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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

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Original poster

Choosing a preschool

12 replies

lilacdinosaur · 05/10/2021 21:01

How do you decide on where to send your child for their preschool years?

We've just received our letter from the council to apply for DD's preschool, in our local authority nurseries don't go by catchment area so local to us there are 19 nurseries that we can choose from. There are 3 within walking distance and close to the primary school she will attend so it would be most logical to place her in one of those but how do we choose? Other than reading up on inspection reports is there anything else I should be doing?

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User5827372728 · 05/10/2021 21:12

Ideally walking distance and near to the primary school you’d want your child to go to so they go knowing lots of others. Would avoid any that require improvement. I always read their safeguarding policy as that’s something I wouldn’t compromise on. Go have a look, get a feel and see what you think

NameChange30 · 05/10/2021 21:18

Tbh I would choose the primary school first and then go with the preschool that's closest to it. That way she'll have friends from preschool going with her to reception and it'll make the transition easier.

Read the Ofsted reports but be aware that they're not the be all and end all, see how recent they are and consider that they are just a snapshot and things can change, especially if there's been a change in headteacher.

Visit the schools and preschools if you can (schools will probably be doing open days as it's application time) and go with your gut as much as anything else.

See if you can talk to parents whose children are at the schools/preschools too.

NameChange30 · 05/10/2021 21:19

Aarggghhh sorry I misread your post. You already know which primary school she's going to 🤦🏻‍♀️

Original poster

lilacdinosaur · 05/10/2021 21:33

So next to the primary school she'll attend there is the option of the nursery school or the early years centre, both have great reports. Any idea where I'd find the safeguarding policy etc for each? The website links that I have found just take me to a generic webpage for the local council.
I haven't heard of any open days or similar but I will give them a call and ask I think.
It's all a bjt more of a minefield than I expected it to be!

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Megistotherium · 05/10/2021 21:40

Walking distance. Feeder to school your d is likely to attend, so she has many friends going up together.
Space, facility, teachers, activities.
You definitely need to go and have a feel. Which one does your dc like most?

Original poster

lilacdinosaur · 05/10/2021 23:13

@Megistotherium

Walking distance. Feeder to school your d is likely to attend, so she has many friends going up together. Space, facility, teachers, activities. You definitely need to go and have a feel. Which one does your dc like most?

I will definitely get in contact and see if we can have a look around. DD can't really tell me much about what she thinks or which she prefers as she's only just two. We have a couple of months to send off our application. I feel like it's still very early to be choosing a preschool for in a years time but apparently it's how our local authority do things 🤷‍♀️

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Megistotherium · 06/10/2021 07:45

DD can't really tell me much about what she thinks or which she prefers as she's only just two.

That 's not really true, they can't say but they can show. When I took my ds at the time 2, to the nursery/preschool, he couldn't stay away from the water feature they had, that's when I realised this is the one, out of 3, for us.

gogohm · 06/10/2021 08:00

Only one in the village so an easy choice!

Original poster

lilacdinosaur · 06/10/2021 17:11

@Megistotherium

DD can't really tell me much about what she thinks or which she prefers as she's only just two.

Yeah that's a fair point, I will see how she is when we visit them then.

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BendingSpoons · 09/10/2021 21:39

Find out too about hours. If you are in England and getting 15 hours, some offer 3 hours a day, others 3 longer days. They will have different outdoor spaces etc that you will likely have a preference for if you visit. Do you have to list them on a central form? Here you apply individually and only choose once places are offered.

insancerre · 10/10/2021 14:16

How do you know which school she will attend?
Is it a private school?

Original poster

lilacdinosaur · 10/10/2021 19:54

@BendingSpoons we are in Scotland so get 30 hours from 3 years old, I'm not sure where offer what hours so that's a good point and I will ask that question.
yes it's a central form so we choose our top preference then I assume get given if there is availability or get offered alternatives.

@insancerre no not private. Where we live schools are based on catchment area and we only have two choices, one non religious and one catholic, so we already know where DD will attend.

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