Nursery and childminder predicament

[4babiesforever]

my almost 4 year old is currently in private nursery 4 days a week on the days that I work.
this nursery has been amazing for him, it’s small, and has a real family homey feel. He’s has been there since 9 months and has formed bonds with the ladies and other children. Low turn over of staff and just really couldn’t fault any aspect of it.
With being due to start school next year I thought it would be good for LO to attend the school nursery to meet kids who will be at the same school and get used to the setting.
however the hours are shorter than the private nursery and it is term time only, so we would need a childminder on the days he attends school nursery for before and after, and also during the holidays.
I also had the thought of what if childminder gets ill, or having to take holidays when they do etc which is understandable of course.
but mainly LO is so settled , happy and secure that I didn’t want to change too much at once?

so considering sending him one day a week to school nursery, with childminder, and keeping him in current nursery 3 days a week. just wondering what thoughts are on that potential arrangement?
anyone had similar experience?

any thoughts and advice welcome
Tia x

Just leave him where he is, don't make life difficult.
Honestly it doesn't matter when they start school if they've been at the same nursery or not.

If you’re going to need wraparound care for school, could you look for a childminder now who would do that? Then there’s continuity that way.

Lots of kiddies now go straight to school from a private nursery.

I'd wait op.

An option I'd look into is letting him finish nursery at the end of the summer term and spending the six weeks summer holidays with a childminder if you will be using one for wrap around when he starts school.

But if you'll be using a non childminder setting for wrap around I'd just keep him at nursery a little while longer.

Keep him where he is for sure! At age 4 kids make friends easily, stability is more important (and sanity for you not juggling everything). They do loads of settling in anyway at school, and some kids don’t join until half way through the year.

I wouldn’t do this personally. DD starts school in September & after viewing all the schools and asking, the attendance at pre school doesn’t guarantee a place. You’re just giving him more upheaval now instead of what he would have on starting school!

We are leaning more towards the council wrap around care, the do pick up and drop off for our zoned school and take them to another one for after school clubs etc (it’s right next to our house lol)

Oh good point - I’m definitely now leaning more towards just keeping him where he is thanks ☺️

Sounds like the way to go - !
I’ve been finding out about local meet ups that some of the clubs and soft plays organise during the summer before primary 1 starts - each session being specifically for one school at a time where you can meet new primary 1s and their parents so I think I’ll do this :)

If you child is settled and happy, I wouldn't move them just for school readiness unless you feel this is something really lacking in the current setting.

But just to share our experience, we moved from private nursery to council one + childminder for wrap around, and it's been brilliant for our kids.
It brings more diversity to their day, I think our eldest (just turned 4) found it difficult to spend 10+ hours in the same room with the same kids every day.
The nursery school has more of a school feel to it (e.g. similar "rules", structured carpet time, ...). And because they have actual teachers and shorter days, they are able to focus on learning and skills in a similar way to what being done in reception (but with a lot more free flow time).
It's also bigger, with more children but also more space to do their own thing if they don't want to do the group activities.

Private nursery was good at looking at skill development for babies, but for pre-schoolers it was more about keeping them busy. A lot of group activities that all the children were expected to join, and a few very active children who didn't really have the space to burn their energy.

Our kids love going to the childminder after nursery and during the holidays, they see different children in a smaller setting so it's closer to what they would do at home. And they get to have actual "holidays" away from nursery, even if we have to work.

Keep him where he is, it’s really no issue when the time comes. Why put unnecessary change in?

Thank you everyone.
After much thought and discussion have decided to keep him where he is.
we are also lucky in that there is a child development specialist comes in 2 sessions a week and and plans activities and also provides feedback on any challenges or concerns etc
and we will also soon be getting a trainee teacher in two days a week so in terms of that type of structure and learning DS will
be getting that.
also the fact that as a pp mentioned nursery space isn’t a given we will get into the school.
either way, it would still a change for a year and then again another change.
so as @Glittertwins mentioned it would be an unnecessary change.
it is not a big nursery and I like the homey family feel to it so will him there for his last year before the many years of school.
our zoned primary school is also one of the smaller schools so hopefully that means it will
not be too difficult a transition (provided he gets in)

I’m glad you’ve came to a decision you’re both happy with

Ime getting a place in your catchment school isn’t an issue here in Scotland in the way it is in England because the way you enrol them is different here so I wouldn’t stress about that unless you already know it’s an issue in your area

My son stayed in his day nursery until his 5th birthday

Mainly due to the school having 6 weeks of " half days" so I ended up picking him up at lunchtime from and dropping him to nursery

Not sure how it would work out if he had been at a school nursery previously as wrap around care wouldn't cover from lunchtime onwards

Oh I would just keep him where he is if he is happy. Lots of children start reception without going to the school nursery first and they are all fine. If it ain’t broken don’t try and fix it!