Moving from private nursery to pre-school - the adult child ratios seem so different!

[GColdtimer]

At the moment DD goes 1 day a week to a private nursery. She will get funding for a pre-school place from April so I am thinking of moving her and do 3 mornings instead of the whole (long) day. However, when I went to look around there seemed to be so many children to adults especially in comparison to her day nursery. I think the teacher said it was 1 to 8 or something which seems like a lot of 3 year olds to control. I think it is 1 to 4 at the moment.

I liked the setting, its a 5 minute walk away
and although DD clung to my legs the whole time we were there she SAID she would like to go back.

The only thing that is niggling me is the ratio? Did anyone else have these kind or concerns or is it just me>

Ofsted ratios are 1:8 and you may find she will be on same ratio at nursery when she turns three (gather its some time this term from grant dates). If you liked it i would give it a go, generally pre-school don;t have as many domestic jobs such as nappies/dinner etc so don't need as many staff (no offence to preschool staff meant!)

She is 3 in April actually so I think the funding kicks in from the summer term? I hadn't thought of the domestic jobs issue and I also forget that she is growing up and can do more things for herself. I suppose when they are at school its more like 1 to 30 so at least this way they start to get used to it.

Another question, should I run them in tandem for a couple of weeks or should I just leave the nursery and join the pre-school.

Funding will be from summer term your right. Its up to you about running them in tandem, you know how your DD will react. I think as long as she has had some settling sessions at pre-school she should be fine, as she is used to being away from mum which is the hardest bit!

Can understand your nervous, i;m going back to work in 5 weeks (DS is 7mths), i'm lucky as coming to the nursery i manage 1 day per week and granny having him the other 2 and i'm so worried!

Its so hard isn't it. DD has been going to nursery one day a week since she was 10 months and grandma for another 2 like you. It has worked really well for us, but I think she would really benefit from being with more children her own age. Like a lot of private nurseries (I would imagine), there are not that many pre-school age children there.

Good luck with going back to work. Our nursery manager also has her DD with her (full time) and it works really well.

You know it will be fine. Won't stop you stressing though!

My dd's kindergarten teacher had 20 2.5 to 3.5 year olds in her class last year. Even the thought of it makes me wibble. I would have thought one could spend the whole morning just taking them to the toilet.

Where I live children go to state maintaINED school nursery the September after they turn 3 where the rations are 1:13.

The ratio even at your private nursery will more than likely change to 1:8 after your dc turns 3.

portofino, the very thought makes me wibble too - I can just about manage DD and the occassioal playdate

Yes, I hadn't realised that islandofsodar. Thing is, I think our nursery only has about 5 over 3 with one teacher and she is already in that group so it used to quite a lot of attention. Not that not having it will do her any harm, I'm sure.

I thought the cut off for funding was April 1st so you'd only get it from September.

Have just spoken to them.

They run a daycare element which is 1-8 which is where she will go in April - it is still eligible for funding. Then she will move to the nursery class, which is actually run at the same time in the same place so virtually the same thing, in September where it is 1-13.

So there is a nursery class with 13 children, a day care class with 8, 1 teacher, 1 NVQ4 and a floating nursery assistant. I think.

God its confusing.

That is what I thought LIZS - the administrator could have got it wrong I suppose.

My dd's birthday is early May and she only got funding from September, we're funded for up to 15hrs per term time week here, but some places its 12.5 hrs. Her ratio is 1:8 until they start school, up to 24 children in the morning and up to 16 in the afternoon, so its quieter when they are tired. But that is a max, there are usually less children with holidays/sickness etc. and they have parent helpers too, who don't count as part of the ratio. Can you get her into the preschool that precedes the school whe will go to, its great for them to go up with their friends, I would think thats 1 of the main advantages of preschool. Although we are having to appeal for DD's place at the mo as we are out of catchment, the school does have room and we have good grounds so hopefully she'll get her place, the head seems to think she'll be fine, just the council following procedure.