Nursery/play group question

[Crostimosti]

I have a 2 year old and am currently looking at nurseries for when he turns 3 and receives the 15 free hours.

However, when I was little, we didn't go to nursery but play group, for a couple of hours, maybe twice a week (without parents staying)

I know childcare settings and regulations have changed hugely since the mid 80s but does anyone know if anything like this still exists? I can only find pre schools and nurseries where he would have to go for maybe 2 full days or a block of mornings/afternoons and I'm not keen on it. I may feel differently once he is 3, I know.

I am a SAHM, not returning to work until he is at school so I do have flexibility. I am aware some independence and preparation for school might be a good idea but at the moment, toddler groups and classes are working well. I'm really just exploring options in case I feel he needs it, so I'm ready.

Anyone in a similar situation, what do you do or are planning to do?

My dc went to a preschool two mornings a week (term time only) when they turned 2. We increased their hours there in the year before school but they only did 2 days (9-3, term time only)then. It was a preschool though rather than a school nursery.

@InDubiousBattle Thank you - can I ask what you found the difference between a pre school and a nursery to be? This is all very new to me and I'm trying to work it all out!

From my experience, preschools tend to be attached to schools and run term time and school hours only. Some will have flexibility around sessions so mornings, afternoons, 2 or 3 days etc. They may only accommodate the free hours or you may be able to pay for more, do check.
Nurseries tend to be standalone businesses that operate year round, longer hours and often very £££ but needed for parents who work those hours.
It sounds like a preschool is what you want and I would encourage you to visit some and see if it matches what you have in mind. A few days a week in the year before school is a good idea imo.

@Cryingbutstilltrying this is great, thank you. It does sound as if pre school is what I'm looking for rather than nursery.

Hi yes they do exist! My two went to one. Mine only offered the 15 hours a week (so open mornings only) but some offer 30 hours. I reckon ask at a children’s centre - they probably have a list.

They do still exist and even ones where they say it’s 5 mornings will do that for funding reasons usually. If you say that as a SAHM you won’t be sending him on Tuesday and Thursday, that’s often fine.

Maybe it's dependent on your area op? Where I am we have private nurseries (open 7.30-6, all year round), school nurseries and preschool. When I was looking the school nursery attached to my dcs primary school wouldn't take children until they were 3 and they had to go every day, either mornings, afternoons or full school days. The pre school my dc went to wasn't attached to a school and they offered much more flexibility, so they were fine with them doing 2 mornings, 2 days a week and then increasing hours as they got older. It was fairly cheap too, my youngest is in year 3 now but when she went it was around £11 per session (9-12.15 I think term time only).

This is all great, thank you all! I'm really pleased to hear they do still exist. I've been struggling with nurseries as they're not quite what I'm after so I'll do some more digging in my area for a pre school setting. We moved here just before he was born so I don't have anyone local to ask - but may join a FB group or 2 and ask around.

To confuse things...

Our nursery, which is part of a primary school, has mornings only as their core 15 hours. Can do afternoons as well if required.

Our preschool, which was not attached to a school, was more flexible about how free/paid for hours were used. But morning or afternoon sessions were needed, you couldn't just do an hour or two.

Previous nursery was predominantly for staff at the upper school (it was sited in the grounds). So catered for staff hours.

I've never found out the difference between nurseries and preschools!

1 nursery only offered childcare from term after 3 years. The other nursery and the preschool both offered childcare from 3 or 6 months

Oh, and the preschool offered both term time only and full time. Both nurseries were term time only 🤷🏻‍♀️

There is one near me that's a Montessori setting and a bit more like a "playgroup" in that it only runs for 90 mins in the mornings and they do learn through play etc. might be worth looking at something like that?