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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

How many days does your child go to pre school?

15 replies

nobodysfool · 18/04/2008 08:10

My ds will be three in June and is due to start preschool next Friday.
The sessions are from 9 am to 12 pm.
He will be going for two days at first and i have the option to send him more days if i want.
In September they want him to go at least four times a week, preferably five.
This seems pretty full on for a three year old....or is the norm?
What are your experiences?

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CantSleepWontSleep · 18/04/2008 08:27

Dd, 2.2, started this week. She will go 2 afternoons a week this term, and in September we plan to increase it to 2 full days and 2 half days.

I think it prob depends on the child as to how much they are ready for.

pootleflump · 18/04/2008 08:30

My dd went 5 mornings since she was 3 and loved every minute. Twice a week the nursery has lunch-club where they can take a packlunch and stay till 2.30 instead of 12. These are extra sessions that you pay for and dd now does these as well because she wanted to- she used to be in tears coming away because her friends were getting to stay for lunch-club.

Original poster

nobodysfool · 18/04/2008 08:43

Thanks for your advice.
I still think 5 mornings is pretty full on.There is only one pre school in my area that they can attend less and i have heard it isn't that great.
I'm sure he will love it but i'm just being selfish.I will miss him so much and with my dh shift work they will not see as much of eachother as they used to so our family days out will go out the window.
I hoped they would let me do less days but they won't budge on the min of 4 days.

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SoupKitchen · 18/04/2008 08:49

dd is 3 and currently has 3 out of the five sessions i will increase this to 4 sessions when she turns 4 and if he is coping ok then up to the 5 sessions the term before she starts school.

I also think it is too much too early

Original poster

nobodysfool · 18/04/2008 08:51

Soupkitchen-i'm stuck as to what to do then,should i pull him out or just stamp my feet and insist he goes fewer days?Can i do that?

OP posts:

Swedes · 18/04/2008 08:53

MY daughter is 2.6 and has just started pre-school - she attends two mornings a week. Two mornings is perfect.

Original poster

nobodysfool · 18/04/2008 08:55

I'm happy with the two mornings but in Sept it goes up to 4-5 days.Ideally he would initially go for two days then three.

OP posts:

CantSleepWontSleep · 18/04/2008 09:06

But you say that you are sure that he will love it. Is it not then rather selfish not to let him go, and to potentially have to send him somewhere else to do this? How will you cope when he goes to school full time?
(Not criticising, just wanting you to think about this).

Original poster

nobodysfool · 18/04/2008 09:54

Obviously i wouldn't stop him going anywhere beacause of my feelings and i'm sure he would love it but i still worry it's too much too soon for him.
I'm going to play it by ear and see how he goes.
As for schhol,i'm sure i will hate that as well.He is such good company and we have real fun together.
But i know he will thrive and enjoy every min.Doesn't mean i will miss him any less beacuse i know he will be having fun.
Is there a pause button i can press on life?

OP posts:

SoupKitchen · 18/04/2008 13:24

THat would be lovely wouldn't it , but i'm sure they would need outside stimulation at some point.

As far as I am aware they don't have to use all their sessions up.
Does they preschool need the funding. I know mine does, they have suggestted I book for the 5 sessions and send her however many I want her to go for - not sure how above board this is but that way if she wants to go more she can and if it wears her out to much i can just send her for fewer sessions.

If I were you I would have another chat wth them.
Personally I feel that at 3 a couple of sessions is fine there are so many other things they benefit from at that age, cooking with mum, afternoons in the garden, zoo etc

jazzandh · 18/04/2008 14:33

My DS (3.5) has done 3 morning sessions since last September. He loves it.

From this September he HAS to do 5 mornings (which I think is quite alot too). However I suspect that they like the continuity that comes with having all the children in the class together. His nursery is very structured, and next year they will start to do sounds/ letters etc - so with children coming and going at differeing sessions, they probably lose momentum....

Well that's my theory anyway.

Sidge · 18/04/2008 15:39

My DD started with 2 sessions, then quickly worked up to 5 mornings.

She has an absolute ball and has come on so much.

I think part of the reason that they like you to do 5 sessions is that the funding is based on 5 sessions, so if he only went for 2 or 3 they would "lose" the other hours. So in effect it would be half a wasted place (if that makes sense).

I would take the 5 sessions, and just take him out for the odd day if there was something really special you wanted to do. That way he has his place should you want it, but as it's not compulsory you could have the odd day off with him.

Rosa · 18/04/2008 15:45

Dd starts in Sept at 2.6 and it is 5 mornings - No option here its 5 or nothing. ( italy)Then from 3.6 she moves to another 'senior pre school' and again it is mornings with the option of lunch and 3 hrs in afternoon if you wish. You are lucky to have the options I would love dd to start with 2 and then work up but we are lucky to get a place and feel she will benefit ( keeping fingers crossed)

Original poster

nobodysfool · 19/04/2008 10:39

I have been looking at the latest OFSTED report for the nursery (which was the end of 2004) and there was a formal complaint lodged.
The areas of concern were:
1-Un suiatble person
2-Organisation
3-Safety
4-Health
5-Working with parents and carers

Sounds pretty bad doesn't it!

My friend went for a "tour" yesterday and asked if her son was very upset at the idea of her leaving could she stay with him till he was calmer.She was told "Absolutely NOT!".
Sounds like a harsh reaction to me what do you think?

OP posts:

MrsMattie · 19/04/2008 10:41

My son was 3 in Feb. He has been going to nursery 3 afternoons a week since October (12.15-3pm), and is about to start 5 afternoons a week (next week). He'll start doing some full days (9-3) in Sept, probably just one or two days a week. He absolutely loves nursery and would be there all day every day if he could!

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