How to spread out 15 hours in nursery for a 3 year old

[Concordia]

The nursery has 3 hour sessions 9-12 and 12-3. Would you go for -
2 six hour days and 1 3 hour morning /afternoon
or
3 three hour mornings and 1 long 6 hour day
or 5 three hour mornings
to use up 15 hours free in a nursery for a child who will be 3y3m on entry?

Here, they have 5 half days which is quite good as it is not too long a day for them. If you are using it as childcare while you are at work, then would either be better than the other?

are you working?
I think a session in the morning everyday is nicest

dd is 2.9 she does 3 afternoons now. when she gets the free place she'll go 5 afternoons.

on maternity leave. will have to go back to work for 2 or 3 days a week a month after the nursery starts and will send DD (aged 1) to a childminder. i was hoping that childminder could collect / take DS to nursery for the sessions. Obviously would be cheaper if i used more childminder and less nursery on those days but think that after 3 months i am likely to stop work altogether, and then maybe 6 hour days may not be right if i am at home with my DCs. But i don't think i can change the sessions mid year as the nursery is very popular.

sorry if that sounded very confusing - it is a confusing situation!

Have just read a book on this time in nursery thing. It's a short book and very readable, Raising Babies by Steve Biddulph. His take on it is at 3 years, they are able for 3 short days at nursery. He doesn't expand on how short a short day is. But as you say it's a bit complicated if you might be changing your work schedule soon. My feeling would be to fit in with your work. The book is worth a read tho.

It has to depend on your child a bit. If s/he can't cope with out a nap/ rest in teh afternoon do mornings, if they are rubbish at getting up do afternoons etc. My lad will be starting at 3.2 with just 3 mornings, it will be quite enough for him and I think he will need a nap on those afternoons and teh days off in between to chill at home or do less busy activities. BUT that is my boy and how he is.

personally, I'd go for 5 x 3hr mornings. They get nicely used to getting up in the morning, dressed, breakfast and out to school, and they have the continuity of going every day.

My ds1 does 2 full days (9-3) so 12 hours suits him brilliantly!