Confusion ? Day Nursery/ Nursery School / Preschool

[carlito]

I know there has been a post on this recently with a helpful link to Southwark website but I am still confused.

My daughter is (2 years 2 months) is at a childminders 5 days a week and that?s the plan until she is 3ish. I understand that children are expected to go ?somewhere else? before starting school at 4 (is it 4 or 4.5 ?) My confusion lies in where this somewhere else should be ?

I understand that some of the schools in the area have nursery /preschool classes but my closest school (St Johns) does not. Do most children go to one of the nursery schools attached to these schools or the school that they would like their children to go to and if so should I have registered ages ago ? (or are there such limited places that it?s out of the question anyway ?)

I have my daughter?s name down at Gumboots Nursery for when she is three but now I am wondering if that?s the wrong kind of Nursery as it?s a day nursery instead of state run nursery school which I now realise is quite different.. Or is it common to go from a day nursery straight to school ?

The likes of Herne Hill, Montessori etc are problematic as I think they are mainly just very short sessions and both my Husband and I work all day which is why the 8-6 works brilliantly with the childminder we have now. Or do most working parents go with the short sessions then pay for a childminder to look after their child for the rest of the day ?

Also I understand that the 3 sessions or 12 hours a week are paid for once the child turns 3. Can these be used for any sort of childcare ?

So many questions ?! If anyone can shed any light I would really appreciate it. I am now concerned that I should have done something ages ago but still not quite sure as to what that something is ?!

I am sure my situation must be quite common so any advice , recommendations or solutions that have worked for people would be really useful thanks

[Fuschia]

THis hopefully has all the info you need:

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,325568,325594#msg-325594

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Preschooldevelopmentandlearning/NurseriesPlaygroupsReceptionClasses/DG_10016103

[Fuschia]

Schools take children into nursery at 3 and into school at 4. Some intake in Sept and jan, some only in Sept.

[emc]

Some schools have pre-schools attached and take children from 3 years old (Southwark has a list of all primaries with nursery/pre schools attached) My little girl started at St Anthony's pre school two weeks ago - I only put her name down January I think last year (so you aren't too late!) but yes, most pre-school sessions are 2.5 hours to 3 hours so very difficult regarding childcare. I have now got a nanny (or you can get a childminder) who has her from 8, takes her to and picks her up from pre-school then looks after her until I get home. It's not an essential thing to do, I just thought that my daughter would benefit, but there's some excellent day nurseries (i.e. not pre-schools) like Gumboots that would prob give them the same experiences (think they all follow an early years foundation thing?) I just wanted her to do a bit of formal school type thing to get her used to it and she does love it but has been a nightmare sorting childcare.

[Fuschia]

If you're applying to St Johns, then there is not much point trying to get into a nursery at another school, so contact nurseries to put her name down for her 15h at all nurseries your minder could take her to for half day sessions, for you?

Do you use vouchers, for your minder, btw? can save ?100 pcm using those.

[Gubodge]

Nurseries attached to schools cannot usually cater for the numbers who will start reception and many of the children at the nursery will go onto different schools, so there are always be plenty of children starting in reception who have come from private nurseries/child minders/home. But I'm all for pre-school nursery if you can get a place, it's a nice gentle way of getting them used to the school environment that otherwise can come as a bit of a shock come reception.

My eldest went to Goodrich Nursery in the morning and was then picked up by her private nursery to spend the rest of the day there. Many others spend the rest of the day with childminders, so it would be worthwhile checking if your childminder would be prepared to do nursery pick-up/drop-offs.