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Preschool education

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Preschool admissions

4 replies

3duracellbunnies · 05/03/2012 17:36

Don't know what to do, two preschools, both are niice, dd1 went to one, dd2 went to other. Preschool A wants acceptance of place by end Mar, first drop in mid April, start Sept, ds will be nearly 3. Is 10min wwalk from home, 20min from school. Drop off is same time, but combination of him with friend one day and girls on walking bus another would work. He could never do the afternoon sessions for older children.

Preschool B is in girl's school, so drop off easy, still 10 -15 min walk home. He can't start there until he has funding in Jan (sept baby); and they only offer places the half term before they start. Competition for places and most children starting reception in sept means am not certain he will get place, although he has siblings in school and crow flies distance is near, which are the criteria they use. I would be happy to keep him at home until Jan, but if preschool B is full of children a year ahead, worried he either won't get a place and he will have to stay home until he is nearly 4, or he will go, but most children will be a year ahead of him, so he would make friends, only for them to go up a year ahead of him.

I think for ease of drop-off/pick up he would be going to preschool B in sept when he is nearly 4 - can just tell him is his time to start at girl's school. He doesn't have many friends yet, but most of them will be at preschool A, but in the year ahead. Any views/advice on which to go for and moving children in preschool after either 1 term or 3 terms.

My preference would be a guaranteed place at preschool B (as easier for me), but that won't materialise until at least Nov. He is my last, will only do 2-3 sessions/ week before reception, but would like him to do some preschool + would help for my work from home to have some childcare for him.

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wimblehorse · 05/03/2012 18:27

Is doing the 1 term from Sept at preschool A an option? Then if he doesn't get place at B or you are really happy with A he could stay there. If not then move to B in Jan...

3duracellbunnies · 05/03/2012 18:59

It is an option, but most of the children won't go to his school, but at preschool B virtually everyone will. Also preschool A have sessions for the older children to do phonics etc in the afternoons, but he won't be able to do those due to school pick-up, afterschool activities etc. The phonics will be the same at preschool B as school. I'm not too fussed about what he learns now, but as he will be nearly 5 when he starts I think it will be best if he spends no more than a year at preschool A, for continuity of education and friends into reception. I'm just not sure whether it is worth the potential disruption for the guarantee of a place.

Preschool A is more play focused, older staff, not teachers, preschool B is slightly more structured, teacher and TAs. He would take part in some school activities such as nativity, sports day, and if he gets upset they will send one of the girls in, esp dd1 he adores, so that would please him. He doesn't have any particular friends at preschool in the school, whereas he already knows two boys quite well at preschool A, they know eachother better, though and may not be in same sessions, plus they are academic year ahead.

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ladyintheradiator · 05/03/2012 19:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

3duracellbunnies · 05/03/2012 19:29

Even if it means risking him not getting a place until he is nearly 4? It is the lack of guarantee that concerns me. I think option B from sept 13 is certain, it's just whether to risk having nowhere before. I will pop into school and ask when they will know, but I imagine only sorting out april admissions, leave alone jan intake! I guess it is only two terms difference.

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