Freaked out by prospect of DS starting school

[podsquash]

Hello,

My son is 3.5 and registered to be starting at the nursery attached to the local primary in September, 5 afternoons a week. Not proper school yet but there is uniform and everything (this is too much for me!). 26 children, one teacher and a nursery assistant - big change from his pre-school where there are 5 members of staff each session.

Went for a visit with him the other day and there were broken toys, a sharp piece of wire in the playground, the nursery assistant was quite unfriendly to me, etc. Plus there will be building work there so they will be in temporary accommodation for most of the year, in all likelihood.

I'm quite freaked out and feel sick at the thought of sending him there 5 afternoons a week. I'm jst starting to enjoy him again after a difficult year and it seems silly to send him away! It is partly because I'm not ready to give up nice days out and so on, and I know can always take him out of school for those as it is not proper school yet. I'm thinking maybe 2 afternoons would be good for a while - but even that doesn't feel right, so I'm actually thinking of not sending him at all and waiting until reception.

Any thoughts?

I know it's hard to let go and it is a shock that little ones are thrust into a 'proper' school environment so you - I think ds was about same age,maybe a few months older,when he started at the nursery attached to primary school. However it did give him really good start and he enjoyed it very much- it prepared the was for Reception which is proper school, so imo I think you should let him go...maybe you are looking too hard for things to prevent you feeling happy about letting him go ? If concrned about the broken toys etc speak to the teacher/school . Temporary accomodation is unlikely to be an old shed ! See the nursery nurse again perhaps,get to know her a bit.

sorry, lots of mistakes in that post...bit early for me !

Sounds like you are happy with his pre-school. Is there any reason why he can't continue there for another year?
Around here we don't have school nursery classes so my DC stayed at their lovely pre-school until they started school. I would share your concerns about the staff/child ratio, it all sounds too formal for a 3yo.

If you are really uncomfortable with it then don't send him. As chippy says is there any reason not to keep him at pre-school if you are both happy with that arrangement.
It's not essential to send him to the nursery and it does sound very formal from what you have said. That's without your other concerns.

Keep him at the preschool or find another plagroup? No need to a formal environment until they're in reception.

Thanks for your suggestions, ladies. I think that I don't trust the setting, basically. I have been thinking that if I was happier with the staff attitude, the staff ratios, and the physical environment I would probably be totally fine about sending my son there - maybe not 5 afternoons but certainly some of the week. As it is, I'm not happy, so will be looking elsewhere. My husband is a governor at the school (through the church) so this is somewhat scandalous but I don't care - plus I know my comments will find their way into the system so I'm not just running away without helping to change a local school. I won't deregister him but I'm sure that I will find something else or just keep him at home for a bit. I think the pre-school/playgroup thing he is presently at would probably be fine although he would definitely be the oldest.

Thanks for your thoughts. Really helpful.

I felt the same with my first DC. So he only went 2 days per week for pretty much the first year, this was our choice and we chatted to the Nursery and they agreed he wasn't quite yet ready for such strictness.

It was when I introduced him to her, example: This is Betty and she said no its Mrs Silver! [gulp] [he is 3 ffs]!

My 2nd child was quite different and he likes the routine of Nursery. I still think they are too strict, at times.

Hi

We kept DD1 in her lovely preschool as she took ages to come out of her shell and felt a move to a school nursery would unsettle her again. she has done really well and will be starting reception in september. I really enjoyed the 2 days a week she was still at home. each child/situation is different. my twin DD2 and 3 are more out going and will cope better woth the school nirsery environment. why not keep your DS at his preschool. he's still very young and there's plenty of time to get into the school system.