Starting school nursery for last half of summer term

[birdseed]

we have decided to send our shy summer born son to a nearby private school for reception. Am trying to decide whether to send him to the attached nursey for the second half of summer term to get him used to the school, as they offer no settling in sessions this term nor a settling in period with half days in sept, just 5x 7h days straight away, which he will find v tough.

The children get one visit at the end of summer term and then in sept they ask you to drop to door and run. Most will have come up from the nursery and so it is less of a shock.

He currently does just 3 sessions at nursery, and I think the jump to to 5 x 7 hour school days with no intro will be v hard for him.

So am thinking of sending him to the school nursery for last half of summer term (can't do it before as we are going on holiday and don't want to put him in, then holiday and then back in as it would be unsettling).

School nursery is 5 mornings ( or full days if wish) Nursery classroom is right next door to reception and mirror image, and share same playground. But obviously different teachers and expectations etc to get used to each time. But would get a more gentle intro time wise(ie only 3 1/4 h sessions) and hopefully get to know some of the kids. But it means one more change, and he took a while to settle at last nursery. On plus side the staff at current nursery seem pretty uninspiring and he often comes out a bit subdued. But better the devil you know?

Has anyone done anything similar or is a teacher who has had children do similar? If so any advice?

I wouldn't myself.

To settle him in one setting, then he will have a long period of holidays then start somewhere else new in September. Could you just increase his time at his current nursery a bit to see how he gets on?

Otherwise it seems a lot of unnecessary changes? DD started straight to full time in reception in September with no settling period - she was tired and grumpy but it was fine, really.

I wouldn't either - I would think moving to the nursery produces marginal benefits and is more likely just to be disruptive. Plus I wouldn't think it was a normal time for a child to start so the nursery won't do any particular type settling in with him. Can you increase the sessions at his current nursery so he at least gets used to a longer day? Though I have to say I don't think going straight to full days is such a big deal - the going at all is the big shock!

i did this last year and it worked well. DD was in a private nursery and had been since she was 8 months. I applied for an out of catchment school so didnt put her in the pre school initially incase she didn't get in the school. After her place was confirmed, the head of foundation actually rang me and asked me to put her in pre school for some sessions to make friends!

I was also going on holiday in early June so I only put her in 3 morning per week for the last 5 weeks of summer term. It helped loads as she wouldn't have known anyone. Most kids in the pre school didn't even notice starting reception as they had been into the hall, lunch area so often etc and had seen the teachers around school.

DD did 2 or 3 full days a week at a day nursery from being 9 months old.

In the March we decided she was going to start in the private school reception class in September. She started one day a week in the private school nursery after Easter - think she went 12 times total.

I didn't move her completely as she was settled and had friends at her nursery and needed childcare over the summer.

One was school to DD and the other nursery. Didn't confuse her.

Pro's were she made friends, got used to the school - took part in assembly, sportsday, wearing the uniform, where the toilets were etc. Can't think of any cons.

Reception and nursery use each others rooms, shared same toilets, same outdoor area, shared snack time.

Day 1 reception she came home from school talking about the new girl (12 days in nursery meant she wasn't considered a new girl!) All the rest of the class came up from nursery.

Sounds like your school may be similar - virtually all the children will have been to the nursery. I wouldn't think of it as an extra move but starting school early - will give him a gentle intro and chance to do the fun things they do at the end of term.

Thank you all for taking the time to write such long replies - very much appreciated. Especially good to hear arguments/ experiences of both for and against.

It is really reassuring to hear that it worked for you dixiechick and sunnyday. I am really tempted to put him in from half term. My only worry is that he is a shy little boy and I don't know how long it would take him to settle, but at least I figure if he has a bad morning then it is only 3 1/4 h so less than half the school day length at that school. Were your children shy at the time they did it?

I don't really want to add more nursery sessions or lengthen them as we aren't that happy with the nursery. The staff in the pre-school room have changed since we decided to keep him there for that year, and we feel it is a change for the worse and wonder whether it is contributing to his lack of confidence as he seems much more confident when out and about with us (though that could just be us being there). It isn't so bad that I would take him out because of it, as maybe better the devil you know. But we don't want to add extra sessions.

On the basis of your last post, definitely go for it. It will be good for him to have a taster of a new, hopefully more inspiring pre school setting before September. I would talk to him in very positive, yet not too excited way(this used to put my used to be shy DS off, he is less shy now age 5.5). I can only see positives from it- you may get to meet one or two parents and this will help you too as well as him feel more secure about September. I would also consider after the first week maybe putting him in for a whole day as this can really help them get used to the longer day in September. My DS is October born so much older, but did 2 whole days and 3 mornings at the school nursery. I think being there all day also is good for shy ones as they actually have longer to get over their nerves and are around the other children for longer.

DD wasn't chatty with strangers when she started but TBH took to it like a duck to water. Was more structured than her other nursery and she enjoyed joining in with all the activities.

She was very kindly invited to a birthday party when she had only been once or twice - was a good chance to meet other parents.

If the school itself runs any holiday care over summer then think about using it even if you don't need childcare. DD again went one day a week - had fun and got to know children/staff/school building.

I would do it. It means that your DS may even form friendships before starting school when there are allowed to interact/play rather than do work. This way at least when he starts not every face in the playground will be a stranger.

I agree, school preschool is so different to nursery - and as most kids will be their age (unlike nursery where some will be younger) it helps them feel grown up. DD was very shy too when she went but on the first day when i went to collect her, she told me to go away as she wanted to stay!

I would do it tbh. It will mean he's at least familiar with the site and some of the kids before he moves to reception and the nursery staff will probably be talking a lot about the transition in the last half term.

Different situation but we were moving DS2 at the end of Y1 from private to State and had to take the place for the last half term of Y1 to guarantee it which we didn't really want but had no choice. It worked out really well - it gave DS2 a chance to make friends, some of whom he then saw over the Summer holidays, so when he went back for Y2 he was no longer "the new kid".

If most of the children will be his classmates I think I would go for it too. Get him a bit more used to the environment etc.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. It has been helpful to hear, and has made me feel happy that it isn't a stupid plan, and certainly worth a go.

Decision made - we have rung the school to ask to do it and head is just double checking that there is space and if so then all set for 2nd half of term.

So all being well, then uniform to buy for the first time ever and nametapes to sew! Glad I didn't have to do it last September, as he still seems too young for uniform, as he will be 3 for the rest of term, only turning 4 in the summer holidays!