Same primary school as preschool?

[Cait73]

I'm moving soon and don't know if I should move nearly 2 year old's nursery? He's only been going for 3 months but he loves it (2 afternoons a week) so I'm reluctant to move him

How important is it they attend a local nursery so they know other children when they start school?

Is it a school nursery or a private nursery on the school site?

They're both private nurseries but we're in small villages it's assumed the nursery children will progress to their relevant primary schools

I suppose your decision rests on which primary school you want him to go to, then?

Yes, I think it is usually an advantage if they move up with their cohort.

I actually wouldn’t base the decision on a primary school, lots of pupils don’t go to the same school as there nursery peers_ attending the primary nursery school also doesn’t guarantee you a place.
Base your decision on practicalities and if you like the nurseries.

It's not vital at all. But you could move him to a nursery that you know many of his cohort will be attending, so you get to know some other families that will be going to the same school. Your choice, but many many children start school not knowing anyone :-)

I don't think it makes much difference to the children , more to do with parents/carers socialising at that age, but if you intend to use the same preschool until school age then probably better to change sooner rather than later.

There's another option; splitting his time between 2 nurseries? But I'm not sure how he'd cope with this

Wouldn’t split- not a good idea in a pandemic, plus more complex with the free hours (can you do it?)- honestly if you want to move him he’ll adapt but I think you are massively overthinking friendships of preschoolers

My friend had this issue. She had to move her 4 year old to a different pre-school and was really worried because said 4 year old was very friendly with another child there, (loads of play dates, spoke about them when they werent around etc etc). Since moving its like the relationship never existed, the 4 year old just got on with life in the other setting.

I wouldnt worry about it.

I would keep him where he is if you're happy and the distance to commute isn't an issue. It's much more important that they are happy and settled wherever they are than that they go to a school preschool. Mine didn't and she started reception knowing almost no one in her class. Within a week, they were all the best of friends and it made no difference at all. But I'm glad she had a lovely few years at the nursery we liked as she felt very secure there.

My son went to a private nursery. His primary school doesn't have a school nursery and only one child from his private nursery went to his school. He seems to have settled in fine and made new friends.

It wouldn't concern me. He will make friends just fine when he starts school. My eldest had to move to a speech and language class in his second year and he made new friends quickly