Moving daughter to nursery from childminders?

[ByRubyBalonz]

Hi everyone, I'm hoping some of you might have some advice / experiences to share to help me make a decision!!

My daughter started with a childminder when she was 11 months old (she is now 19 months). She loves the childminders, and they are really wonderful. I should add that it's quite a large setting (a lady and her partner, and they have assistants there too- so a little bit like a cross between a nursery and a childminders). The great thing about the childminder is the free hours are applied directly (so when it's term time, we basically only pay for 50% of the week as she's there for 30 hours and that will also hopefully increase in sept with the new funding ). I also like that she is with mixed ages, as feel like she is coming on a lot learning from the older kids.

When I was on mat leave I booked her a spot at a nursery (which is lovely, lots of outdoor space) to start when she is 27 months. They emailed today and said they have her space available. I am having a bit of a crisis about what to do.

I'm torn between keeping her at the childminders as she has settled so well (I am also hopeful they can do some after school pick ups when she does start school), and the cost factor, and sending her to the nursery for a more 'school like experience'. I think the nursery will be more expensive.

Should I do a combination? Will that be confusing for her? Does anyone have any experiences of something similar / what did you do? Just to add, she is with my mum on a Friday and me on a Tuesday, so it's 3 days a week we are looking at for either childminder/nursery/ a split.

I don't really see any pros of rhe nursery to be honest since she's doing so well at the childminders and you're also happy.

19 month olds don't need a school like experience.

If she's happy and settled I'd keep her where she is.

Given how well she's settled at the childminders and the fact it obviously suits you and her I don't understand why you'd plan to move her to a nursery. Don't try to fix what's not broken.

Sorry can you clarify why you want to move to nursery?
My weans have been to both - I think different things suit different kids/ families- but given she has settled so well I am surprised you are contemplating moving her.
I found some Benifits of nursery - but the advantages are more centred around my convenience ( ie no worry of childminder getting I’ll and you being stuck, less childminder holidays to work round and nursery I used provided healthy food- saved me packing it). But there are lots of negatives too ( changing staff, overwhelming loud environment, less flexibility if child is slightly under weather, difficult dynamics with other kids at times)

Unless things change of their own accord, you'd be mad to change things now. Won't she go to a preschool later so it will be a natural combination of home-based care and a more "school like" environment (not that Reception is that)? And don't knock keeping on the care for school runs / after school and holidays - what a gift that will be. You've really landed on your feet with this mixed sort of home-based care.

See the thread with the child at nursery who finds it all too noisy. Yours sounds a good balance.

If it ain't broke - don't fix it. 😄

Not sure why you’d want to unsettle her tbh. Childminders have to follow EYFS just like nurseries so it won’t be more school like until she gets to actual school.

If she’s happy then I would keep her where she is and if possible get the childminder to take her to the school nursery - if there is one- for her preschool year.

She's happy where she is. Don't move her. She'll get loads of attention and experiences with the childminder. Mine went to a childminder from 9 months, never did nursery. Went into school reception at 4.5 and was fine. Kept going to childminders 2-3 days a week until he was 10. Now walks a quirky route back from secondary school (year 7) some days. When I enquired why, he said so he can catch his childminder for a minute or two after her primary pick up!

Thanks for your comment - yes so I guess when I was on mat leave I thought that she would go to a nursery eventually for a more school like experience, but now we have the opportunity I’m doubting that decision because she has settled so well. I am just wary of losing our spot at the nursery (because as we all know it’s super competitive) if it is something that might be good for her.

This is a lovely story!

sorry I did try to reply to you below but didn’t quite! I totally agree - for some reason I’ve got it in my mind that she should go to nursery for a more formal experience before school, and I’m also anxious about losing the nursery spot as it is so competitive!
looking at your list of cons for childminders, I can also see how lucky we are as they aren’t ever closed for holidays because they have assistants / other staff, and same for illnesses too - and they also provide all meals and snacks. Definitely starting to think we’re onto a good thing!

I love my child minder so I might be biased, and she feels like an extension of our family as she has looked after one or both of my boys over the past 6/7 years. Her home felt like a home from home to our youngest, and he loves going there still after school a couple days per week. He didn't start nursery school until a couple of terms before he started reception.

Sorry pressed send too soon (new nails), nursery was only chosen a couple days per week so he could meet his new school mates and cm did drop off/pick up those days so we had best of both worlds whilst we had to work.

Nurseries even school ones work to the same framework as childminders. The EYFS they all work on school readiness. If your child does storytimes, singing times, works on independence (self care, putting coat on, toileting etc), turn taking and sharing. Does gross and fine motor activities she's getting the same as a nursery.
You also need to consider what you will do for school wrap around...i never have spaces for children who haven't attended prior to school as I'm always full ..you can have up to 6 under 8s so if you have 3 preschoolers it leaves 3 school under 8 spaces ...most of mine are still with me at 11 and older....so even then I can't always take on my mindees when they move to school...it's the first to ask

The earliest she will benefit from a school like experience is the September before she starts school.

Keep her at Childminders until at least three if she's happy.

I was a childminder for 27 years. The families who used my service valued:
the convenience of collecting all their children from the same place;

I took the children to and from pre-school in their last year before reception class,
provided wrap around and school holiday care,
covered part day settling sessions when starting in reception. I met all the requirements of the EYFS.

Mine stay until reception we network have group lunches, group singing, story time and in sessions the children mix with 20 ISH other children

Speaking as a childminder....
Leave her where she is! It sounds like she's settled and happy. There's always the chance she may not settle at nursery then you have a problem...
If it ain't broke don't try and fix it...