What’s next Nursery/Preschool/School

[Hauskat]

I’ve just realised I am completely clueless. My dd is three and goes to what I thought and was calling ‘nursery’. It’s registered with OFSTED but I think it might technically be classified as a childminders instead. The details have gone completely above my head as I figured the difference was really just a technicality (there are multiple members of staff and up to 9 kids at any one time). I idly thought I might find somewhere bigger for one day a week soon so she has practice with a bigger crowd before school but this term all the kids her age have left for nursery’s attached to schools I think. Can anyone tell me if that’s something I need or have to do? Or should be thinking about? And while we are on how clueless I am when do I apply for schools?

Does she turn 4 before August 31st 2019? If she does then you are wanting to look into schools now as have to apply before 15th january to get a place for September. Different councils open their applications on different dates ours is already open.

www.gov.uk/schools-admissions/applying

Some preschools are connected to the school so you would have a higher chance of getting your child into that school if they have attended preschool there and also they have made friends that will join the school with.

Hope that helps.

That’s incorrect, pre-school or nursery attendance is generally not allowed as a criteria for primary school entry. If your child is happy in their current setting, there is no need to change. All early years settings have to follow the same curriculum so the only advantage of moving to school nursery is that they might make friends with the children they will go to school with (if they go to the attached school). Friendships change though and there will be lots of other children who didn’t go to the school nursery so that’s not necessarily an issue.

Sorry I didn't realise that wasn't correct. When mine started going to preschool 6 years ago I was told that there is a better chance if they go to pre school connected to the school.

A lot of schools do say that but it’s generally not true, the main criteria are usually distance, siblings or being in local authority care.

Childminders, nurseries and pre schools all follow the EYFS curriculum and all are fine until your child starts school. If she's happy with the Childminder, then there's no need to move her. She might like being the big one and helping and showing the little ones how clever she is.

Oh God thank you all so much! Sorry for disappearing. That is all so helpful and reassuring. But yes she does turn four before August so I shall look into schools. I can’t believe how quickly she is growing up!