help me choose a pre-school!

[spacecadet]

just moved to the area, went to the local playgroup and they said that dd would start in september..shes not 2 till end of july! was a bit taken aback, then they gave me all the forms to fill in and it said it was compulsory to help out which seemed a little unfair, i wasnt quite sure i liked the atmosphere at the playgroup, its held within a secondary school and it felt really unfriendly..another local playgroup, dont take until 2.5 and there sessions are only 2 hours long, not 2.5 because they dont get the grant funding, however it seemed like a nicer playgroup.

meant to put the, not there!..the sessions.

Trust your instincts on this one - if you aren't comfortable there will your child be? If they are that that desperate for children that they are forcing forms on you on the first visit it probably says a lot about how popular it is locally. Your little one is still very young so give yourself a break and look around before you commit. Re. helping; some playgroups insist you help, some ask for volunteers - again make the choice that suits you. Hope you are happy in your new house

then put her in the nicer one

thanks sunny delight
twiglett, the reason i ummmed and ahhed is because the playgroup im not keen on is my catchment one so to speak, but the nicer one is in the next village..just wondered if i was imagining my bad vibes and im pretty sure 2 is too young for playgroup..

was typing one handed sorry

I think gut instinct is a marvellous thing .. and don't believe you imagine it .. I think you should always go with it

agree with Twiglett (as always ) My DS1 is leaving his nursery school this term after 5 happy terms and I went to visit quite afew but the one we chose just "felt" right

hi Spacey, hope you're settling in.

Another go with your gut answer here - I put DD1 in the local one because it seemed the right thing to do, but I didn't really like it and she hated it, she cried, wet herself,her night terrors came back etc etc. We ended up moving her after 8 horrendous weeks and I wish I'd gone with my gut and put her in the one I was happy with but which was a bit futher away.

hth

2 is too young. My DSis has been a playgroup leader for ever (she's a lot older than me )and reckons the nearer 3 they are the better.

I was sure DS would be fine but I listened to her and put him in the September after his 3rd birthday in the July. He settled in well but it still took him a while and he had been used to going to a childminder so was used to being without me. Friends who have taken theirs at 2.5 had to stay around for weeks and gradually leave almost like controlled crying.

DD (very confident, chatty and potty trained) will be going in October when she is 2.8. She is desperate to go as we drop her brother off every week plus I want to get her settled there before D? comes along at Christmas, otherwise I would have waited until January when she would be nearly 2.11.

Go for the playgroup you like when you want your DD to start. You know her best.

thanks everyone-i will put her in the next villages playgroup, the thing i liked aswell was that the catchment playgroup told me to come at a specific time and date just to pick up the paperwork, whereas the other one said call in anytime.
orinoco-thanks, i am actually settling in now, the house feels more like home.