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Nursery School and Work

34 replies

MrsBubble · 01/03/2024 11:07

Hi all,

My first thread/post here so apologies for the wishy washy nature of it. I had my son in 2021 and never returned to teaching but I'm looking at going back. I have a non- verbal 3 year old who I never put into a childcare setting. I am now panicking that I didn't get him on any nursery waiting lists. He's now on some for April/Sept but I'm wondering if he starts in September how that'll work with me starting a teaching job and also settling him in.

I also am quite unimpressed with the schools in my catchment. I'm more inclined to send him to a private nursery as I've got a more welcoming vibe from them whereas the one school I put his name down at is kinda making me feel like they're doing me a favour and have already given me a list of things to do- I've even made two trips there as per their request just to put him down on a waiting list and the admissions officer's only concern seemed to be that he isn't toilet trained.

Any advice on where I should go from here with school/work? I'm feeling really lost but also like I need to do this for the both of us.
TIA!

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Original poster
MrsBubble · 01/03/2024 15:57

Superscientist · 01/03/2024 15:55

I'm going back to 2004 but my cousin got special permission to start school not toilet trained he had a regression prior to starting school when his father had a leukemia relapse and spent 6 months in hospital.

This is just my experience but we took a really gentle approach to toilet training. My daughter is the quiet sort that likes to understand things before doing them and will always hold back if unsure. For months she refused to do any form of walking and sat down if we tried but had been cruising furniture for ages. One Sunday she took a few steps on her own and from Monday she ran. Knowing this we started potty training with just an hour of nappy free time on a none stressful day. Then we tried to do an hour on any days we were at home together (my day off and the weekend). Some days she engaged some day she didn't and that was fine. Once she got the hang of an hour we made it 2h. Once we got to 4h she got the offer of knickers or nappy on those days in the morning and when she woke up from a nap. Once she got to wanting it both we planned a weekend to go for it fully time. The first weekend we earmarked was Easter but she wanted nothing to do with knickers. A couple of weeks later it was the may bank holiday and she has been fairly dry since then. Poos were harder but she has toddler diarrhoea and food allergies so she doesn't get a lot of notice and because of this it took longer to crack those. A lot of the methods were just going from day 1 but I think for my daughter those steps of educating her about potty training before committing helped. She didn't start communicating with words until a 26 months so probably 6 months before we potty trained and she didn't tell give us any dialogue of toilet habits so we were sure how it would go. She has impeccable bladder control now!

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oh wow that's brilliant about her bladder control already. fab to hear it can work so smoothly without tons of communication. my son hand leads quite a lot so Im hoping I can get him to do this. I feel he is ready as he's sometimes tugging at the nappy, loves nappy free time and has been hiding for poos for the longest time!

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CattingAbout · 01/03/2024 16:03

I've had 2 DC with SEN be in private nurseries all the way up to school age (because I needed FT hours) and the SEND support has been great, so I don't think state preschool is automatically better for support, though agree with PP that it will be less of a transition into Reception.

Original poster
MrsBubble · 01/03/2024 16:59

CattingAbout · 01/03/2024 16:03

I've had 2 DC with SEN be in private nurseries all the way up to school age (because I needed FT hours) and the SEND support has been great, so I don't think state preschool is automatically better for support, though agree with PP that it will be less of a transition into Reception.

tysm- I did visit one nursery where there was an in house SENDCO who seemed lovely and very supportive. Definitely see how the transition can be more seamless with school but I think I will play it by ear for now and see if he is offered a place at any of the private nurseries I liked.

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Littlefish · 01/03/2024 17:08

Every setting, whether private or school based has to have a nominated SENDCO.

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MrsBubble · 01/03/2024 17:19

Littlefish · 01/03/2024 17:08

Every setting, whether private or school based has to have a nominated SENDCO.

Oh that's great news. thank you!

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Luddite26 · 01/03/2024 17:44

From what I can gather your child will start school in September 25? Settling in to a private nursery could take nearly the time he is going to have there.

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MrsBubble · 01/03/2024 18:04

Luddite26 · 01/03/2024 17:44

From what I can gather your child will start school in September 25? Settling in to a private nursery could take nearly the time he is going to have there.

Hi! Yes he will be- I also think a school nursery is going to be better in terms of his settling in to school next year

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Luddite26 · 01/03/2024 19:31

My grandsons have all been at a lovely private nursery since 6 months and their transition into school was harder. Of course working full time schools don't accommodate the holidays but as a teacher that's not so much the problem. Because of the transition and your child settling a nursery in the school where your child would be going would be the ideal but that is the lottery - where your child gets a place. I think the admissions now is a nightmare.

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MrsBubble · 01/03/2024 19:37

Luddite26 · 01/03/2024 19:31

My grandsons have all been at a lovely private nursery since 6 months and their transition into school was harder. Of course working full time schools don't accommodate the holidays but as a teacher that's not so much the problem. Because of the transition and your child settling a nursery in the school where your child would be going would be the ideal but that is the lottery - where your child gets a place. I think the admissions now is a nightmare.

It's so hard to tell how they're going to get on as well isn't it. The whole system is a bit flawed but I don't think there's ever a perfect option with these things. So hard!

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