Thinking ahead or way too early?

[blueskygreengrass]

Hi everyone,

I'm due in December with our first baby. DH has got it into his head - from friends and work colleagues - that we should already think about registering for nurseries, and even primary schools. This seems bonkers to me, the child hasn't even been born, but then again - is he/they right? I have no idea.

Grateful for any advice, Mumsnetters. I went to playgroups, state nurseries/school, whereas he was educated privately - so I feel like I have a lot to learn about the different options but also, does he need a reality check? My mind is on pregnancy and birth first!

Thanks all x

Private preschools, prep schools- yes you probably do.

If you're planning to return to work then yes you may need to register at day nurseries early, sometimes there is a waiting list

State - you can't put names down until they reach appropriate age.

Regarding nursery, if you are planning on starting early and know which days you need, start looking now and get your name on the list or you may be left with either a) a lesser nursery with the right days or B) the right nursery without the right days. The early bird catches the worm.

Nothing you can do about state school for ages. Not sure about private.

Thanks ceeveebee, odyssey2001, MiaowTheCat - that's all really helpful. I can start getting my head around these things. So much to learn! Unfortunately I was recently made redundant, so I don't have a permanent job to return to early on. The likelihood (and very rough plan) is that I'll go self-employed, perhaps with some supplementary part-time work. I'll look into the different offerings nursery and primary, in the meantime.

You can't pre register for state primaries, however I wish I'd known more about the admissions criteria before school became a reality. You can find out which primaries you are in catchment for, how far away from the school the last place allocated last year was and what the ofsted report for the schools say.

I found out far too late that I live in a primary no mans land, and was advised that I wouldn't get a local school at all and that DD would probably end up in a village school three miles away,(I don't drive.) By the time I knew all that it was far too late to consider moving. Very forntunatly a local school did a bulge year (60 children instead of the usual 30 intake) and DD just squeaked in there, but that was sheer luck.

I was actually thinking of the pre- school registration and nearly went to an open day in July one near my town but thought it was bonkers and some were saying stop jinxing yourself. I'm going be single parent so preparation is key and looking to return to work just as smp only kicks in that's after 36 weeks.

Not thought about primary school yet. I was educated privately and hope for the same in forthcoming child but doubt I can afford it but the thought is there. They can't start primary till 3 anyways and in my case having dec( late baby) it's the year after so probably will look into that when baby is around 2?

I'm looking to move as well at some point so it's all up the wall at present but you've got me thinking now .