Summer-born starting pre-school

[RedKites]

Hi,
I am thinking about when my July-born DS should start pre-school, and was wondering what other people with summer-born children have done? Did you start them when they were younger, so that they got as much time at pre-school as their older-in-the-year peers, or did you wait a term or two thinking that they would benefit from it more when they were older?

Hi, my dd2 has an August birthday and she started preschool the September after she was 3 for 2 days a week, moving up to 2.5 days when she was ready, she loves it and it makes the 2 other days I spend with her really precious, her sister is at the same school and as it's a foundation unit they can play together and when she starts in reception this September at just 4 she will at least know the teachers and be moving up with a lot of her friends as well as still being able to play with her sister wh will be in year 1. I think the foundation unit helped plus being a competitive dd2 she wanted to do everything her sister does. I did initially start her with the full 15 hours but the extra half a day was too much so I stopped that until she was ready. It does seem very young but then starting school at 4 is so young, I feel that at least she will have been prepared for it. I'm sure others will have better advice but that's what I have found - I hope it helps.

Thanks, that sounds a lovely set up with her sister at the same school, and very useful to hear your thoughts.

Listen to your child. My DS (now almost 7) never liked the nursery or pre-school set up. We still sent him and I regret it, as he still is not keen on crowds and big groups, he would have been better of with a childminder.

Pre-school is not the be and end all. I feel its an environment to help them socialise and prepare them for the structure of school, but Reception has the same goals - I wouldn't push them into things, they are starting school too early in this country as it is, especially for the summer borns.

My DD (3) enjoys pre-school but I think 2 sessions per week is enough and I don't think she would want to go every day. She will be almost 5 when she starts school though, so from September we may find her a nice childminder to go to as well (a lot better for language development than pre-school), also she is very keen on dancing and horses, so we will see where her interests take her, but I think 5 mornings in the same pre-school room, pottering about would be a bit monotonous for a 4-5 year old.

I don't think it matters when they start as long as they get a full year at pre-school before school, so they learn not to be upset when they are away from you and learn to make friends etc. With my son who was born in March, i sent him to nursery the september after he turned 2 and he went every morning from 9-12 and this year he does the same 5 days a week 9-12. Just do what best for your child, each child is different.

It can be pre school, nursery or a CM. They don't have to go to any of them. Obviously if you have something attached to the school it may help to go there. My DD is July birthday and started the Easter just before her 3rd birthday, but in hindsight she might have settled faster in the September

I have a summer born 2 year old who I have reluctantly pulled out of playgroup [separation anxiety]. My 1st child settled fine! Will start school nursery 5 mornings a week in September.

Each child is different.

DS is August birthday. I chose not to send him to pre school at all, he went straight into full time school 2 weeks after his 4th birthday. He did go to creche once a week when I went to a Pilates class and also spent one day a fortnight with a friend and her same age DD, her DD spent the day with us the alternate week.

I think that for him, that was definitely the best choice, he had a speech delay caused by glue ear and I don't think he'd have coped with a large group any sooner. As the pre-school he'd have gone to is in a school, there would have only been 2 adults to care for 28 3 year olds, and I felt he gained more from the time at home with me.

Having said all that, DD2 is 3 in June and will be starting pre school in September. She is a different child altogether, loves being with people, speaks really well and is itching to get into school when I take the older DC.

DD1 is April birthday, and also went to pre-school, 5 mornings a week, from the September after she was 3.

Horses for courses I suppose, and it depends how flexible you can be on the no.of days they go. There are not enough places for the number of children in my area, so if they're not going 5 sessions, pre-schools won't offer a place.

Dd2 is August born and she went for 1 day a week from after Easter. From September last year she went 2.5 days.