Nursery schools when working

[loveED86]

I am working and my toddler goes to nursery (one that is open from 8am-6pm all year round)but thinking of sending her to nursery school (nursery class within a school ie Heber) part time once she turns 3.

Does anyone else do this and what do you do during half term or at pick-up if you are working?

I am thinking childminder some days or help from relatives if and where possible or are children in nursery classes able to use the schools afterschool/holiday clubs?

I will call schools (Heber, Goose Green etc) and ask for more info on nursery classes but if anyone can offer advice or you use the local nursery classes yourself please let me know.

Thanks :)

[alex_b]

I think most full-time working parents (including us) use a childminder, au pair or nanny to do pickups.

Afterschool clubs tend to be restricted to reception and above, even then some discourage it for reception as they feel it makes the day too long for them. Similarly Holidays are a real pain as we never found holiday clubs that took under 4s and even now our son is in reception the choice is fairly limited compared to what's available for older kids.

On the other hand, our son developed so much more in a part time nursery class in a school than he did in a full day commercial nursery so if you can make it work it's really worthwhile.

[loveED86]

Hi alex_b

Thank you for your input.

Hoping to make it work but believe will be a bit of a struggle!

alex_b Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think most full-time working parents (including

> us) use a childminder, au pair or nanny to do

> pickups.

>

> Afterschool clubs tend to be restricted to

> reception and above, even then some discourage it

> for reception as they feel it makes the day too

> long for them. Similarly Holidays are a real pain

> as we never found holiday clubs that took under 4s

> and even now our son is in reception the choice is

> fairly limited compared to what's available for

> older kids.

>

> On the other hand, our son developed so much more

> in a part time nursery class in a school than he

> did in a full day commercial nursery so if you can

> make it work it's really worthwhile.

[BellendenBear]

Have you considered Bessemer? You can top up and pay for additional hours to do a full school day and add breakfast and after school clubs too. The nursery kids are kept separate from bigger kids at breakfast and after school clubs. Subject to availability, they are very flexible so my kids did something like 9-12 with nanny pick up on 3 days, school hours (9-3.30)one day, and long day (8-5.45) on the 5th day. They also have holiday club over Easter and Summer.

[teddyboy23]

If possible why not grandparents or other family members.

[edanna]

If you can afford it I?d stick with a nursery that is open all the year round - it gets really difficult only having term-time childcare when you work so I think it?s sensible to wait especially while your child is too young for holiday schemes. Childminders can be great but because they generally work on their own they can become unavailable because of illness or bereavement etc, which doesn?t happen with a nursery.

Edited to say of course it depends on the nursery and the school, but I know someone who took their child out of an excellent nursery for a nursery place in a school and the learning was substantially behind in the school. It wasn?t a great school though.

[loveED86]

Bellenden Bear-Thanks for that, thats very useful, will look into Bessemer.

Teddyboy23-Unfortunately I cant rely on relatives as they are also working/have other commitments but can sometimes help as and when.

edanna- I am thinking of doing both so we still have the nursery link and hopefully can use during holidays but I know nurseries like set days throughout the year.

It all thoughts for now-I have just worked out dd would not be able to start until September 2020 as its the term following their 3rd birthday!