How important is it for a child to be at a nursery attached to the school?

[NotMyCircusButMyMonkey]

DS is 3, his birthday was in July. He is currently attending a private nursery full time, but I would like to get him in the nursery attached to the school I’m hoping he will attend. They can offer 15hrs but across 5 days morning only from 8.40am until just before 12.

Being a school nursery they don’t offer paid for childcare - so he would need go into private nursery for 8am, get driven to school nursery, get picked back up at lunchtime and spend the rest of the day at private nursery until I get him around 4.45pm.

It feels like a lot of running around for him, not to mention it will cost me a fortune in pick up/drop off costs and extra hours.

He knows a few of the kids who will be going to that school. But also there’s no guarantee he’ll get in there for Reception. It’s close by, but not the closest school.

So, I am wondering how important you think it is for a child to go to a nursery attached to a school? Will it be a huge shock if he starts school after 3 years in a different nursery?

That's absolutely insane. Leave him where he is!

Both mine stayed in private nursery until they started reception, along with all the other kids of working parents. It was fine, they make friends easily once they start school properly. Honestly, enjoy the easy life while you can!

Makes no difference once they start school.

Not at all important, it will make no difference to the child.

@Pinkcherry26 honestly so grateful you said that because it sounds crazy to me but I started doubting myself and just don’t want him missing out!

You definitely shouldn't do that! It sounds ridiculous.

It’s not important at all. In Reception children change best friends every 5 minutes and still seem to change constantly throughout KS1.
I’m a TA and I would say it really doesn’t matter.

That scenario is pointless.
Private nurseries, childminders and school nurseries all follow the same curriculum. The only "advantage" is they are familiar with the school beforehand... butvthats also the point of Reception year, to familiarise them with school before it becomes more formal in Yr1.

That sounds like so much hard work. Leave him as he is. Most of our local schools don’t have a nursery attached anyway. The kids all seem to cope fine.

My son didn’t go to the nursery attached to school and didn’t know anyone at all! Hes fine.

DS attended a private nursery. When he joined Reception, about half his class had been in the school nursery together and he knew absolutely nobody. I was very worried about it - especially as DS is also a summer baby - but there was no need to be worried at all. Within weeks, it was impossible to tell who had been at the school nursery and who had been elsewhere and DS settled into school perfectly. School nurseries are not made for working parents IMO.

Thanks all - glad to know I’m not doing him a disservice and that I’m just overthinking it! I will keep him where he is until school. He’s very happy there anyway and it’s such a lovely setting.

I really don't think it will make any difference. I would leave him where he is.

My eldest went to a private nursery before starting reception.
My youngest will be going to the school nursery from January, but only because his brother is already there and we know the school etc.

Mine went to the school nursery and by October HT of reception you honestly couldn’t tell who had been to the nursery and who hadn’t. If it’s convenient for you then great but going to the private nursery then driving him around to spend part of the day at the school nursery is absolutely insane and will be really confusing for the poor chap.

My DD just stayed in a private nursery as it has more hours offered than a school nursery. Then when she started school, some of her friends were in the same class and the rest done another year in nursery, so I wouldn't say it would matter where you put your child before school. They'll end up at the same school or just do another year. I would stick to one nursery that fits your schedule cause that sounds a lot of hard work juggling travel plus expenses.

Both of mine went to the preschool next door to their primary school, but not the school nursery. Quite a few of the preschool kids moved up to reception with them.

We didn't put them into the school nursery because it was either all mornings or all afternoons, and we wanted them to do at least 1 full day per week so they could experience a longer day, have lunch with other kids, etc. Plus we wanted a day off to go to toddler group.

By the end of preschool DD was doing 3 mornings and 1 full day, DS 1 morning, 1 afternoon and 2 full days (we paid for 1 extra session as he's a summer born), and a day off for toddler group. It was perfect!

Nope, the running around sounds mad.

If they’re starting afresh anyway I can see how it makes sense to put them in a school nursery, but if not you’re just choosing a different date to make the transition.

My DD’s school doesn’t have a nursery, but big groups from various nurseries moved up together. DD was with several of her absolute best mates. Within literally a week she had stopped talking about her nursery friends and found herself new school buddies.

That’s a ridiculous plan don’t do that your work will suffer and your son wound be so unsettled, and also you will lose funding for the private nursery if you get it . If anything, do school nursery and a child minder or au pair to do the hours before and after nursery.

The only difference it would make is if the admissions criteria for the school favours those that attended the nursery, even then you can make a judgement based on how many nursery places there are versus P1 places and how well your DS fits the other criteria.

Given our primary school didn’t have an attached nursery, not important at all. The nursery was part of a different school.

Not in the least bit important. At that age they make new friends when they start reception.

Even if it did make sense to go (which it doesn’t), why would you drop him
at private nursery at 8 only to pick him up half an hr later to get him to school nursery?

I’m a governor at a primary school. We were looking at getting a preschool but it fell through due to low numbers in some of the other primaries that have them in our area. The main benefit to the school (when you’re undersubscribed) is that some parents love it and tend to keep their child there so it increases numbers - and numbers mean money.

Listening to the school, there possibly could be some benefit to getting the children used to the school environment and some routines.

However, when DC were there, they both came from a private nursery and they didn’t know any children other than one or two who went to a toddler group the school ran (and one child of a friend). The other kids came from a range of different settings. It made zero difference to settling in.

With my governor hat on, I’d love to have a preschool which brings families into our school. With my parent hat on, I’d say don’t stress and do what works for you.

i promise you, your 3 year old won't give a shit whether he's at the school nursery or the private one. He will give a shit about being passed from pillar to post unnecessarily. Keep him settled at the private one and send him to school as normal next year!

Not important at all. Neither of mine went to school nursery. No issues (other than the normal ones everyone has) starting school for either of them. They settled in and made friends easily.