ds has been offered an afternoon nursery place, but I wanted a morning place...

[beansmum]

and I don't know what to do.

ds is nearly 4 and could have been in afternoon nursery this year. I decided to keep him at home. Partly because I wanted to spend more time with him before getting in to the school system for the next 12yrs (or however long it is) and partly because afternoon nursery just means you can't do anything else for the whole day. At least with a morning place you have the afternoon free.

Today I got a letter from the school saying he could have an afternoon place from august. I phoned to say that I had wanted a morning place and was told I could take it or leave it but there are no morning places. So, should I take the afternoon place or just keep him at home until he starts school? Will we go insane if we have to spend another year together all day? Will he be at a disadvantage when he eventually starts school? I'm really not sure what to do.

[bobsyouruncle]

Oh that's good

[beansmum]

Oh well, it doesn't matter now. The deputy head just phoned to say ds can have a morning place tues-fri. They had given me an afternoon place because I had asked for a full week and they couldn't fit him in for that but I'm not actually bothered if he's at home mondays. phew.

[bobsyouruncle]

The same thing happened to me with ds - and to make things worse dd had a morning place!? I considered keeping ds at home too, rather than have the hassle of morning and afternoon nursery, but eventually decided to take the afternoon place but tell the nursery to keep his name on the list if a morning place came up. A child left nursery 5 months later and ds got his morning place. In retrospect, if I'd known a place would come up a few months later I probably would have kept him at home until then!

[eekamoose]

I preferred afternoons too. When you have a child at morning nursery you just tend to come home and do the housework essentials (washing, dishwasher, clearing up breakfast) but you tend to do that anyway when dc not in nursery. Leaving the house a bit tidier and you rather freer to do your own thing in the afternoon (exercise class, cycling in the park, mooching around shops).

My first dc had afternoon place, my second currently goes to morning nursery, and I often wish I'd chosen afternoons instead.

[beansmum]

no time. we could go out for a walk or to the playground, but I wouldn't be able to get to the supermarket or into town.

[ruddynorah]

why wouldn't you be able to go anywhere in the morning?

[beansmum]

and ds would be too old for the toddler groups etc that are in the mornings, he is nearly too old for them now, he is the oldest there.

[beansmum]

I would only have the afternoon free to go home, tidy up a bit and go pick ds up again. And I wouldn't be able to go anywhere in the morning, I wouldn't get back in time to drop ds off. I would be at home a lot with nothing to do.

And in an afternoon place he wont be with children his age, at the nursery here it tends to be divided so that 3yr olds have the afternoons and 4/5yr olds the morning. He wouldn't be with the children he would start school with (if we are still here, trying to move to NZ next year).

I'm not convinced it is a good idea...but I'm not sure.

[ruddynorah]

i much prefer afternoons. all her other stuff is in the mornings eg toddler groups, swimming, dancing etc.

[MrsMattie]

I'd prefer mornings for my son, too, as he is more active at this time of day, but they are more popular and aren't available at the moment at his nursery, so he does 12-3pm. I don't find it that limiting to my day, really. We have the whole morning free, then I get things done while he's at nursery (shopping, housework, lounging with a coffee and the papers ) then I pick him up and we do whatever we fancy.

[misspopov]

Take the afternoon place and let them know that you would prefer a morning and to keep you in mind if anyone else would like to swap or if a place becomes available. Often when allocating places nurseries have parents who need to change from mornings to afternoons etc for various reasons.

[foxythesnowfox]

Everyone wants a morning place, I think because it means that you can get them home, they are tired and not so demanding

You won't have to get up and out of the house in the school run times is the biggest plus I think.

I've been told children in afternoon sessions behave better because they are more tired.

My oldest two have both had morning sessions, now DC3 has an afternoon place. Now I've got my head around it its actually a really good thing.

Don't panic - there are plus points to it!

[Dropdeadfred]

You have the afternoon free....I would much prefer afternnons than mornings personally.

Take the place. heneeds to socialise and get used to an envirobment away from home sometimes...