1st day nursery nerves

[wubblybubbly]

Hi, brand new to this but would love some reassurance, if there's any out there?

My 3yr old son starts state nursery on Thursday and we've just had our home visit. Everything seems fine but I've just found out I have to hand him over and collect him at the door to the school, there's no facility for me to go in with him and help him with his coat or just to hold his hand!

Neither of us has ever been into the school beyond the reception area before, although we've done playgroups, I've always stayed with him and he's only ever been left with Grandma up until now.

He's a fairly confident little boy with us, but always a little shy and clingy in new situations. I suppose he'll be okay, it's only for an hour the first day, but I feel like bursting into tears that I've got to just pass him over at the door to go into this big strange place with people he doesn't know.

Is this sort of set up normal? I don't feel at all happy but really don't know what to do?

Thank you

I dont understand why you can not enter the nursery and hang his coat up and say goodbye. When i take my son to nursery we go through the front door security and then to his classroom, put his coat on his peg, go into the room, i give him a kiss and away he goes. I dont think yabu to have the same set up as me, this is normal routine for a nursery. If this is really bothering you talk to the nursery. They should understand your feelings and maybe come to an arrangement for the first few drop off's until your child is happy.

It's often easier that way though
an hour is a short time and if you spend the first ten minutes with him and if he is tearful then he'll only have fifty minutes left
you can volunteer to help with a session later on to see what goes on
good luck

Thanks very much for the replies, I've stewed over this all day and have had a few tears.

Perhaps if we'd been inside the school and seen the set up I would probably feel a bit easier. My hubby thinks I'm being ridiculous, so lot's of support there, not!

I take your point compo, in fact, that's exactly what one of friends said to me a little earlier and it has gone someway to reassuring me. I know you're being sensible, but I can't over the fact that he's just 3 and I can probably count on one hand the number of times he's been away from me, simply because we've no family living close by.

Daisychainz, what they said today was that the nursery was too small for all the parents so they didn't let them in and the nursery class is around the back of the school, so I assume they don't want us all traipsing through the corridors.

I do so want to ring and demand to see him to the class door at least, but then again, I hate making trouble and causing a fuss, it's got my head in bits. I reckon what I'm really scared of is that they'll just say no and then what do I do? Tell them to stick their nursery place probably!

Well, due to the weather, my DS won't be starting nursery school tomorrow after all! A big relief but only a temporary reprieve!

I've telephoned the school and arranged to go in early on the day they re-open. We can both go and have a look around before they chuck us both back out into the playground, then he'll go in again with all the other children and the teacher.

At least I'll have some idea of the set up and where he'll be and I'm hoping it might reassure him a little bit too!

Thank you compo and daisychainz for your help and advice.

Your welcome! I think its great that you are going in a bit earlier to have a look around the nursery first. Im sure your Ds will be very happy to be at nursery and you will enjoy the time too

Thanks again daisychainz, I can't tell you helpful it was just to hear a sympathetic voice, everyone around me was trying to reassure me but I ended up feeling like some kind of neurotic.

DS eventually got to start yesterday, we went in early and although he was a bit hesitant at first he was soon occupied making a cup of tea with one of his teachers, at which point I was politely shown the door and left.

1 hour later, he came out beaming, telling all about the fun he'd had and how he wanted to go back tomorrow!

Today he went in with the rest of his class without a backwards glance and reappeared an hour and half later munching an apple with a picture clasped tightly in his hands.

Other than a whole load of 'I love you so much Mammy' (which I'm rather partial to!) he's barely batted an eyelid at the whole experience and he's looking forward to going again tomorrow.