How do I make an informed choice about sending DS to pre-school?

[pipo]

DS and I go to our local mother and toddler group which feeds into the local pre-school which feeds into the local primary school (which I want him to go to).
My dilemma is that DS is expected to start pre-school between 2 and 2 1/2 which I feel is a bit soon (he is 2 next month so I am stsrting to panic).
I'm sure that he would enjoy it if he went but then as a SAHM I feel equally capable of entertaining him.
How did other mnsnetters make an informed choice of the best course to take?
Does anyone know of any links to relevant research on this?

How much of a choice do you have? My dd1 is now in reception and I hate it, I treasure every monent I was able to be at home with her.

My dd2 started at 2 y 9m and went 2 ams then increased it to 5 ams gradually.When she started dd1 hadn't long left so she knew the school and we also knew the staff out of school so was very easy for her.The same playschool now let kids start at 2 1/2 but they usually do 1/2 ams.
Kids have to be toilet trained but they do take those who aren't 100%.

Our pre-school takes toddlers in nappies, which is v. rare.

Ours takes them in nappies too.

Do they change them? I couldn't believe it on a thread some time ago when our pre-school was the only one that would change nappies inc. pooey ones.

dd will be starting playgroup 3 days after her 2nd birthday for 3 mornings a week. than at 3 she'll start the Montessori attached to the playgroup.

i think it'll be fantastic for her as she doesn't have any other kids to play with here and it's almost impossible to let her run around outside as we live in apartments so the chance to run around outside there and get some exercise without me or dp having to drag her back from someones doorway every 10 seconds will be nice. all we seem to do here is say 'no dd you can't do that'

also i have a 5 month old ds who has never had 1 on 1 attention in his little life so i'm really looking forward to spending time with him

i think it very much depends on the child tbh but please be sure your not keeping him out for your reasons as opposed to his.... will you just feel a bit useless and lonely while he's gone and are trying to find an excuse to keep him at home because of that?

UCM - I am now getting nervous he's my baby, DS can't wait to go in the morning and I'm wondering what I will do for 2 hours with no children - I'm sure I'll get used to it though.

Some info this site which tends to focus on the pros for keeping under 3s at home.
You can pretty much find information all over the place to give the opposite view.

Thanks for the link juuule

Yes, they'll change them nearly3. DD was dry when she went but none of my friends' children were and they just sent them with a spare nappy etc.

pipo - my DD2 will be 2 1/2 at Easter and will start pre-school then, just 2 mornings a week. HOWEVER! She is only starting this young because DS1 is still at pre-school. He also started at 2 1/2 because DD1 was still at pre-school (sensing a pattern here?!).

But DD1 didn't start until she was 3 - partly because I didn't think she was ready and partly because of when her birthday fell, she would only have attended for 1 term before having the very long summer holiday, so it made sense to wait until September. The other benefit of starting in Sept was that all the older children had left and the staff to child ratio was higher. Something worth considering perhaps?

You know when you're child is ready.