 19:16

I would keep with current childminder and go with the less liked preschool just for the fact he is settled with childminder and happy there and nursery is only 3 hours so not too long, if he really didn't settle then I would just take him out. No point sending him to a new preschool for longer days and a new childminder that's a lot for a 3 year old in one go.

Original poster

Ilikepinacoladass · 11/05/2023 21:04

everythingisfigureoutabble · 11/05/2023 19:16

I would keep with current childminder and go with the less liked preschool just for the fact he is settled with childminder and happy there and nursery is only 3 hours so not too long, if he really didn't settle then I would just take him out. No point sending him to a new preschool for longer days and a new childminder that's a lot for a 3 year old in one go.

Thank you, yes I think you're right. Like you say he won't actually even be there long (just 3hrs 3 times a week). Have even been thinking I could cut it down to 2 times a week if I don't think it's going too well. I think the longer days would be really tiring for him (realise all children are different!) and he already has a lot going on in his home life / two homes. Plus getting used to a new CM. I know the following year he'll be doing 9-3 5 days a week in reception (well probably) but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it plus he'll be a year older by then!

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