Too slow to get names down for free day care place

[ZuzuandZara]

I have twins who turn 3 in Jan. So they get their free 15 hours summer term 2013.

Stupidly I've only just started thinking about what nursery to use and the two that I like the sound of are full for that term.

They're in walking distance which is important as my mum will do some collections and doesn't drive.

Would you wait until the following term therefore missing a whole term of nursery or just look slightly further afield?

Can't believe I've been so slow/stupid. And I will need two places!

Get them down on the waiting list at your chosen nursery. A couple of places might come up sooner than you think.

Then phone around further afield to see if you can get them in somewhere while you wait if you want them in a setting soon. If not, can't see harm in waiting, it's not compulsory.

Thanks Mobly, that is the most logical thing to do.

I think I just feel like the worlds worst parent that I've been too slow for the 'correct' term. They were prem and a bit delayed compared to their peers so no harm in waiting another term.

I'm overreacting and being stupid!

Hi, check as well the hours that they can offer you. My our nursery the free hours are odd times eg 8.30-11.30 or 3-6. Also check that they can offer you both places at. If same time he that is your preference

Sorry, I would also say if they are a bit delayed its better for them to start sooner rather than later this will give them more support to be ready for school.

Zuzuandzara, try not to worry about this. Is the pre-school you want also part of the primary school you intend to send them to?

At the preschool I sent ds1 to, due to varying birthdays some children were there 12mths before starting school, and some 18mths so there will naturally be variations in how many terms they spend at pre-school before school.

I have friends who went for the convenience of 2 full nursery days instead & their dc have now settled into unrelated schools just fine too.

If you apply now you'll most likely get a place for sept if not before, then they'll still have a 12mth settling in period to prepare them for school, which is plenty of time.

I'd phone the pre-school now & ask if there are any places for sept & if they can go on waiting list should two places become available before then.

Thanks for the advice both of you.

Have rung around today and found a couple of nurserys to visit next week, all in walking distance.

The one that's full (and I haven't even been to visit, I just like the sound of it) is the nearest to the primary school, but not attached. I think I'll visit and if I like it I'll put their names down on the waiting list, visit the others and get them in to one of those for the summer term.

or maybe I'll keep them at home with mummy and never send them to school

Thanks again.

Good luck

The problem seems to be now tht most schools only do one intake, so there are often a lot more places available in sept than other terms.

Don't worry if they don't go for a term ... they don't have to go at all, so one term will be fine.

Oh, I didn't know that owl.

Thanks again everyone for your advice.

Dd started preschool in the summer term. She had previously been using her free hours at nursery while I worked.

The reason for starting her at preschool was simply to mix with her classmates a bit before reception. It became apparent that nursery's early years education and preschool's were vastly different, even though they should have been working towards the same thing. She was behind a lot of her classmates with regards to letter formation of her own name and things but has soon caught up. I can only assume this was because she was one of maybe 2 or 3 'preschoolers' at nursery and the activities were geared towards the youngest's ability.

What I'm saying is delaying them to get them where you want to probably won't harm them academically. But socially it's probably an idea to take two places in the meantime.

If they can't offer you exactly the same hours is there a park or somewhere nearby you can go? Our preschool is pretty flexible. Dd used to finish at 12 on some days. Ds, when we started him for the last half term, finished that day at 11.30. I used to take him to the park until it was time to pick up dd.