Nursery or childminder 2 year old?

[Breathingwork]

My boy will be nearly 2 (22 months) when starting new childcare. Currently has a childminder who he’s been with since 6 month old and absolutely adores but sadly they are moving in a few months so I need to start thinking about new childcare.

He will be going 8-6 3/4 days a week. I know a big argument for nurseries is that they’re more reliable, but that’s not an issue for me as my work is flexible. I want to know what environment people think would be better for him.

At that age probably a nursery presuming you can find a good one with space. I would personally always want to do nursery/pre school from aged 3 as it’s such good preparation for school to get used to following the routines, rules and be used to larger numbers of kids their own age. So if you’re having to make a switch now because the childminder is moving then I’d probably go for a one and done if that’s possible.

I think a nursery or preschool is great from age about 2.5, I had mine at home with me but they went to nursery from 2.5 years for the social interaction. Your boy is a little younger but agree it's best just to go for a nursery now.

Depending where you live it might be a case of where/ who has space as my local area it's a struggle for space.
I would think a nursery was be better to play with people his own age and get ready for school.

Thanks for the comments. I agree having him in nursery might be better actually after considering the fact he will transition to school a bit easier.
I’ve had a look at the local ones, one I’ve enquired about is a Montessori one but I’ve been informed has uniform and ‘weekly homework’ from 18 months?! Is this normal for nurseries?

Uniform - depends what it is. Something like a uniformed smock to protect clothes and maybe branded backpack is standard at all the preschools round here. I wouldn’t expect a full uniform unless it’s a school nursery. My 2.5YO is at one and it’s just a tracksuit and polo so it’s nice and comfy, saves your own clothes from the mess and it’s easy knowing what they’re going to wear everyday. I have no issue with it except that it’s pricy ie I wouldn’t ordinarily spend £30 on a pair of joggers!

I have never heard of homework for that age, even if the nursery is attached to an academic private school. We do get a termly curriculum presentation and they tell us what we can do at home if we want to stay on theme, and what books they’re doing, but it’s just suggestions not actual homework! Any chance it’s something like that?

Depends on the area. In our area montessori nurseries feed into the preschools of private preps so 2-3 is to help children get used to private preschools. They have weekly homework, wear uniform, use cutlerly, and focus on phonics / entrance exam criteria.

1 year olds do not need to get ready for school!

This obsession with preparing children for the next step far too young is exactly why children do not settle well.

Choose a settling that is appropriate for the child's age now, not what they have to do in 3 years time.

No one is saying a 1YO needs to prep for school! Rather that it might be in his interests for settling to look for a setting that not only meets his needs now but will continue to meet his needs in the future. So my suggestion at least was think ahead and consider the preschool provision to hopefully avoid future disruption. It probably wouldn’t be ideal to go through the settling process with a new childminder if for example OP was always going to move him to a school nursery at 2 and a half. That’s all! I don’t think there’s anything controversial about that as a suggestion, is there??

Our montessori has a uniform at pre school age but not many wear it as it's not compulsory. Some pre school will have uniform as well but most don't.

I don't mean for a 1 year old. I was thinking longer term then keep moving the child around.
Unless you have plenty of pre schools in your area/have a space booked and plan to use that when older enough and leave the childminder. I would start at nursery now and continue until school-- all the different nursery rooms will be targeted at the age group and what is appropriate for them in early years education.

We use a private nursery - there's a T-shirt you can buy but not compulsory. We've never had homework - might occasionally get a request to email over a photo of DC with family or doing something at home to put on the display boards but that's probably once or twice a year and takes 5 minutes to sort out.

I loved my DCs childminders and when I was first going back to work when they were a year old it was perfect but by 2.5 both were ready for nursery. In your situation I’d do nursery as otherwise you’ll be looking at another move in the next year

The nursery I enquired about said twice weekly homework and it’s kind of put me off tbh! I don’t want the pressure of having to do something each week and then feeling bad if we didn’t get around to do doing it.

going to look at some other nurseries as they’ve also mentioned no viewings during times nursery is open since it disrupts the childrens concentration. I would like to see how staff interact with children and how children play etc or is this normal to not be able to view when children are in?

Oh that’s not normal! Mine is at a Montessori attached to a private school with a full uniform so pretty formal and of course I got to view it. Like you said you need to see how the staff interact with the kids, not just a glossy sales pitch. Oh and there’s no homework until reception. Unless you mean the time my DD got sent home with books about emotional regulation, one was called ‘My Big Shouty Day’ 🤣