2.7 yr old ds moved to preschool class - is this ok?

[MamaChris]

ds (2.7) has been at his nursery for 18 months. he is shy and most of his friends are a few months older than him. this morning we arrived and found he'd been moved to the preschool class (with his friends). I totally understand wanting to keep him with his friends, but is he a bit young to be in a class of 16 children, officially 3-5 years, with just 2 adults, or does it not really matter as long as he's happy (which he says he is)?

am aware I am a bit paranoid of change right now, as we have twins due in a few weeks, and I was expecting the move to preschool to be in January, so not coinciding with their arrival.

I think the nursery should have discussed it with you, but overall I think it's prob. less unsettling for him to stay with his friends. If he is happy with move I would leave it.

You may find that it is actually less disruptive for him to be with his friends than in the toddler class with children he doesn't know very well. Why not keep an eye on things over the next few days and if he seems upset/not settling, suggest to the nursery that the move may have been premature. I understand that you don't want him to have extra upheaval with new babies arriving but a few weeks is a long time for a 2yo and he will probably be fully settled into his new routine by the time his siblings come along. Good luck!

Thanks. ds does seem happy with it - he's been spending a mixture of time in the toddler class and preschool for the last month, which I had misinterpreted as how they were managing things during the summer holidays. I do think staying with his friends is good, but at the same time my little boy is in a class with 5 year olds (sob!).

OK, while it's working for him, it's all good. I need to let him grow up :) Perhaps I need to also have a chat with the preschool staff and get to know them.

The ratio really is 8:1 - 2 staff, 16 kids. But ds quite independent so I think he will be ok with that.

I'm sure he'll be fine, my only concern with the set up would be that he'll be spending the next 2 years in the same place presumbably? Just watch that he doesn't get bored as he approaches school age

Good point blownin. Hadn't thought of that.

On the plus side since he sounds quite mature for his age, he'll probably find the older room much more stimulating than the "baby" room where many will be much younger, not talking much, and activities will be based around what the littlest can do.

I don't think that ratio is actually allowed. If they are putting 2 year olds into the 3 year olds room I think they need an extra adult. In dd's preschool the rising 3's room (ie 2-3's) has a ratio of 1:4, with 1:8 in the big room for their pre-school year.

I don't think that those ratios are allowed if they have children under 3 in the room either. As Runoutofideas said the ration for under 3s is 1:4.

In my nursery class we take children from 2.5 but have to have a higher ratio of staff for them than for the 3-4 year olds.

I didn't realise that re ratios. Will ask next time - it's possible they have another staff member to those listed.

My DS went to preschool at 2.0 and there was 2 staff with 18 children. He was fine.

He may have been fine, but OFSTED would have had a fit!

If you have an Early Years Professional always in the room with the children, then the ratio only has to be 1:13 for 3 year olds.

Also regular volunteers can be included in the staff ratio but not short term ones (for example students on placement)

Rising 3's can also be counted as 3 for the purpose of staff ratios as long as they reach 3 by the end of the term I think.

Also the ratio for children from 2.6 to 3 is 1:6