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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

5 afternoons a week too much?

17 replies

nobodysfool · 04/03/2008 13:59

My ds is due to start nursrey in Sept, he will be 3 and 3 months.
I think 5 afternoons seems a pretty full to start with-he still has a afternoon nap about 4 times a week.
I have asked if he could do less afternoons and they said i would have to apply for this nearer the time.
Do you have any experience of this?

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Original poster

nobodysfool · 04/03/2008 14:03

Forgot to mention he already goes to mum and toddler group 3 times a week and really enjoys himself, so do i

OP posts:

coastalmum · 04/03/2008 14:05

I'm confused. Surely as the customer you say how often you want your ds to attend.

I've never worked in a nursery where it is dictated how many seeions a week a child attends.

coastalmum · 04/03/2008 14:05

sorry sessions not seeions

Kindersurpise · 04/03/2008 14:06

My DS started last August, he was 3 in July. The first week or two he started at 8am and I picked him up at lunchtime, getting later every day. After a couple of weeks he was staying all day, I pick him up at 4pm. If I go any earlier he tells me to come back later.

Depends on the child, try him out and if he does not like it you can always change the times.

Original poster

nobodysfool · 04/03/2008 14:07

Thats what i thought.
They seemed really put out that i wanted to send him less afternoons.A few of us are all having the same problem with them.
We have been told that most nurserys that are linked to a school do this.Can't say i have ever heard of it before.
Do you think 5 afternoons is a bit daunting straight away?

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dizzydixies · 04/03/2008 14:09

dd1 started on 3 mornings a week aged 2 & up to 5 aged 3 and dd2 started 11months needs must unfortunately, doing 3 mornings and now up to 5

they both love it and receive mostly excellent care

the only reason I made it 5 not 4 is that it is cheaper but there was never any issue in me putting them in for only 3 - unless they can't fill individual days I don't understand why

they should also let him do visits of longer lenghts before he starts properly to get him used to staff etc

francagoestohollywood · 04/03/2008 14:09

Depends on the child really. dd was going 3 days a week (9.30-4), ds went every day, as he really enjoyed himself.

coastalmum · 04/03/2008 14:10

I don't think 5 afternoons staright away is necessarily to much as long as your ds is given a settling in period that suits him. Where I work some children only need to visit once some can take up to a month of coming for just an hour. Starting nursery should be taken at the childs pace.

coastalmum · 04/03/2008 14:12

I would check with your education authority as to whether the school nursery can force you send him for the sessions they want and your not happy with.

Original poster

nobodysfool · 04/03/2008 14:12

coastalmum- there is no settling in time at this place and they don't allow you to sit in for a while.Seems really odd to me.I think i will have a look around for another place that will go at ds pace.It just seems they want us to drop him off and that is that.

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dixichik · 04/03/2008 14:13

How long are the afternoon sessions?
My son is 3 this month and will be going 5 afternoon sessions from April. But the sessions are 2 1/2 hours long. He was having an afternoon nap of about half an hour up until very recently. I purposely weaned him off of it so that he would cope with nursery.

Kindersurpise · 04/03/2008 14:15

The settling in time was vital for our DCs.

We had 4 weeks of going in for an afternoon or two a week, to begin with with me and after the first week they stayed alone.

I would have a look around and find a nursery that is better suited to you and puts you and your DS's needs first.

francagoestohollywood · 04/03/2008 14:15

I'd look for a place where they do a gentle induction, with you sitting by for a few days, def.

Original poster

nobodysfool · 04/03/2008 14:16

The sessions are 3 hours.I know it's not that long but he still gets really grouchy if he needs a sleep and can't have one.We have cut his naps down as well but every couple of days he needs a nap.otherwise his red devil horns start sprouting.

OP posts:

coastalmum · 04/03/2008 14:17

nobodysfool - I would be very dubious of a nursery that operates in that way. Think your right to look else where.

We insist parents stay for the childs first visit, not just for child but so parents get an idea of what life in the nursery is like.

francagoestohollywood · 04/03/2008 14:17

we have just moved back to Italy and we had one whole week of induction (my dc are nearly 4 and nearly 6, school starts at six here), first 2 days they stayed for 2 hrs with me sitting around. next day I left them for 1 hr etc. it worked very well.

Original poster

nobodysfool · 04/03/2008 14:37

Thanks for your advice looks like i'm on the search for another nursery then x

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