Should I move 3yo back to previous nursery?

[Shoootforthestars]

Looking for some perspective from other parents please 😊

My 3.5-year-old started a new preschool in September, but I’m not completely sure it’s the right fit for him. The new setting is in the village church hall and, to be honest, it’s a bit of a free-for-all. There isn’t much opportunity for structured activities, they say they are ‘child-led’ but what this seems to mean is that the kids can run around feral. It’s very chaotic and has more of a feel of a mums and tots group than an early years setting.

I’m considering moving him back to his previous nursery which is a smaller setting and do lots of structured activity which I think he needs to help him with his attention and listening skills ready for starting school. He talks about his old nursery still and goes in there sometimes as his younger sister is there, but equally he seems happy at the new setting too.

He starts school in September, so this would be a move from Feb to Sept.. Part of me thinks it’s better to stick it out where he is, but then it’s a crucial time in his development before school so should I be prioritising this even if it’s for a relatively short time.

Has anyone moved their child back to a previous nursery or made a change in the year before school? Would you prioritise stability, or fit? Would love to hear other people’s experiences.

For contrast, the preschool for my school is attached to the room, and uses the same classrooms and sports hall so they get used to the school environment. There are a multitude of structured activities set up but children can dip in and out. They also always have access to an outside space. I'm not totally sure how yours is calling itself a preschool if it's in a church hall. I'd move back.

Why did you change his nursery in the first place? There must have been some reason i assume? Personally I'd move him back asap.

We moved him as the new setting is based in our village where he will go to school, so we wanted him to get to know children he would go to school with. His previous setting is in a different town and they’d recently had an intake of younger children so we’d felt that he’d outgrown it but seems to be a case of the grass isn’t always greener 😣

If you move him back you probably won't be able to move the funding until April.