Nursery

[lisa270988]

Hi after some advice my little boy is 4 years old and starts school in September. He hasn't been to preschool or anything and I'm worried about how this affect him starting school.
The school he is going to attend has a nursery attached it and they have space for him 2 afternoons a week starting after May half term, I am not sure if it's worth it for such a short as we have a hoilday booked at the end of June so he will miss 3 sessions then and also he has a hospital appointment coming up which is on one of his afternoons so he will miss a session then to the nursery closes on 17th July for summer hoilday.
He is undergoing tests at the moment and being tested for coeliac disease so he may have more hospital to.
What would everyone do send him or wait till school in September? I just worried going from nothing to school will be hard for him.

It's worth doing just to give him a basic understanding of the school environment.

As they’ll be the same children he’ll be starting school with I think I’d give it a go. It also means you might have some meet ups over the summer so you can further develop friendships before he starts school.

Has he been to any group classes (swimming, sports, art, music etc?)

One of the big things they learn at nursery is being part of the "group". So turn taking, listening to the teacher, doing things at set times etc.

I would concentrate on his health first... its not easy being a child with Coeliacs.

I definitely think it's worth it. Mine has been in nursery since he was 11m and I'm still concerned about the transition to school in September. Our school does full days right off the bat, no staggered start or half days. If you can get him used to the environment a bit then all the other changes - uniform, sitting still on the carpet, asking a stranger when he needs to use the loo etc - might be less daunting.

I'd do it. A good introduction

I would say definitely worth it.

Our nursery did things to prepare DC1 for school like taking register, sitting at a table with other kids for lunch, carpet time, pencil grip, writing his name, using scissors. Has he had any of this so far at home?

Definitely do it, my friend is a primary teacher usually P1 and she says she can tell which children haven’t been to nursery as they struggle to follow the routine of the day due to their day previously having no formal structure.

I’d agree with PPs, definitely worth it. Just to get used to the idea of “now we’re all sitting on the floor listening” “now we’re all going outside” etc. Plus the idea of being away from you for a bit.

ETA - he’ll probably get more time with the reception teacher as well. My DD goes to a pre school attached to the primary school she’ll be going to, and obviously they do general settling/meet the teacher sessions for everyone, the children at the pre school see the reception teachers a lot more.

Yeah he has been to loads of groups and social with other children

Yes we go to loads of groups ect

Defo do it!

I don't think it will make a huge difference either way tbh. It'll be fine if he goes and it will be fine if he doesn't! Do what works best for your/his schedule and don't worry about it either way.

What you should be doing before he starts school (which you probably already are) is making sure he can:

Put his coat, shoes and socks on.
Have a good go at dressing himself.
Advocate for himself with adults that he doesn't know well.
Share
Take turns
Wait
Follow instructions
Toilet independently (including wiping and washing his hands).
Hold a pen/pencil and make controlled marks.
Turn the pages in a book.

I’d definitely accept the nursery space. It will help massively with the adjustment to school. Also you get 2 afternoons to yourself which is surely a good thing!

What do you do at these groups out of interest?

Are you always with him at these groups? If so, May be good to try nursery where he is in an environment more similar to school without you there.

Yeah he can do all the above

Mine went to nursery nearly FT from 9 months, but honestly, a few hours a week at this point when he has so much else going on? No, I wouldn’t. The school will have transition days organised for them to visit and spend time getting to know everyone. Prioritise those instead.