Would you choose school nursery or part-time childcare for a nearly three-year-old?

[CHolder]

DD currently goes to childcare 2 days a week and is nearly 3yrs old. I'm torn as to whether to send her to a school nursery in September or pay for PT nursery for the 2 days a week she currently does.

My eldest seemed 'ready' when they were this age but I don't get that feeling with my second. Financially, we would be better off but that's probably the only pro.
I'd lose my 1:1 time with her and I'm not sure about whether I can change work hours to suit pick up and drop off for FT nursery. However, the financial gain would make a differnece, especially in today's climate.

What are people's thoughts on FT school nursery?

Mine were ready for "full school hours" Nursery in the year before they started Reception, and it was absolutely the right choice for us, but the key here is you not being sure if you are able to rearrange your work hours. (which also suggests you will need cover in school holidays too as you haven't mentioned working term time only?).

I think that is the key.
If it suits your working pattern, or their Dad's working pattern, then I'd go for it, but if it doesn't, then you can't.

I am keeping my son in part time private nursery as I and his dad both enjoy mid week days with him and it’s so nice Doing things with him when it’s quiet and the big kids are at school. I don’t want to be stuck with school hols. However, if he had a big sibling at school I would probably put him in school nursery and arrange my part time work around more time off in school hols

I kept DC2 in private nursery. They absolutely weren’t ready for full school hours 5 days a week and we both loved our time together. The financial hit wasn’t too hard for us though as they only went 2 days a week and it was back when you didn’t have to pay ridiculous amounts on top of your free Nursery place.

Do they have to do FT hours in school nursery? Mine did 4 days and that was a perfect transition.

I’m similar except mine does have a reception age sibling and little is in nursery 2 days. We could move him to school nursery but they’re less flexible.

Id lose time with him and his brother individually (when hols come round little can still go to nursery) which has made older ones transition to school easier. Depends a lot on the child’s temperament too but I have put off looking for full time work until he’s school age as I think id miss the time, more than the money.

no i wouldnt use FT
as you will miss time together and your dc is still 2.

Part time. My DD is three in July and I honestly think five days is too much for such little children. I hate how inflexible and demanding some school nurseries seem to be.

My second is off to school in September, but for both I kept them PT in private nursery. They went 2 days a week until the age of 3, then increased to 3 days with their free hours. Admittedly we could take the financial hit, so that wasn't an issue.

Needing holiday and wrap around care was vital for us. Sure we could have tried to find a childminder to fill the gaps, but why have all that faff when their current provision did all that in the first place? The curriculum is the same, and they've been working on school readiness for a few months already. About the only real difference is the exposure to the school environment. But in all honesty I don't think that's worth all that much.

I did pt for my dcs, though for dc2 it was at a school nursery which allowed flexibility. I loved having some weekdays with them - I took them to music, swimming and gymnastics sessions, and we'd often go off for a trip to the zoo or museums when it was nice and quiet. The financial and childcare side wasn't an issue for us luckily.

Does the nursery offer the option of less hours? So dc could go say 3 days rather than 5?

I did find nursery helped ds prepare for school

We used school based pre-schools but only part week. One was with me me the rest of the week the other went to a childminder the other days as I worked full-time them.