When to start nursery if you don’t need childcare?

[HelloKittyGirl]

What do you think is the best age to start nursery if you’re a SAHM or for some other reason don’t need the childcare?

As soon as they're eligible for free hours. So either the term after they're 2 or the term after they're 3

The reason they offer free hours at the ages they do is because that's when studies showed it was beneficial in terms of educational outcomes (2 years for disadvantaged children, 3 for other children). So whenever it's free for you.

Term after three for mine.

As PPs have said around 3 but I'd add the caveat only if your DC enjoys it and responds well to it. If I had that time again, I wouldn't put DC into nursery because they hated it and much preferred going to different groups and classes.

I didn’t need childcare but my 2 went to nursery the term after they were 3. Eldest had 2 mornings a week in another nursery from 2 so that when her sister was born she already had that routine. They don’t make friends at that age but hopefully someone will be qualified to get them settled in snd eventually ready for school. You never know what they “hate” if you never try. They might “hate” school. Then what???