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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

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Original poster

Is DS too young for school?

25 replies

rabbitrabbit · 22/05/2006 14:41

Hello

We've just had a letter from a very good local school offering my DS a nursery place from Jan 2007 (tho doesn't guarantee reception etc yada yada yada).
The more I think about it the more I realise that he'll still only be 3yrs and 8mths by then (he was born 05/03)-is that too young for nursery school? It does seem a bit young to me to be honest and wondered if that is the usual age?
Thanks, be really grateful for some feedback as its really worrying me.

Thanks

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Gloworm · 22/05/2006 14:43

do you mean starting preschool/playschool, or do you mean starting proper school?

(i'm in ireland, so we use different words, eg we dont use "reception")

NotAnOtter · 22/05/2006 14:44

mine has just started nursey school 3 years 3 months but went to playgroup since 2 yrs 7 months...depends on the child - is he number 1 child?

LIZS · 22/05/2006 14:46

Presumably he'll be due to start Reception in Sept 2007 so nursery would normally be the year before, if you want him to go . No legal obligation until after he has turned 5 (assuming you are in England/Wales).

Original poster

rabbitrabbit · 22/05/2006 14:46

Hi gloworn-I mean a nursery attached to a primary schools so I thinks it more preschool-does that clarify anything?
It is for 5 afternoons per week also.

He's only just started to go to a private nursery/playgroup. Initially for 2hrs twice a week, then 3 morning in sept-and that really is only to get him ready for school.
It just all seems to be happening really early to me!

OP posts:

FrayedKnot · 22/05/2006 14:47

When is he due to start reception? Presumably it's either Sept 2007, or Jan 2008?

In which case a year or even two terms in the nursery sounds fine.

Blu · 22/05/2006 14:48

Nursery is a brilliant introduction to school - smaller number of children, play opportunities, and at lost of places, only for a half day - of less than 3 hours. 3ys 8 months is really quite old - he'll grow up in leaps and bounds between njow and January, you wait and see! Anyway, accept the place - you can always turn it down later.
(afaik, children go to nursery in the term after thier 3rd birthday, so he won't be the youngest there, by a long way)

Original poster

rabbitrabbit · 22/05/2006 14:49

notanotter-yes, number 1 child. That obvious?

And yes to everyone that asked-reception in Sept 2007.

So, that's the usual age then?

OP posts:

serenity · 22/05/2006 14:50

DS2 started Nursery at 3yrs 3mths as we only have a September intake, and he was fine. They have fun, make friends and there shouldn't be any pressure to actually learn anything.

Actually thinking about it DS1 would have been younger as well (Feb birthday, September intake so 3yrs 7mths). I remember I spent the first hour of his first session sitting in my car outside the school with a book, because I was positive he would hate it, and I'd have to get him

fruitful · 22/05/2006 14:50

Dd was 3y8m when she started (mornings only) at the nursery attached to the infants school. She loves it. Its all play and learning social skills. They do a small amount of "school" stuff - looking at one new letter of the alphabet per week.

madmarchhare · 22/05/2006 14:50

DS is 3 in Dec 06 and has a nursery place from Jan 07.

In one way I feel that he will still be so young, but on the other hand I feel lucky to have been able to spend time with him up to then, as many people have to go back to work and have had their children in childcare long before the average nursery starting age.

I know he will benefit immensely also, already I can see that he is ready for something else, although of course they all vary so much.

Remember that you dont have to take this place if it doesnt suit you and your family.

hulababy · 22/05/2006 14:53

Depends on indivudal child. DD has been in day nursery since being a baby and recently upped it to 2.5 days for her preschool year (partly at her request) - she starts school properly in Septmber aged 4y5m. DD adores nursery and loves to go there - she'd go even more often given the chance!

Original poster

rabbitrabbit · 22/05/2006 14:54

Thanks everyone.
I'm torn because I really do want to take the place as it has such a good reputation. My DH and I loved it when we went to meet the head (and my DS didn't want to come home but wanted to "play in the gym with the big boys").
I'e also been lucky to be a SAHM and I only sent him to nursery (well, I say "sent"-he's been 3 times and I still stay there with him) to acclimatise him to the big world out there.

Thanks, i feel more relaxed about it.
first time mums eh!?

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KTeePee · 22/05/2006 14:56

I don't think it's too young - remember some children start in Reception when they have just turned 4! I think it's good to send them somewhere to mix with other kids in a more formal setting than at home - they learn to do things like stand in line, sit quietly on the mat, etc. as well as the playing and learning, which imo are verry useful skills for starting school!

Gloworm · 22/05/2006 15:07

can he go to nursery, and if you dont feel he is ready for school in sept, then let him do another year at nursery?

Original poster

rabbitrabbit · 22/05/2006 15:10

I think I will just play it by ear to be honest. If I don't feel he's ready then there's no way I'd "force" him into school.
Having said that he is a very confident socialable little boy so as long as he continues then he should be fine.

Thanks again to everyone for their advice, much appreciated

OP posts:

Twiglett · 22/05/2006 15:12

pre-school isn't school remember

its play with a tiny bit of structure .. along with peers

at least it should be

motherinferior · 22/05/2006 15:17

Pre-school was quite fabulous for DD1, and I'm looking forward to it for DD2 (they both went to a childminder and lots of playgroups first, but it's quite a different environment). Think DD2 will go when she's 'rising three' like DD1 did, for a few sessions a week.

Whether the pre-school staff have quite recovered from the impact of one Inferiorette and realise that they get one more is another matter

Clary · 22/05/2006 15:39

pre-school was fabulous for my older 2 as well.
The usual age can vary, a lot of playgroups will take from 2.5 or even 2. But our fab council-run nursery school takes from the Sept after the child is 3. In the case of DD and DS1 they were 3.3. DS2 (born april 03) will start there in Sept and will be just 3.6. So yes, rabbitrabbit, yr DS will probably be very ready.
As Twiglett says, it's not school!
Why not go and have a look round if you are concerned?

hana · 22/05/2006 15:43

rabbitrabbit - my daughter started preschool shortly after she turned 3, she will have had 6 terms (2 years) at the preschool before she starts at 'the big school' as she calls it! The first year she only went 3 mornings, and this year she goes 4 - so we still have a full day together.

It's been all good for her and she can't wait to start reception in a few months!
do you have an option to do 3 or 4 afternoons to begin with?

Twiglett · 22/05/2006 15:49

I would like DD to go to preschool now .. and as she's done about 7 sessions whilst I've helped out in the school I know that she'd love to too

but as she's only just turned 2 they won't take her for another year and a half .. which I find most unfair

Original poster

rabbitrabbit · 22/05/2006 18:14

Thanks everyone, its become clear that I'm thinking of it too much as "school" when its clearly not (supposed to be).

Having said all I said originally he's spent the afternoon driving me mad so I may call them to see if they'll take him tomorrow

OP posts:

popsycal · 22/05/2006 18:38

ds1 started nursery in sept this year aged 3 years, 1 month and 1 day
he LOVES it
dread to think if he was born a few weeks later and would have been at home for another year

Kaz33 · 22/05/2006 18:51

DS1 started reception when he was 4 years 1 month, less than half year older than your DS.
So yep hes ready!

Clary · 23/05/2006 00:57

rabbit thinking about it, yr DS will be starting big school next Sept, so if he's going to do nursery at all then Jan 2007 is the time to do it!

carol3 · 23/05/2006 01:16

Ds And ds1 started playgroup 5 mornings 9.30 til 12 when they where 2.9 months, as that is the entry age for playgroup in our area, Dd2 is 2.9 in july so is starting playgroup in september, which is making be broody again ! Nearing all the children from the playgroup go on to the same school which i think really helps the transition.

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