How important is preschool?

[Ilikepinacoladass]

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??

I am a mum of 4 and also work in a preschool, I would honestly try and keep to the three mornings if you can, and give him at least a term to settle but I think having been to a childminder before he hopefully will settle well. I think children that do more hours actually find it better as it's easier to build more solid friendships the more sessions you do. We take from age two at our preschool and my own daughter used to nap a lot too but they all adjust. We also let our little ones nap if they want to - maybe something to speak to preschool about.