nursery pre-3 with FT nanny?

[pali1978]

I'm struggling over what to do in terms of nursery for our daughter and though some other mums' views could help. We have a full time nanny for our daughter as my husband and I both work full time. She is wonderful and the pair of them have made lots of local friends (we are quite new to the area) and so DD is with other children in groups/play dates several times a week. I am torn, though, about sending her to nursery part time from september (at 2.5). part of me feels it will be a very good thing for her to be in a group environment and one where she is gently introduced to the world of more formal learning. she has an offer of a place at one (possibly more) very good local nurseries (we are in crouch end). the only thing is, it is going to cost us around £7k for the year, even with funding from 3+ - and we'll still be paying our nanny full time (anything else is not an option - she lives in which we really need due to long working hours). It would be a very significant additional expense for us and I guess the question is - based on your experience or otherwise - how important is it? Thank you in advance for any and all thoughts!

If your nanny is taking her out to play with lots of other children at toddler groups, etc, then I wouldn't worry about nursery. I would also run a mile from a nursery introducing formal learning. Even reception class at school is largely learning through play.

Nope. I'd consider it closer to school age. Maybe 9-12 mo from school start. If it was an option to go to nursery attached to the school for a session a day. Just to meet the kids that will start school together.

Can't you just do a couple of mornings a week?

I am a full time nanny and the decision made by a lot of the local employers is that the children will go from the term after their 3rd birthday as it will be "free".

The children currently enjoy activity session, toddler groups, go on trips, have play dates with each other so they are part of a bigger group, which offers them a lot of social opportunities with the support of their nanny being there too. The children also learn turn taking/sharing/how to effectively communicate/negotiate etc as they would at nursery but in a wider environment.

Also it depends when your dc starts school. One of my dc is the eldest of the school year so will get 2 years of nursery funding while their friend is one of the youngest and will only get 1 year, as such we have discussed phasing her into nursery from 1/2 mornings at just 3 to 3 at 4 years and then 5 mornings by reception.

Why not wait till the term after her third birthday and just take up the funded hours? Won't cost you anything to put her into nursery and nanny can get on with other jobs in the house for a couple of hours per day.

If the nanny is socializing with her then she's already learning lots of the PSED skills you gain from a nursery setting. I'm sure your nanny is also considering other aspects of the EYFS during their time together, don't force her to formal learning, children learn best through play.

I'd leave it till the year before reception. Plenty (most) children only start once they turn 3. No nursery should be doing formal teaching. More things like lining up, eating unassisted, dressing themselves, group activities (dancing, singing) without 1 to 1 adult supervision. A year of that is enough.

Use some of the time when the free hours starts, so the term following their 3rd birthday. Alternatively don't bother at all until the year before starting school. Meanwhile nanny can attend some toddler groups and go to places which are educational such as museums, castles, going on various forms of transport, going to the supermarket, all the usual things that happen. They can focus on any particular topic of interest to your child at that particular time.

Thanks so much everyone, it's v helpful to read your responses and I have to say my instinct is telling me what most of you say - wait until she turns three. I quite like the idea of one or two mornings a week but practically all nurseries seem to require a minimum of 3 (long) half days - which seems a lot for DD. I don't know whether that is best for the child or it's just that a lot of nurseries cater more for childcare needs than for socialising children. Anyway, thank you again!