Is two full days in nursery 'enough' for a 3 year-old?

[ouchthishurts]

I am getting myself very confused about the free nrusery sessions for 3 and 4 year olds and what I should be doing as the best thing for my DD.
I had originally thought I would not be working when she was 3 and 4, and had put her name down for the local community nursery pre-school (attached to the local primary school). However, circumstances have changed and I am planning on returning to work two days a week, whcih will start when she is 2 years and 10 months.
I have found a private nusery for her (and younger DS) that I am happy with. Once she has turned 3, she will be able to use 4 out of her 5 funded sessions for the two days she is in.
But now I am thinking as she wont be using her fifth free session, is this the wrong thing for her? Or am I thinking about that wrongly? This nursery do not do half days, so in order to use the third I would have to have her down for a whole third day? (Which I really dont want to do - my gut feeling is that as I am only working 2 full days, I dont want her in nursery any extra than that if she doesnt have to be, nor could we afford to cover the remaining cost of the third day).
I am just a bit confused about what the best thing is for DD - is the fact that she is going to be in pre-school for 10 hours a day for 2 full days 'enough' - or should I be looking for an extra 'session' somewhere else?
She would not be able to go to the local community pre-school for one session as I think they only tend to give full-time places (ie you have to attend for five mornings or five afternoons a week).
Can anyone help?? Have I got myself wound up about nothing more than the govt's restrictions on funding? SHould I be thinking that if she is going to be in 20 horus a week that is more than enough in terms of her 'pre-school education' - or should I be utilising the 5th funded session somehow?? (Or am I just being completely stupid - I think quite possibly!?)
Does anyone else work 2 full days a week with a three year old and if so what do you do??

Hi not sure if this helps - but my DD goes to FT day nursery, I pay the full fees every month, and every term the manager tells me how much the grant is & what I need to reduce my bank payments to compensate for this. The grant for free hours in term time only as I understand it

My 3 (soon to be 4) year old goes to nursery for 2 days a week while I am at work. I did consider sending him to pre-school as well, but decided that I wanted to be able to spend more time with him before he starts school in sept. 2 full days at nursery is actually quite a long time. Pre-schools also want you to commit to at least 2 half days per week, which combined with nursery takes up a large chunk of the week. I don't regret my decision as it means we have more time to go swimming, visiting the park, meeting friends etc.

I have friends whose children who do both nursery and pre-school and they seem to cope fine, but the children don't get much free time.

If you are happy that your nursery is providing a good pre-school education, then go with your gut feeling and don't send her to pre-school as well. Use the time to do things together while she is still young.

Thank you glucose. See, as I understand it, the 5 sessions have to be used over a minimum of three days (at least in my London borough, not sure if the same everywhere). So I think its that thats confusing me - because she would only be in 2 days a week she would only be able to use 4 of the 5 sessions...

My DD has been going to a private nursery one day a week (8-4) since September, when she was 2.6.
She turned 3 last week and, after Easter, will be going 2 full days to the same nursery.
The government grant is a maximum you are entitled to get free of charge. It's not advisory in terms of how long they should be going.

Really, you need to do what is right for you and your DD. If you think that 2 full days is enough for now, then stick with it.
HTH

Thanks busywheels, thats extremely helpful. My gut, as I say, is to spend time with her when I can, ie the other three days a week. But I suddnely panicked I would be doing that because it was what I wanted, rather than what was best for her. (I also will have DS who will be 18 months then, and I do think it would give me some time with him, but feel actually thats a seperate issue really.) Its tough, because until she is in, I wont know whether I feel she is getting a good pre-school education, but I am trying to reassure myself that it can and will be supplemented at home anyway (though again, enver had pre-school age children so all feels quite new and scary).

yes, tigerschick, thats what I sort of need to remind myself of, that it is simply a grant rather than an advisory thing. But it (along with busywheels' post) makes me realise one of the key things is choosing a nursery with a good pre-school. Which in itself is tricky as I really want/need DD to be in the same nursery as DS - so want it to be a nursery that feels a good environment for him too (he will be 18 months ish).

Your plan sounds fine - my dc's were in full time day care 3 days a week when I was working and not on my days off. Now my dd's at school, I get wierd expressions from the other mums when they ask why my ds doesn't go to preschool every day like theirs do but they don't work and I do, so I treasure the time we have together - they will all be a school soon enough!

They don't need to use all five sessions. Some pre-schools want children for five mornings/afternoons as it's easier to plan but there are plenty that realise it's not necessary. My DS1 got five terms of vouchers. I used two sessions for two terms, then four, and finally five right at the end. I'm not planning to send my DS2 for five when his grant kicks in in September.

I'd have thought that two full days was verging on more than enough!

The funding is just available if you want to use it; it doesn't mean you should be using it. Oddly, I never used up my allowance, but am now using it for part payment of Reception at an independent school - to my surprise, as I thought it was only for nursery schools!

For what its worth - I have no idea whether my son is receiving a good pre-school education or otherwise. But what I do know is that he loves going to nursery, which to me is the most important thing as there is plenty of time for a formal education once he reaches school.

Not sure what the official goals are for children starting school, but I'll be happy if he can use the toilet and wash hands, eat with knife and fork, able to undress and dress, fasten shoes, recognise own name, be sociable (and polite!). anything else will be a bonus!

I also have a younger DD and have been thinking about pre-school for her as well. More so as she is a Dec baby, so will have to wait longer to go to school. While it would be nice to have some time to myself, I have decided time alone with her once DS is at school is important. She likes nursery, but is not as keen on being left so I don't want to put her in for extra sessions if I don't need to.

Really appreciate your replies. Really useful to hear that not everyone uses the full funding allowance - and again from you bluewheels that the most important thing is that your DS is happy and is getting something out of his nursery.

It really helps ground my thoughts - I have a habit of getting in a panic that I am not doing (or planning on doing) the best by DD. (And the most stupid thing about it is that I negotiated doing 2 days a week rather than 3 as I felt that for our family, it was a better balance for me to be working and the DCs to be in childcare for only 2 days a week - and now look at what I am worrying about!!)

my 3y1m old does 2 x 2.5hr sessions at a pre-school (not funded until the beginning of next term).
2 full days sounds like more than enough.
I will increase to 3 x 2.5hr sessions after easter as it makes my childcare easier, but will stay like that for a while and probably increase to 4/5 at some point next school year before school.

I think 2 full days is absolutely ample for a 3 year old. I've just applied for the funded place for DS from August and I wouldn't dream of increasing his nursery time unless I had to. It's a great nursery, don't get me wrong, but 2 days wears him out as it is.

Don't forget that she is already attending for many more than the 12.5 funded hours.

I work i na pre-school in a private nursery and would agree with everyone else. 2 full days will be absolutely fine. She will get the benefit of a nursery/ pre-school setting and precious time with you too.

It is the quality of the care that children receive while at nursery, that makes all the difference, not the quantity.

2 days a week at a good nursery is worth a hundred times more than 5 days a week at a poor one.

Plus you have your oyther child there too, so you win all round.

thank you to all, really appreciate your responses, and feel much more confident about going with my gut feeling in it all.