Did anyone move their autumn-born DC from nursery to pre-school for the final year before reception?

[AnonSoc]

Thinking ahead somewhat (I have a November born DS, who is currently 2.5).

He really enjoys playing with older kids at his nursery (4 year olds, who will be leaving in September) and it has made me worried that he is going to be very bored in his final year of nursery, when most children will be younger than him.

I am wondering if it would be better to move him to the pre-school attached to our local primary (which only takes 3 and 4 year olds), for the year before he starts school.

Did anyone else do this, or is it not worth the hassle of having to deal with school holidays a year before I need to?

This is the shoes me and my partner are going to be in..our little one turns 3 next feb and he can start at the pre school that's attached to the school we want to send him..we put his name down when he was like 1 and have secured a place at the pre school...the nursery he's in he's like the youngest one there at the moment..there is a few his age starting this September but I feel like he's going to be more for older kids than his own peer age

Yes, doing this with dc2. I didn’t with dc1 only because I didn’t know which school he would be going to, but obviously no issue with dc2 as there is sibling priority.

DC2 is December born and already reading and writing (now, at 3.5), and desperate to join her big brother. The school preschool is an amazing transition into school and she’s going to love it.

Yes but it was a PITA with childcare in the holidays especially with the staggered start for reception

I would make sure you have solid childcare before you do it

Agree with this. We have a fabulous childminder who does the pick up from nursery and holidays.

We did for my September born eldest. He'd been at nursery since 1 and turned 4 a week after he moved. The nursery had a lot more outdoor time and a better structure. BUT I could only manage the hours (9-3) as I was on mat leave. I'm a teacher so term only was fine anyway.
I'm actually a nursery teacher so a big advocate for a slightly more formal approach before school.
My youngest is summer born and in the year before he went to school he did 2.5 days at school nursery and 2 days at his day nursery.