Changes at Pre-school - feeling a bit fedup

[Treemonk78]

My ds's pre-school has recently made some changes, very subtle I agree but they seemed to have affected both myself and ds.

The biggest change is that there are many more children there. The pre-school has received a good ofsted rating and has attracted more parents to it but I think this is actually having a negative affect on the once excellent pre-school that it was - same space but more children. Ds has come out of a couple of sessions complaining that there are too many children.

Another niggle is that before numbers increased, parents were allowed to wait inside the entrance to the pre-school, where there were a few toys/books to keep the dc's entertained. Now however, parents and children 3 and 4 year olds are made to stand outside and wait and no-one is let in until 9 am on the button. Then arriving late, parking is a real problem around the school and makes us later still. Likewise, with end of session. I feel this has depersonalised the whole experience and apart from anything it is horrid having to stand and wait - ds won't stand still and unless I arrive at 9.00 am he will run off and join the primary kids in the playground - get bowled over etc. little ones are often not good at waiting.

My worst gripe is that I collect ds at an intermediate time (after lunch) and every other child either leaves after the morning session or stays for the whole afternoon session. I use to be able to wait inside the pre-school for ds to finish activity and then extract him, it gave me chance to root through her tray etc. But now I am being asked to wait in the school reception and ds will be brought out to me. I have taken this as a slight as I am the only parent who collects at this time so it obviously only affects me and the school have known me for years. This is one of there new policies but this coupled with the other changes has really irked me so much so that I am thinking of cutting down ds's hours and sending him elsewhere besides the variety would do him good!

Can I ask you how much notice you are asked to give to change sessions at your child's pre-school?

We have to give half a term's notice at ours to leave/change of session. We also wait outside until the start (or end of the session). We wait on the pavement of quite a busy road (there are some railings) and all the children and parents seem ok with it but maybe it's because they are used to it. If we need to collect at an unusual time we ring the bell and are allowed in, do they bring you anything from the tray then? If not, I ask to come in to check it.

I think you are being overly precious about all this. It is correct the school doesn't let you in to the classroom: safeguarding. They need more kids to make the place viable: funding. I'm not saying I agree with larger classes or less interaction per second, but it is what it is and tother be honest it sounds like the school are already being quite accommodating allowing you to collect at a no -standard time. You're regularly late? Set off earlier. Your child runs off when waiting? Control him better or take things to entertain him. If he is not NT then things might be different but if he is just a NT 3yo... well!

Hi Rach, thank you for your response. I think the difficulty is that ds has just started pre-school at a private school too where there is plenty of parking, security is tight (tighter than at the other pre-school) but the children are not bundled out on the dot, the class is smaller/higher staff ratio and it feels altogether more humane. Unfortunately, I think I have drawn comparisons. Until recent changes, I would have placed the state pre-school on-par if not better than the private one. I know that ds is likely to be launched into larger classes at school etc. but I do honestly believe that he will settle down a whole lot more over the coming year and that the year will make a difference.
The school secretary wanted to let me in as usual today when I went to collect ds but I had to tell them that I was not allowed and only seemed to fuel my annoyance. If there were two or three of us parents, I wouldn't feel so affronted but it is somehow about it just being me and that all of a sudden I have become this safeguarding issue? I think the other poster misread the part about being late. I am deliberately late because I don't want ds to be bowled over in the playground - he will attempt to join in with the older children which is great but he is probably too small at this stage. Because I am deliberately later - leaving only a couple of minutes to spare parking is an utter nightmare - and for the local residence too I should imagine. Also because of the increase in children there are increased cars - the whole thing has a knock on effect. My plan is to increase ds's hours at the private school because given the above, this seems to suit us better (and we can attend via the government grant) the only expense is the uniform but I am more than willing to have paid for this for the additional perks it brings. It is a shame it is about numbers and money at the end of the day but it seems I have a choice currently to send ds somewhere with higher staff, lower pupil ratio and given the other perks this seems like a no brainer (sadly)!

Is it actually a pre-school (perhaps run by a voluntary committee) or a school nursery class? You mention the older children, which suggests that it is part of a school. If you know the answer, I can shed some light.

It is a pre-school attached to a primary school if that makes sense.

Can anyone else comment on period of notice to change sessions?

Here it is 4 weeks notice to leave or decrease sessions, if you want to increase or change it will depend on availability. Your contract will tell you what it is at your setting though.

Yes, I have been informed that a whole terms notice is required which seems extreme for this kind of setting so was just trying to gauge if this is the norm. Thanks for your response.

I don't know if it varies by area but this coming Monday is Headcount day around here, meaning it is the day that the funding is allocated, the setting with the child on roll on that day is the one that gets the funding paid for this term (up to Christmas).

Between a half-term to a full terms notice here, so it's not unusual

If you are using the free hours to attend, I don’t think you can move these mid-term, hence the long notice period. Once you have signed up for the term, that’s it.

You could always not use your space and pay for an overlap for a short space of time if you are really unhappy (although everything you have described is how things happened at my LO’s pre-school, so I think you are maybe overreacting)

Each LEA has different rules regarding transfer of funding between settings. You would need to read the info on your LEA website to find out more. Personally though, I agree with previous pp's and think you're overreacting a bit

Thanks for all of your responses. There are other issues a foot too, which I'm sure many would consider minor but I don't want to go into them here but these have also influenced my decision. It may seem like I'm over reacting but it was the one policy that seemed solely directed at me which has caused the most upset, it is difficult not to personalise it though I am sure it was designed as a general policy and I would hope not aimed at me personally. However, it may all be for the best in the long run. I just wish that someone from the pre-school would explain that these rules are in place regarding transfer of funding because obviously there is a good reason for it then. Communication has broken down a bit me thinks!!

If they've had a recent Ofsted inspection I would think that the new policies are a direct result of recommendations from Ofsted. The drop off/pick up arrangements will have been criticised as being insecure I would guess. You know you're a lovely person, who doesn't intend to kidnap/abuse/gun down the pre-school class, but Ofsted don't. You're an unattended, unvetted adult allowed into the school....Ofsted won't like it. It's almost certainly not the pre-school's fault.

What Nuffsaid said. Really. It is not about you. Our great, communicative, highly regarded local school doesn't let parents in all all except via the school office. Which is as it should be.

I agree. They're probably following Ofsted recommendations

Preschools need lots of children to keep going. They can’t keep numbers down just to please you.

The preschool may have the problem of parents dumping their children before all the staff have arrived. 9:00 start is sensible and fair. If you are above standing and waiting then life is going to be very hard for you.

Children often get distressed when another child gets picked up and they don’t. Your presence is probably disruptive and it’s quite reasonable for the child to be brought to you if you are coming at a different time.

Seriously is this all you can find to complain about?