Changing Schools after a term

[mumsareglam]

My DS turned 4 in Sep. We decided to move him from nursery where he had been from 2 years old to a pre-school partly for financial reasons to fit in with my older DSs term time. We also thought the structure might help prepare him for reception. I have since realised the pre-school is very formal and IMO too structured for children of this young age.

He has not settled and really wants to go back to his nursery which is less formal and very play based (they would happily have him back). Not sure what to do for the best, obviously I want him to be happy but my practical hat thinks it's only till July so he might as well stay where he is.

Does the nursery not take pre-school funding?
How often does he go each week?

Knowing what i know now, I'd move him back to where he is happy HOWEVER, if he's only going for instance for 2 sessions a week it could take a while for him to settle..

Is there another pre-school that you could visit/move to? It certainly should still be play based ... In what ways do you think it's too structured?

July IS a long way away if he's not happy and I get the impression you are not keen on it either?? I'd certainly pay attention to your gut instinct on this.

Cazzr he goes full time, 5 days a week and both take pre-school funding. We were losing out at the nursery as he never went during the school holidays even though we had paid. (our own choice)

The old nursery was small and informal, I could have a chat with the teachers ask what kind of day he?d had, what they had eaten etc. The new one is like a school they hand him to you at the door and there is not much room for discussion.

My DS is very lively and can be boisterous, the pre-school seem very keen to make him be as quiet as possible. They shake hands with the teachers on the way in and out, parents have to wait outside and are not allowed in the classroom. Over half term we?ve got the first set of phonic sounds to practice. I am not totally against it but I just think it?s a lot for 3 and 4 year olds to take in and rather unnecessary. I also feel rather guilty as my older DS was at the nursery until the term he started school.

Is the new pre-school attached to a school? It sounds like your ds is effectively in a reception class. As he's only just 4, he may not be ready for the more structured environment. My heart would say let him go back to the nursery, where the activities may be more suited to him.

It is not, but it is a feeder to most of the local schools around. My heart says to move him. Every morning he says "why did you make me come here" my brother skipped this school I wanted to skip it too

I didn't think at 4 they were supposed to have such opinions!

Move him! So what if you loose some money during the holidays- its not like there are many of them to lose it in between now & September

I much preferered the nursery set up with the long chats and hand overs too

It does seem very formal for a preschool, especially as reception is much less formal than that and is play based!

Move him back - it's a long time to be miserable and he may decide he doesn't like school which will make settling into reception harder.