Nursery or childminder when child is 2 or 3

[imme]

Hi, my son will turn 2 in the spring and has been going to a childminder since 15 months old. Despite a difficult settling in period he is very happy at the childminder and DH and I really really like her too!
But I was wondering if it's worth putting him on waiting lists for nurserys now for when he is coming up to 3 years old so that he has more interaction with other children and to make the transition to school easier. At the childminder there are 1-2 more children of around his age as well as school kids after school.
I really like the idea of him going to nursery/kindergarten for two days a week and spend the other two days in the familiar setting at the childminder. But on the other hand I don't want to upset a setting that works for him and that he is happy with. Also, should we only be getting the place by the time he is 3 I am wondering if it's a bit too late anyway if he starts school between 4 and 5.

Has anyone done something similar and wants to share their experience?

Thanks!

He should be eligible for 15 hrs a week in a pre school, the term after he turns age 3. There are a lot of children at my sons' pre school who are dropped off and picked up by child minders. The hours at his are 9.15am to 1pm 4 days a week. It is a great place for them to learn to play with large groups of children, they also often have a routine almost similar to what they will get when they begin school. Both my children have come on leaps and bounds from just those 15 hrs a week. If there is a local pre school near you, add him to the waiting list imo if you like the look of it after going for a visit. If the cm is happy to drop off and collect. I think it is a good thing for them to do imo.

I think some kind of preschool/nursey is great before school and they tend to out grow just childminder at three or so. Why don't you ask the childminder what she does - mine was happy to take and drop off at the local pre school - it worked well - although didn't save any money as she charged while he was three- or some nursey will do the funded hours for nearer full days I think. Other thing you might want to think about is where is he likely to go to school and if any children at any of the preschools/nursery are likely to be at the same school - its nice if they are but not vital in my view