Nursery - phased start or straight in to 5 days a week?

[Slebmum]

DTs have just had their places confirmed at the lovely local playgroup for September. They turn 3 in August.

I want them to eventually go for five days a week to get used to the routine before starting school the following September. (They are ex prem and their corrected age will be 3.10months but that's a whole other thread).

The nursery have offered a phase start - Mon / Wed / Fri - to get them used to the whole set up. Does this sound like a good option. What did others do? Its only morning sessions if that makes a difference.

Thanks (I am completely clueless when it comes to all of this!)

The nursery where I work offers a flexible staged start. If a child is booked in to do 5 or more sessions, the first week, children do 2 x 2 hour sessions - we leave it up to parents whether they stay or not.

The second week, children generally do 3 x 3 hour sessions. If they settle really well after one 3 hour sessions, we offer parents the option of adding one or more sessions in addition to the pre-arranged 3.

After that, most children do their full hours of between 15 and 30. However, if a child is struggling, then we work with the parents to agree an extended settling in period.

I addition, I often have children who do 3 x 3 hour sessions for the first half term or term and then go up to 5 x 3 hour sessions. As long as I've got the sessions available, I'm very happy to be flexible.

Thanks Littlefish, that's really helpful.

A phased start is the way to go. Some offer a couple of hour sessions where you go in too, then on the third hour session you leave. These are usually free intros before the half days start. Build up from there but your intuition will tell you how quickly to ramp up as you go. They will get tired to start with but less as they get used to it.

I went straight to 5 mornings with both of mine - it was what was expected at the nursery so we went along with it