Move from Pre-school to Reception - whats best???

[planestrainsautomobiles]

Just looking for advice from any of you who have school-age children.....

My DS1 (nearly 3) attends a local Montessori Pre-School 3 mornings a week, its a wonderful nursery and is highly regarded in the local area.

I'm in the process of applying for a nursery place for DS1 at our local primary school. The school is rated Good by Ofsted and is also highly regarded locally.

Just stuck on the two options:

1. Keep him at his Montessori pre-school until he starts Reception in Sept 2012

1. Move him into the school-attached nursery in Sept 2011 for 3 terms prior to starting Reception

Do you think pre-schoolers who attend a private pre-school start nursery at a higher level (reading / writing) than those who attend a school nursery? (Thinking about the class size ratio)

In your experience do children who attend the school-attached nursery settle a lot better in Reception? (Wondering about social groups formed in nursery)

TIA

Do you think pre-schoolers who attend a private pre-school start nursery at a higher level (reading / writing) than those who attend a school nursery? (Thinking about the class size ratio)

• Yes, undoubtedly.

I would not consider moving your DS from his current pre-school for a single second. He's happy there, and you are happy with him being there.

In your experience do children who attend the school-attached nursery settle a lot better in Reception? (Wondering about social groups formed in nursery)

• Not in the slightest.

HTH!

There are pros and cons both ways, hence your dilemma. But plenty of other things are important besides reading and writing: art, music, PE, nature and getting out into parks or the countryside, etc. And I don't doubt Montessori does all that pretty well. Then friendship groups could be considered: will Montessori friends go into the same Reception class as DS? Be nice if he knows other children there when he gets to 'big school'.

Sorry - that probably doesn't help you much! Talk to other parents and get different viewpoints.

[KS1 class helper]

Depends on the nursery. In my experience, DS1 who attended a different pre school state nursery to the reception class he joined, was a bit behind his new friends in reception. His nursery was utterly fab, but had a different agenda. His new school has far more emphasis on academic achievement.

Where will he be happiest, and what is the easiest option for you?

What Funnys said. My DD's private pre-school was very strong on encouraging creativity and I think set her off on a long-term love of arts and crafts. It was in a lovely setting, and she was very happy in a small group of close mates. They didn't push early reading hard though, and when DD moved to Reception, she was one of only a few of the older children in the year who wasn't able to read quite fluently. Her teacher was quite disapproving, but she caught up within a term and I do think the pre-school in this case did the right thing by her, though it was less overtly academic.

DD was at the private pre-school for childcare reasons, and was one of only two children in Reception who hadn't attended the school nursery. This did cause some anxiety for her before she started (she was a bit freaked out on induction day and rather apprehensive over the summer, though I did manage to find her a friend from the new school over the summer), but she settled in very quickly, by morning break on the first day, I'd say.

Depends on the nursery and the child (and the peer group).

DS went to a private nursery before starting school. DD went to the nursery attached to the school. I found the private nursery to be LESS academic than the school nursery (and as it taught e.g. phonics in a different way, somewhat confusing for DS for the first few weeks.

It took DS a few weeks to settle in, but after that he was fine. DD went up to school minus her best friend from nursery so she also had some readjusting time. However in DD's year group there are only 2 girls who didn't go to the nursery (by chance, there are a lot of new boys!). I understand that they have found it harder to settle down. If the majority of the school nursery go onto the school, I think this would be a definite consideration.

Thanks for all your responses....

From what I can gather, there will definitely be a mixed intake and his two little BFs at his Montessori pre-school are staying on for nursery and will then be going to the same school as him. Plus a few other mums have also mentioned that they are planning on leaving their LOs at the M pre-school for the nursery year.

They do soo many lovely things at his pre-school (LOTS of craft, baking & cooking, playing in huge garden, themed activity). Plus there is an option for them to stay for a longer day and do afternoon sessions until 3pm which I hope he'll be able to manage twice a week when he gets to 3 3/4 in Sept. (Funnys thanks for the "Whats easier for you" comment - I have a little DS2 also so forget to consider trying to make my life a little easier)

I am swaying a little to keeping him where he is - just need to talk to DH about it.

Thanks again for all your responses - will also sound out other Mums (I always thought it was a little nosey to ask). I thought I was making this decision a lot harder than it needs to be so its really good to get some views from mums with RL experience.

My DD stayed at private nursery and joined in Reception Year. At first about 6 children were going to go to the same school, but for various reasons only 2 of them did, which I was a little worried about.

My DD is doing very well at school, however the other child from the same nursery is not doing so well, so a lot does just depend on each child. Some make leaps forward at different times, some at just better at certain things generally. However, the children that went to a local private nursery that is a little more academically inclined, are all doing very well.

Socially, I notice the ones that went to the school nursery are close. The children having the hardest time are the shy/quiet ones who didn't go to the school nursery.

My dd is very outgoing and made many friends very quickly.

Pterosaur are you me ?

DS had exactly the same experience and found it difficult at first joining a group of 28 children, most of whom had been at nursery together. He is one of the oldest in his class, and academically speaking was nowhere near as advanced as some of his younger classmates.

He has really settled in now though, made loads of new friends and his reading and writing are coming on really well.

It wasn't my choice that he attended a different school nursery to the school he now attends, and to start with I was a bit that he had had a slightly disadvantaged start.

Yes Funnys, I am you.

Scary, huh?