Which do you think is the better option?

[Ladyem]

My DD is 3 and starting nursery (the government funded 15 hours per week) from September. My original choice of nursery is really lovely, gets outstanding reports from Ofsted and they originally said she could do 3 days of 5 hours each, which fits in perfectly with my studying and DS's (10 months) routine. Now they have said that is no longer possible and she would have to go 4 days a week for 2.5 hours and 1 day for 5 hours. I am a bit that they have decided to change this at such short notice as it was one of the main reasons that I chose it.

I have since found a private nursery that accepts the government vouchers and would be willing to let her do 2 long days and a half day. Nearly snatched their hand off, but now I am in two minds as to which would be best for DD.

The 2.5 days at the private nursery would mean I can study and we would have 2 free days per week, but I am worried that going from 2.5 days at nursery to 5 full days at school might be a bit of a shock to the system. So now I'm wondering if the original nursery is a better option as she'd get used to being there every day. Both are lovely places, it's just deciding which hours are the best.

I'm going round in circles trying to make the best decision and keep changing my mind!! Please help!

I'd rather do 2.5 days and still have 2 days free, rather than 4 days when you trail to nursery, go home, just get into doing something, then turn around and go back.

I think that nursery to school transition is more about dealing with a whole day away along with having lunch than going every day, so I wouldn't worry about that

depends:
which one is nearest?
does one feed the school she will go to so she will make friends and then move on with them?
will the original one be able to offer you more hours at a later date?

CMOT - that's what I thought, and as I will have to drive as we live in a village and the nursery is in the nearest town it will be extra car journeys too.

Rene - both are about the same distance and would have to drive to both as we only have one bus go through the village and it doesn't go near either! Also, neither feeds the school really as she'll go to the village school and while there is a playgroup in the village that she does go to one day per week, it doesn't accept the government funding any more, so the children who she'll go to school with will come from a variety of private and non-private nurseries.

It's so difficult!! I thought it was all sorted 2 years a go as she was just going to go to the village nursery/playgroup, but the when they dropped the government funding option I have had to try to find alternative places.

The ideal would be the original nursery for less days as it is a really good nursery, but I don't think they are happy about me just sending her for, say, the long day and then 2 mornings. They said it would mess up the curriculum that they teach them in preparation for school.

What a bizarre statement from the original nursery - they aren't supposed to teach them a curriculum at all ! It's all supposed to be about playing, and formal writing/reading is discouraged by Ofsted

Really? I'm new to all of this, so just took them at their word. Even at the play group in the village they are trying to teach them how to write their names at age 2!!! Apparently it's what the parents want, but I think you're right and they should just be playing and learning to interact with other youngsters.

Right, am going to ring them up and see what they have to say!! Thanks, CMOT!

Definitely the 2.5 days.

I am leaning towards that, Fivegomad. I've booked for us both to go and look round both of them again next week. Hopefully then I'll have a better idea of which she feels more comfortable in and can quiz them about the hours a bit more!!

Thanks for all the advice!

I agree formal learning isn't a requirement for this age group. Learing should be child led through play, with a little bit of structure thrown in. I would check with the nursery exactly what they mean by messing up the curriculum. I wouldn't want my child to be sat for extended periods at this age.

Thanks, atworknotworking. They've sent though an invite for an induction morning next week, so I can ask lots of questions then and see what they mean by it all! I've seen from friend's children that they seem to teach them to write their name and the alphabet/numbers etc, but I don't really know any more than that. I'll have to write a list of questions so that I come away with all the information I need.