Not good experience

[Cloudly]

I recently went to look at a private school for my child. The visit was for 1hr. On arrival I was handed handful of forms to complete whilst trying to complete the forms I was shown around the nursery. There was myself and another parent who already knew the school.
I felt the experience was not good one, I did not get to ask all the things I had planned to ask, as I was filling the forms the business manager was trying to speak with me as well as the head of nursery.
I did not walk out with nice feeling I was being rushed in and out.
Then I was told after 2 yrs my child may not get a place in the preschool after nursery. They said every child have to go through a internal and external assessment in order to get a place based on this assessment.

What shall I do? I am here thinking I be paying for 2 years then maybe told my child does not have a place in preschool. I then will have to look all over again for a preschool.
I was expecting nursery to 18 years old. Any advice.

If you didn't get a good feeling about it why are you considering sending your child there at all? Surely the point of these visits is to find which setting is right for you and your little one? Keep looking.

Why did you feel under pressure to fill in forms rather than look around? Who took you on the tour? You could ask to visit again. However most private schools do reassess progress, especially if there is a waiting list and selective entry later on. SEN and behavioural issues may not be apparent at 2, 5 or even later. Don't assume you will want your dc to stay throughout either, many come and go.

Yes I did not get a good feeling but I gave them an excuse.

Look for somewhere else. But I've never heard of anywhere that offers/guarantees nursery to age 18.

They took long time to reply to my email for my husband to look at the nursery then straight away asking for the completion form and fee.
We both just felt we are being rushed and not made the decision if this is now suitable for our child.

The visit was over in 30mins which I was not happy as I was under the impression I would be given the opportunity to ask questions.

I think the expectation that your child is going to be in the same nursery/school from 2-18 is unrealistic. Yes, it may happen in some cases but how do you know that a) somewhere is going to suit your child for 16 years or b) that school is going to accept your child for 16 years.

If you don't have a good feeling then you need to be looking elsewhere and adjust expectations. It's not uncommon for children to move from different nurseries, to pre schools, primaries and senior schools.

From what you've described, I wouldn't even consider sending my child there.

I wouldn't go there.

Also, getting a place in the Pre school doesn't guarantee you a place in the main school and the same again for upper school.

Have you got any other local pre schools and schools which might be more welcoming? A happy child will learn better than an unhappy one.

I thought of nursery to 18years after speaking with some parents who have children starting secondary schools and worrying of the changes, to how they may settle in new school setting, the disruption and making new friends etc etc.
I like to send my child from nursery straight onto preschool so they don’t have much disruption. Also I am thinking of long term not short term. My expectations are I want the best for my child and I am able to give that.

There are schools that take children from nursery straight to preschool then secondary but unfortunately they far from where we live.

We have seen another one they cater for what we are looking for but it is traveling time for my husband.

No school guarantees to keep a child for16 years, even the less selective ones. In pratccie many will stay but others will move for a variety of reasons. They won't highlight how they manage kids out though, obviously. Tbh you may find what suits at 2/5 does not at 11, if they are particularly sporty or musical for example , and you may outgrow it. Change can be positive. Don't be too hung up on choosing a feeder to senior school. There are many stand alone prep schools.

Change is good for children. Learning to adapt to new settings and meeting new people is also good for them. Going from nursery to 18 would be very stifling and limiting for any person - even if you can find somewhere where you can do it. Even if you can, children will leave the school and others will join at all stages, so there's no guarantees about friends. Also, you've got no idea yet what school might be suitable when your child is five, 11 or 16 when they are only at the nursery stage. The school may go downhill, it may close even. Your child might want a completely different environment or show a talent for music, say, in which case a more specialised school might be in order, etc.

Thank you everyone for your advice.