I don't think I'm happy with dd's pre school.

[princessmel]

Very confused.

Dd is supposed to be starting pre school in feb. After half term.
We had a visit there yesterday and I left feeling a bit odd. I didn't love it.
Ds went when he was 3, but not for long and only for 2 mornings. He only did the sept-xmas term then started school nursery. I kept putting him off starting due to new baby etc...

Anyway, everyone round here goes and nobody has anything bad to say about it. Just me. Its all like 'oh mrs xxxx is just great, 'its so lovely' , 'its very homely', 'the kids adore it' . I didn't feel the same as them and I can't have a discussion about it as nobody will see it as anything other than great.

Its in church hall. It has 2 rooms. One for under 3's and the other for over 3's. They can stay till reception if the parents want them too.
Ok my moans :

1. The younger room is tiny and was FREEZING. Apparantly they couldn't put the side heaters on as they get too hot to touch and are dangerous. They had plug in things and they were only warm if you were right on top of them.

2. They are very set in their ways iykwim.

3. When it was story time, the teacher read the first book then when she started to read the 2nd one ,some of the 2yr old children were talking a bit. She said if they didn't stop talking she wouldn't read it. Someone spoke so she didn't read it. Now come on, thats harsh for 2yr olds!! She didn't even try to get thir attention to stop talking.

4. At snack the adults didn't sit with the children. Just stood behind them like guards.

5. The ladys didn't seem overly friendly with each other. At one point the teacher in charge said 'I need 2 ladies please' I can't help thinking why didn't she say 'oh julie and jane can you help me please?'

6. They did way too much sitting on chairs. For singing. Loads of it. The whole of the time after snack was singing. Yes they did action songs and they even had cute outfits to wear for certain songs. Like in the 'stripy shirt 'song they wore stripy dads shirts and got to pretend to be on a washing line etc.

7. They didn't go outside. That was a one off I think. I hope. I'd like them to be out everyday even if its only for a bit.

8. When ds was there all the art work looked the same. Like a machine had done it. They show them what they're doing and thats that. No freedom of expression.

9. Its 3 hours. Too long imo.

BUT it's very local. All the kids go onto the primary ds is at and dd will go to. Its walking distance. It got a balloon mark from Ofstead. Everyone esle seems to love it.

I am a nneb and have worked in nurserys, maybe I'm just being fussy. But something doesn't feel right. I preferred the other/older room but dd wont be in there till sept.

I've asked for a visit at another one but its car ride away, allbeit a short one and I don't know anyone there.

One I really like the sound of is in town so even further and afternoons and dd will be way to tired for that anyway

Sorry its sooooo long. I just want to keep her with me really but she needs to practice before 5 morn nursery school in jan next year.

My friend just emailed me to say that it was warm there today.

I asked if her dd went outside.

She'd think I was very silly not to send dd without even trying.

Have you asked about doing one morning see if you could do it just for half a term - if you don't ask you don't get.
If you send her to the one that does afternoons and all her friends go in the morns she won't get to see them that way so you would be better keeping her at home with you
The bottom line is deep down you don't want to send her and you are trying to find any reason poss not to, so don't send her
What does you DH think is best?

The afternoon one is out. deffo. She'd be too tired and its too far.

Dh thinks she's too young but I think he'd like her to try it first. He'd be happy with me keeping her at home. When I think she'd only be 3.5 to start the school one that seems very young anyway.

Don't send her then or try it and see how your dd goes and let her make the decision if she's not ready she won't settle and you'll know after a few sessions, if she seems fine then she's ready.
Don't fret over it just go with the flow everyone DC's are ready for different things at different ages and each child is different

No, but she ,Oh I don't know. I can't help but worry.
She just emailed me saying something about them being together in the same room there. She really thinks dd is going.

Just spoke to dh. He's happy for her not to go. One reason being I wont have to pay for it. He thinks she's too young etc.

You are so kind and I feel loads better talking about it. I need to get dd up now. She slept early as she woke early.

Look at my profile. Cute pics

Much cuteness.

I am with mmj on this one, stuff what your friend thinks, she will get over it.
as long as you and dd are happy.

Thanks mellow

Ruby, I haven't told this friend I don't think its good enough. For the reason you mentioned. We're good friends I dont want to offend her. I also do think it would be really nice for our 2 dd's to go together but thats just the way it is. They'll go to the school one together.

I know loads of children are ready at 2 but my dd is not imo.

But that could be different if I liked the place moor.

duh!!! 'more'

UPDATE **

My friend just emailed me and I'm a bit shocked.

Either she knows who I am on mn and has read this thread or she's a mind reader.

She said

' hi xx, I know your unsure about whether to send xxx to preschool in feb, well xxx (her dd) has been offered a place at the other pre school in jan and I'm 99% sure she'll go there. She's been on the waiting list and I got a call today to say she can start in jan'

I didn't even know she was on a list. And I haven't a clue what pre school she means.

To think I was worried what this friend would say.

Not sure.

I would like dd to go with her dd but that wasn't the only reason dd was going. That would have just been a bonus.
I'm very confused.

Dh says to leave her at home.

I think the same , mostly but am wondering if we'll at least try it out .

I just wondered when your dd will have her 4th birthday if she is an autumn baby then she will have loads of time at a pre-school nursery if she starts when she's older, it's harder when you have a summer baby because even starting them at 2.5 you only get 4 terms at pre-school!

Her bday is in August

dd3 (august birthday) only did 3 terms at pre-school as I couldn't face having one in pre-school in the morning and another there in the afternoon with a 30 minute slot in between. She was absolutely fine having now started reception. dd4 (also august b'day) is down to start after Easter - although she could have started after Christmas I'm in no rush her speech isn't great and I want to enjoy the last 6 months of freedom with her! Just go with your instinct you know your child best.