Starting pre-school
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@Bee I do want her to attend a school setting before going to primary school but I’m absolutely sitting more on sending her at 3 and not 2. I think just the fact it’s something I’ve got to think about now is scary as the time has gone so fast! We go to play group every week too, we tried swimming but she doesn’t like it anymore 😂 Thankyou for the advice!
It depends on the child! My nearly 18month old has been going to nursery since 10 months old (no choice really as I work there 😂) and she's thriving! If you want to send them for the social aspect I'd go earlier (they learn SO MUCH from watching others) OR look in to toddler groups, preschool defo isn't your only option but it's a completely valid one!x
@Georgia we go to play group once a week and I plan to add in another too so she’ll go twice a week with me. I don’t like the idea of sending her to nursery purely cause I don’t need the childcare and id rather her be at home! Plus where I am a lot of the preschools are in an actual primary school which would help her transition into reception I think. x
Im going to start thinking about it whenever he is 4. We do playdates and we do learning activities at home. They learn alot in nursery/pre school including bad behavior and conflicting values so I rather set his base at home while he is easily manipulated.
@Ana Moore usually children in the UK start school when they’re 4 called infant school. So pre school starts at 3-4 then the latest a child can start actual school is 5. But I agree! A lot can be learnt at home and you can implement good behaviour and values. I’m hoping by 3, she will be ready for a school setting (but this still will only be 2-3 days a week, 3 hours a day.) X
@Cerys Same in Brazil! In the US the public schools start at 5 and they have pre school at 3 but you need to have a low income or zero English proficiency. The pre school 3 times a week for a few hours sounds great actually. Over here I would need to go private if I wanted that :(
@Ana Moore pre school isn’t free here, but 3-4 year olds get 15 hours free funding from the government. It’s only reception onwards that’s free (mainstream school) But yeah I think this is probably the best thing for her! I want her to adjust before going to school, but I really don’t like nurseries (personal opinion!) x
@Cerys Make sure you boost her immunity system before yall get started and reinforce it when she starts pre school. They get sick so often when they start having more contact with kids 😭
@Ana Moore oh I know! Absolutely dreading it. She goes to a toddler group every week and other play centres.. but I know it’ll be ROUGH to start with. That’s why I also thought her being older would be better. So she can communicate when she’s sick. As of right now she is hardly sick and I like it that way😅
Im currently a sahm in UK thinking exactly this (lo doesn't do nursery either - again personal choice) ! We will be signing our LO up to pre school in Jan to start in September 😭 it's so hard but I think it will be best for him (and me) to go a couple of mornings a week! 😁
@Charlee good luck!! Hope it works great for both of you. We are gonna hold off for another year but I am going to apply for a place for 2026. x
@Cerys if you don't need/want to, then don't!!! I would agree that it would help transition to reception, so you've still got plenty of time!!x
If it makes you feel sick, listen to it. Children don't need to be socialised at that age, they mostly do parallel play at preschools anyway, so if your mummy intuition thinks something is off, don't feel pressured into signing up. I have an 18 month old and we attend a weekly play group and swimming together, but I won't be enrolling him in preschool. The system is broken in many ways, and it's just one option of many :)