Anyone else's child started pre-school still in nappies? What does your pre-school do?

[Miaou]

Ds1 is 3 (just) and has just started nursery (by which I mean the 2.5 hour daily session provided as of right to all 3 and 4 year olds in Scotland, I know we all call it different things!). There are two members of staff there and it is obviously impossible for them to change him. Today was his second session and (as pre-arranged) I had a phonecall asking me to come and change him as he had pooed.

I am expecting a "chat" with the nursery teachers later this week as we work out what to do for the best. There are good facilities on the premises to change him (put in for a child with CP who is still at the school, but she has a keyworker dedicated to her to deal with that). This is the first time the nursery has taken 3 year olds and is not a problem that has arisen before (and as far as I can tell, he is the only one still in nappies!).

He has no SN so I have no way of getting "support" that way. I'm not envisaging him being ready to potty train before the October break at the earliest (he still shows no signs of being ready).

Anyone else in /has been in this position? What happens where you are?

Hello, I wondered if anyone can offer advice. I have 2 children, one is in a state nursery,(the other is only two and at home)and I hoping to get 3yr old into reception of same school in September. My dilemma is a good one... I have been fortunate to have been given 1 week holiday (a gift!) out of school holiday term and have to decide if I take our 3 yr old with me. Does anyone have experience of this type of thing with state schools? I don't want to jeopardise our chance of a place in September as we love the school but equally it is nursery level and part of me thinks a week in the sun in middle of winter wouldn't be bad a thing. Normally we dont miss a day of term but this has come out of blue. Any advice appreciated and of course, I realise this is a good problem to have . I do have the option of leaving our 3 yr old in good hands that week so I can still go but.. I will feel very guilty!

Hi I've just read through the messages to see why this thread is current and found your dilemma.

As far as I know, there's no legal obligation for your child to 'be educated' until they're 5yo. The admissions criteria of the school shouldn't included attendance at pre-school. Usually anything to do with attached pre-schools comes way down the admissions criteriam after distance of home to school and whether siblings are at school.

Once DCs are 5 and at school, then schools start to be strict about attendance - it's one of the things measured in league tables. Regular absence will start having questions asked, but IME usually more than 1 week out of 39!

For us, we took holidays in term time while DS1 was at pre-school 'because we could' and we won't do it again now he is at school (see the cost rise ). One week we did a scrap book (pack a scrap book and a glue stick) and collected tickets and leaflets on our travels to stick in. When we got home we printed out photos to put in and DS took this into pre-school. Pre-school really appreciated the opportunities for talking that this provided.

If your DCs are anything like ours, the wintry weather has lost it's sparkle and a holiday would be fantastic!

(Just to note that pre-school will still charge you any 'extras', eg lunch session fees, while your DC is absent).

Hope you can make a guilt-free decision! Have a lovely time on holiday!!