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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

Preschool enrolment interview wobble

10 replies

winterfox78 · 15/06/2022 11:45

Hello,

We had our preschool enrolment interview this week. All fine. We live down the road from the school...

Only thing - and I may be overthinking this ...on the enrolment form they asked for an emergency contact if hubby and I would not be available etc

I put my mother in law (I live on different country to my own family)...but no to contacting her...because the contact has to live in the area! She lives a good 6 hour drive away.

They were perplexed at first why I had put no but I explained she doesn't live in local area as asked. We also have no other family that live close by. Apart from my friends and some work colleagues I struggled to put emergency contact.

I felt coming away from the interview that I may have jeopardised our chances.

Should I do a follow up email ?
Also feeling very hormonal and full of tears today 😞

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preppingforlife · 15/06/2022 20:21

Please don't overthink it. They probably didn't.

Siepie · 15/06/2022 20:28

I'd think forms like that are more an admin thing than a part of any decision making process.

However, I don't really understand why you'd put an emergency contact who you don't want them to contact. We have no relatives nearby, so we put a close friend as DS' third emergency contact (after me and DP).

Original poster

winterfox78 · 15/06/2022 21:59

@Siepie I don't know why I didn't put a close friend, I explained that MIL lives 6 hour drive away...to try and explain it.

Im thinking I should email the head of the preschool who we met and give an emergency contact that they can call.

I feel so ridiculous and I hope it hasn't deterred our chances for a place.

OP posts:

Smartiepants79 · 15/06/2022 22:05

Why would who your emergency contacts are jeopardise your chances? I’m guessing this must be a private Pre-school??
Its just admin. I do think you need to think of a local person who could be a contact though.
Just email and say you want you change your contact.
It really won’t have any baring on whether they think your DC is suitable for their school though.

minipie · 15/06/2022 22:09

I’ve never heard of a selective pre school, all the ones near me (private pre schools feeding to private preps) offer their places on a first come first served basis.

Are you sure it was an “interview”? It wasn’t just an administrative meeting?

SkadoodleLou · 15/06/2022 22:10

You just put a friend down, they may not be able to collect your child but the friend may be able to contact you, your office etc to get hold of you. They will know more about your life than preschool and can find other ways to contact you.

I have been the emergency contact for 2 friends from reception all the way through and never had a phone call to collect their child. A parent has always been reachable.

I have school etc on a setting on my phone to break through silencing my phone, plus a specific ringtone so I know it is them calling.

Just ask a friend, chances are you or your partner will be available to take the call and collect your child.

Original poster

winterfox78 · 16/06/2022 08:37

@minipie I was unsure what the purpose of the interview was.
Hubby thinks it was a quick meet and tick box exercise.

I think I'm partly overthinking it...I felt nervous about it all day I must admit.

I just feel silly adding my mil and then adding don't contact her 😩
Probably think I'm mad

OP posts:

Ambrosialea · 03/05/2023 03:37

We had a similar issue. The form asked for an emergency contact beside my husband and I so I listed my father (son’s grandfather, 61 yr old, lives 1 hr 45 mins away). They contacted me asking for 2 more contacts. I told them the truth, that his other grandparents live 13 hours away. They said they still needed at least one more and it could be a neighbor, friend, etc…

We have never spoken to our neighbors. We moved from out of state (12+ hr drive) and that is where my husband’s old friends are. He is a stay at home Dad so he has no co-workers and I do not hang out or socialize with co-workers outside of work. (I work from home so there is little socializing.) The only people who live in the state that I have a personal phone numbers for is my father (which I had already given them) and an old friend from highschool (I graduated over 20 yrs ago) who I talk to a few times a year. We have 3 kids and the oldest is 6 yrs old with ADHD which makes it hard to leave the house so we basically only leave the house to get groceries or takeout. We have no friends and they sure made me feel like I was the only one who ever has this issue 🙁

seashoreone · 03/05/2023 07:46

@Ambrosialea hi thanks for posting. Just an update on this old post I put up...
All was absolutely fine!
I put down a good mum friend as an emergency contact... to be honest unless something horrendous happens to DH and I, they probably won't ever used it.
They just needed it. I was more making the point it asked for a close relative who lived in the area and could collect DC if needed...

Is there anyone you could put down as a phone contact at least.

Ambrosialea · 03/05/2023 12:58

I am glad it turned out for you👍 I sent them that friend from high school’s #. She lives a couple hours away, but hopefully that is good enough.

It is the 2nd time the issue came up in the last couple weeks since I am going to need a medical procedure that requires an adult to be present and drive me home, but there is no way we could take my kids (especially the one with ADHD) to sit in a waiting room for a couple hours so DH cannot do it.

I sure feel like a loser with no friends 😕

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