Left so late DS has afternoon instead of morning place...

[wangle99]

Stupidly I left applying for a preschool place for DS so late he cannot go in the morning (which I was banking on as I work). He can go from 12.30-3pm.

So not sure whether he should go to nursery in the morning and then to preschool in the afternoon or whether to forget preschool altogether.

Opinions?

morning places go real;ly quickly so tbh its your own fault, our forms had to be back by march so plenty of time.

I wouldn't miss preschool all together, if he is going to the school (if its attached to a school) then he can form early friendships and at least know the setting if nothing else.

ultimatly its up to you though

at our school NO new starter gets a morning place .. they get an afternoon place for a term then get moved to mornings

so I would check with school whether by going for a term he'll then get a place in morning session next term or if you can delay it for a term

Is he going to be going to the school attached to the preschool?

If so why not just send him a couple of days a week for the afternoon.

I think 5 full time days might be a lot to start with anyway (with nursery first). Why not build up?

How old is he? He'll still be getting the same type of activities at the nursery as he would at pre school because they all follow the foundation stage guidelines. If he's not due to go to school until 2008 then I'd leave him at nursery until next year and apply earlier. The only real reason for going to pre school is if it's the feeder for the primary school he's going to so he can make friends before he starts reception.

Otherwise, could you ask to be kept on the waiting list for mornings and send him if one comes up?

If you don't need the afternoon sessions for working then just the nursery should be fine, at least until a morning spot becomes available if you then feel he needs a different environment. If he does both he'll be very tired and you won't see the best of him.

Most nurseries would do similar activities with the older ones anyway. They don't need to make lifelong frends so soon, that can happen at school.

He will be going to the school attached to the preschool.

He is 3 next month so will get funding from January.

For some reason he has recently developed a hate for nursery and we have real trouble with him going (however he's ok when he's there). Was hoping he'd enjoy going to 'big boy school'.

I'm unsure if places change from morning to afternoon, I will check when we go and have a look.

I know it is all my own fault but this wasn't the school he was going to and I have a morning place at our first choice but that can't happen now sadly.

Regards going to the smae preschool as school...don't worry too much. My DD started today at big school and there is no preschool there. She went to day nursery right up until 2 weeks ago. She didn't know any girls in her class at the beginning of the holidays. However we found out the names and addresses of some of the girls starting, and got in touch. So she got to know some of the girls in advance - so there are ways round the friends bit.

Can you arrange a childminder who will do school runs to the pre school?

My DD is going in the afternoons, but since I'm not doing the toing and froing I don't really care which session she has.

Message withdrawn

Well, in the space of a day it's amazing how things can change so dramatically!

I am self employed and one of my employees has providen to be rather unreliable and not fulfilling her contract so it looks like she will be leaving and I will be taking over from her. DS's nursery cannot give me the extra care I need so it looks like I am looking for a new nursery with pre-school anyway. Arghghghg why is nothing ever easy!!!