Starting preschool later

[lisa270988]

Evening
Has anyone on here not sent there little ones to nursery or preschool till almost 4 year old?
My little boy was 3 in December and I'm thinking of sending him to the nursery linked to the school in September, he will then do a full school year there before starting school. I'm just worried he will be late starting and should start sooner

It’s totally up to you, I know home schoolers who have kept their children home till 14. What are your reasons for keeping him home till 4?

My DC have a Feb/March birthdays and started school nursery at just over 3.5. It worked well for us. They both settled in really easily. I think it helped that they understood well. The nursery we wanted couldn't take them at Easter and it seemed more disruptive putting them in another setting for a term and then moving them. A year was plenty of time to get used to things before school.

Depends on the kid. Mine started at 2 but he is massively sociable so loves nursery and settled quickly. Does short days though: 9-3, and not 5 days a week. I can see other kids might need to take it slower. I think it’s good for them to do different things, have different toys to play with, meet new people etc but it’s up to you. I doubt you can tell at 18 who went to nursery for a few days a week and who didn’t!

I don't think there is anything wrong with that as such. My only concern would be that he may struggle to settle if he has been used to being with you all the time previously. My DD is a summer born so started pre school last Sept and starts school this Sept. But she went to nursery from one.

So he will start preschool in September? He won’t be the oldest.

Yes will start in September 3 months before he is 4

It's completely fine and the way school is designed to work. A year in nursery and then on to reception.

The only children who NEED preschool before this are those from homes that can't provide adequately for them for whatever reason.

The only thing I will say is that preschool picked up my dd’s autism. She was fine at home, chatty, cooperative and looked us in the eye. Walked into preschool and showed no interest in the people there. So starting earlier gave time for support to be put in place before school.

Perfectly fine.
Mine all did a year at a Nursery School before starting Reception.
One of mine has a September birthday so was 4 before starting.

They had all gone to Childminders before starting at Nursery School, and had all been to stay and plays and were used to being with other children, listening to other adults, having to share toys and follow a routine etc though.