Preschool or continue with nursery

[cakeorbreak]

I'm a bit confused about whether to keep my son in nursery or move to preschool
And hoping Mumsnetters can help!

I have a nearly 3 year old and a 4 month old baby.

Baby will go to the same nursery as his brother end of next year, two days a week.

But I'm wondering if I need to move my eldest to a preschool!?

I work three full days and would need childcare from 7.45am - 4.45pm, all year around.

Im pretty sure our local primary has wraparound care and holiday clubs etc. but he's very happy at nursery and his little brother will also attend... so not sure it's worth moving him.

Can someone tell me the difference, if it's worth moving him, and why some people do and some people don't?

Thank you!

Nursery all the way. They will do the same things with him that he gets at preschool, but you will save yourself a massive headache in terms of dropoffs and holidays, which will make you a nicer mummy.
Plus, just because he goes to a preschool doesn't actually mean he gets a place at that school. He might end up moving twice, which may unsettle him more.

Nursery "teaches" the same stuff as pre-school. As you need all year Childcare, I'd stick with the nursery until school.

Keep him at the nursery. It's very unlikely the pre school wrap around care caters for nursery aged children.

Honestly there is very little difference except the only people I know who used preschools/school nursery did so because they didn't need the extra wrap around hours. Everyone I know who worked outside of 9-3 kept using a private nursery.

It’s the same early years curriculum they all follow so don’t worry about that. School nursery is good to get them used to the school setting but I think in your case having the year round care you need and the ease of 1 drop off/pick up for both kids means it’s better to keep the eldest at the current nursery. Holiday clubs never cover the full holidays so then you’re looking for external providers, many don’t take nursery age or will be half days only etc. - from experience I’d say the preschools are used mostly by SAHPs or those who also have other childcare eg childminder or nanny. He would also have to settle somewhere new whilst the baby goes to his old nursery which could open up a bunch of issues. Stick with the current nursery and don’t make life harder than it needs to be.

Really good advice thanks everyone!!

Also I'd rather stay put so this makes me happy :)

Preschool all the way! It gives excellent structure for the child which is different to private nursery, it also sets them up for a better transition to reception. In our opinion anyway and has been that way for our children.
If it's a preschool attached to a school your child would get a place in then id send them to preschool especially if there is wraparound care.

However for an easy life and only one drop off, current nursery is also fine. It's what will work for your family.

With children those ages, unless the provision is awful - you do what is easiest for you.

That means keeping your oldest in nursery but potentially moving your youngest to pre-school when they get to that age.

I'd agree that if it's a pre-school attached to the school he'll ultimately going to, then there is some value in moving to pre-school to make school transition easier - but within a week or so the pre-school children are indistinguishable from others who joined the school from somewhere else.

Both settings also follow the same curriculum.

Keep him in nursery. I believe Ofsted rated nurseries have to follow the pre-school curriculum as well.

It's exactly what I've done. DC1 is settled, she's happy, she's learning, she gets to see her baby brother throughout the day, and there's only one drop off and pick up to do. Wins all around!

I’d just keep him in nursery. Moving him to pre-school at this point would achieve nothing but a headache!

Agree with everyone else. Nursery so much easier as it's full days and all year round. A preschool will be short days, tern time only, so you'll have to worry about wraparound and holiday childcare.

For a younger child with an older sibling, it's a bit different, because DC1 is already in school so you already have to sort wraparound and holiday childcare for them, and it can sometimes make sense to send DC2 to preschool (assuming it's attached to DC1's school).

My oldest went to nursery until he started school. My youngest, who recently turned 3, is still at nursery, and we're keeping her there for the full days and year-round childcare. However, I will be sending her to the preschool attached to DC1's school for 1 day a week (will make drop off/pick up easier on that day, but crucially I won't be working so don't need a full day for DC2). Next academic year, when she'll be 4, I might do just preschool and no nursery, but that depends if the after school club will take her (sometimes it's just for the children at the school and not the preschool - presumably for age reasons). It's easier to find holiday clubs for 4yos, too.