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To take 3 year old out of nursery or not?

26 replies

LAM1407 · 09/03/2026 10:04

As the title really, I'm not sure wether to pull my daughter from nursery. She is 3, but turns 4 in July and will be starting school in September. She seems to enjoy nursery but does not speak there. We have a referral to SALT and they have observed her and say that she seems confident and its a bit strange she wont talk there, given exercises for the staff to try etc. I thought it was selective mutism but the SALT whos experienced in SM says she doesn't have any other 'symptoms' of it so doubts it very much.
DD does not like going in to nursery each morning, we tend to have clinginess and some tears half the time. I brought her to a playgroup at the school she will be attending last week, and she was quietly taking everything in, then started chatting away as normal after 30 mins. So I think this quietness is just a nursery thing, which makes me want to take her out more. But then will she miss out if I do?
I'm lucky to work from home part time (finish in the morning) so think I could get to some playgroups/library's etc for socialising with other children.
Opinions welcome, I'm very conflicted on what is best for her.

OP posts:
herbalteabag · 10/03/2026 12:36

Sounds like she is really, really shy if she was also the same at the setting before. Personally I wouldn't stop nursery at this stage, even if you only went a couple of times a week. I would keep at the same place or look for a better place, if there is one. If you give up nursery she may find full time school even harder when the time comes.
It seems as though she can be sociable when you are there to watch, which sounds like a confidence thing. I don't think it will improve by avoiding nursery.

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