Starting private primary school at Nursery or Reception?

[Keyboardpacifist]

If you sent your child to private school for primary level, did you start them at normal Reception year (sept after 4th birthday) or in the year previous for Nursery (sept after 3rd birthday)?

We're shortlisting schools, some don't even have a nursery year so a moot point. Of the ones that do, one says that's their main intake and the other doesn't specify. Just trying to figure out what the dis/advantages would be from keeping DD where she is until Reception or making the move a year prior.

Available hours maybe / wrap-around options, and whether they accept 30hrs funding. But maybe they settle into school better ready for learning in Reception if they started at Nursery?

We started in reception as the nursery attached to the school was term time only, so covering holidays would have been a nightmare. Don’t think it made any difference in terms of settling in when starting reception to be honest.

Do whatever works best logistically and financially.

How competitive is it at 4+?

Some schools are easier to get a place at 3+, so parents choose that route to bank a spot.

If that’s not the case I don’t think it matters much, and I’d do whatever is logistically easier.

Dc started Reception but was one of 4 newbies out of over 50. Depends how the school is structured and whether the nursery hours (short days, limited hours, termtime only etc) would work for you

Unsure how competitive. None of them are selective until Y1 at the earliest so it's down to the registration order. But then if they have a full cohort in the Nursery year there might be no space for Reception intake? Not sure how it works really.

Yes, holiday logistics might be what swings it. I think they all do school term time and hours from Nursery

Logistics is a very big thing. There are some holiday clubs that will take from 3 near me but they are few and far between. Majority will take from 5 (so private term dates can be an issue even in reception for the younger ones).

I would also look very carefully at the wrap around provisions and expectations of the nursery kids. I absolutely love my daughter’s prep but I would have never used the nursery. I’d much prefer 3 year olds to be in a dedicated setting for their age range where the ratio is higher and they have consistency all year round.

For example, at our prep they bring the nursery kids out to school concerts for example and they often look bored shitless. It’s just too much for a 3 year old to sit there for an hour. I’ve seen some of the kids at the end of the day for wrap around care and they look exhausted. I think it’s all a bit much for them being with the 4-11 year olds after school, the ratio is nowhere near what a nursery would be. I don’t doubt they get a well rounded education 9-3 with caring staff but the snippets I’ve seen put me off completely.