Pre-school recommendations for Watford, Herts? Quite a few questions as well!

[FleurPearl]

Hello, I am new to this forum but am at the point where I need to look at applying for my daughter to attend preschool or nursery and looking for advice really.
I live in Watford and I have been told my daughter isn't eligible to start pre-school until Sept 2012 when she turns 3. I have been told that this year spaces are very limited for some reason so I was wondering what I should do for best? I have applied to a few pre-schools but haven't had any response from them yet. I've started looking at day nurseries as I'm assuming they would offer some form of preschool education as the children can be there until they are 5 years old. Do you think this is a good idea or should I wait for an actual pre-school with the chance that she might not get in?
My sister-in-law's son turns 3 in May but he hasnt been accepted to a preschool yet which he should be starting in April and she was told by a few pre-schools that he probably wont get any sort of placement until the nursery intake in Jan 2013. this is when my daughter should have been starting nursery so I'm worried about the knock on effect for her?
I'm conscious of the cost for this but would it be worth sending her to a day nursery even though it cost more just so she could get some form of education before school?
Sorry if none of this makes much sense.
Thanks

Hi,
I don?t tend to contact parents until nearer the time of their child starting as I am unaware of what my numbers will be like in September. I run a day nursery and we of course offer the same education as a pre-school, we have to it?s the law basically. Some nurseries will offer you funded sessions without charging any wrap around care at all, meaning you can access the nursery just for your 15 hours a week and not have to pay anything. Some nurseries do seem to charge for a registration fee, wrap around care, enforced lunch fee. However it is my understanding, particularly here in Bedfordshire that this is not allowed and that there should be no charge what so ever for a funded place. Whether a day nursery accepts the funded children is up to them. So it is worth finding out whether they take the 15 hours and how they expect you to use it, nurseries can differ on this.
It is important to remember that just because it is a pre-school does not mean that your child will have a better ?start? at school, at this age it is all about socialising and developing independence. The important thing is that you are happy and comfortable with which ever setting you choose to use. We often have children start with us, as we can fit them in a term before the pre-school can, and honestly we have never had any of those children leave when a place did become available at the pre-school.
Not sure if I have made much sense, please let me know if you require any other information.

Thank you LucyLui. I am looking for just the 15 hours a week if not a little more and understand that we will have to pay for at least a term as she won't get the funding until the Jan 2013. I don't feel that she'll get a better start as such but I think she's getting to the point where she needs to be socialising more (She does activities three times a week but I'm always there). I think time on her own would do her good if that makes any sense. My biggest concern is that the spaces are so limited around here at the moment that she wouldn't be able to get in anywhere!
You have put my mind at ease over what they will be "learning" and that it's better to put them somewhere I feel comfortable with and they like. the nursery I'm looking at is quite new and looks lovely, it is a bit expensive for the beginning but I suppose it might be worth it. I'm going to visit them later in the week.
Can I ask at this age does it matter if they are going somewhere their friends aren't? Do they make friends easily or is this not something to worry about?
Thanks.

I would say that they do make friends easily and for me it would not be a major concern. Obviously though if she attends a preschool which is going to feed in to your chosen lower school, it may make the transition easier as her friends will be there with her. However at this age they are quite adaptable. Maybe she could start at the nursery and if a space becomes available at a pre-school you can consider moving her at a later a date if you feel like that is something you want to do. I think it would be better for her to be going somewhere/ anywhere (that you?re happy with) then waiting and hoping that she?ll get a place in the pre-school. Good luck with visiting the nursery, your gut reaction generally tells you all you want to know.

Hi LucyLui
We viewed the nursery yesterday and instantly fell in love with it, they can offer her 3 x 5 hour sessions a week starting in September and although it will cost us until January we feel it will be worth it. They are accepting the 15 hour funded places which I am so pleased about. I think they are limited though as it is a private nursery.
Typically though the first choice pre-school for her has offered her a place now starting in April but they can only offer 6 hours a week so even though it's a cheaper and a dedicated pre-school as such I think we will turn it down and wait until September. Her cousin would be starting at the pre-school as well but I feel she might be better starting somewhere new where she will make her own friends.
Luckily the nursery is near the school that I would like her to attend so I'm sure some of her new friends will move along with her.
Thank you for all your advice it has really helped.