Pre-school altered start and finish times

[MGMidget]

Just wondered if I'm alone in thinking that a pre-school nursery that lengthens its session times could cause lots of inconvenience to parents? The nursery my son was due to start in Sept has just told me they are doing this from Sept. I've said I'm not happy and asked for my deposit back but they tell me I can't have it as a) they've only changed the session times by half an hour and b) I could drop my son off and pick him up at the original start and finish times if I wanted to. Just wondered what others thought of this? I am worried he would be missing out on important events each day, feeling a bit of outsider by being dropped off late and picked up early. Also, he hates being dragged away from activities before they have finished - I don't know if that will improve by Sept when he's nearly 3!

Government rules mean that preschools have to offer 3 hour sessions from September, so it's really not their fault.

It prob wasnt the preschool's idea, the gov is changing funding from 12.5 to 15 hours per week (our changed last sept and daily sessions increased by 15 min at beginnig and end). It was a pain at first but has adjusted well, they are flexible in 15min at beginning as children with siblings at schools starting then are late.

There are also no activites running at pick up time, more of a general pack up, discussion and stories.

Next sept, it is supposed to be that you can choose your own session times like at daycare, so all change again trust me preschool committee work is no fun! s gov ialways changing the goalposts

OK, useful feedback. However, the nursery is increasing session times to 3.5 hours. They are currently 3 hours so its not the government that has forced this particular change of session times. However, they are changing the session times in order to charge over and above the 'free' place entitlement. I'm more concerned about the length of the sessions and also the finish time. Appreciate they may 'wind down' at the end but I'm worried my son won't be happy to leave abruptly without the 'wind down' - he's attended playgroups with me but gets upset if I try to leave early.

My lo's nursery changed their by 15 minutes start and finish last september. We were informed of it in something like May I think so it really wasnt a great problem.

Oh ok, then it prob is that they cant survive on the gov funding for sessions and want longer ones so they can charge a top up fee and not go bust.

But i understand that 3.5 hrs isnt a good length for a session, my dd stays for two back to bsck sessions now and has since 3.8 ish but at just 3 it was a nightmare when we were allocated an afternoon session as she missed out on her nap.....so they 3.5 hrs wouldnt have worked.

I think alot depends on his peers to, if there is a staggered finish, with other children leaving before session officially ends he might be ok, but if he is the only one to leave early he will prob have a tantrum (understandably).

Surely if the session time has shifted to 3.5 hours you should be able to use part of your entitlement to have that additional 0.5 hour?

At ours we've just shifted all the session times, and now have multiple drop off times and pick up times. We don't and can't charge top ups fees. Parents can choose to use their entitlement for any of the sessions.

Feedback from parents has been very positive so far. They love the flexibility.

MGMidget - thought about joining the committee? It's a great way of being able to influence decisions and remove things that aren't parent-friendly

Why can't you drop him off when the session starts?
Don't get why it's a problem?

Just take him half an hour later. He won't realise that everyone has been there since the start.

Which nursery is this?

Agree with the committee, our local playgroup is crying out for people to join the committee. Why are the longer sessions a problem? My 3 year old daughter would love longer at playgroup!

My kids pre-school was a 4 hour session that included taking a packed lunch. It was BLISS.

Without knowing WHY you're unable to adapt to the new times it's hard to comment. If it's a question if preplanned childcare, cm picking up from pre-school etc or your working hours then I see why you'd be a little cross, but really, just drop him late or pick up early, at 3 he's really not going to 'get' the situation enough to object. He'll just get used to it being his routine.

Part of the new 15 hour entitlement is flexible attendance. So for our preschool, it is open from 0900-1230, but parents can choose to drop off at either 0900 or 0930, and pick up at 1200 or 1230 (bring lunch for DC to eat if picking up at 1230).

I'm Treasurer of a Pre-School and the whole idea is that we should be as flexible as possible. To be extending the session time so that you can continue to charge a "top-up" is totally against the spririt and I think their County Council would take a pretty dim view of it. We will do sessions of 9-12 12.00 - 12.30-lunch, 12:30 -3:30 and the parents can do morning, morning plus lunch, lunch plus afternoon, afteroon only or the whole day.

I am aware that the Pre-Schools don't have to be flexible, more of an "encouragement" to be so but those that don't are likely to lose children very quickly once everyone is entitled to 15 hours.

Which bit is the Pre-School charging for? Is is Lunch?