Didn't get offered place at nursery..now what to do?

onlyroz

moomoomama27 wrote: »

TBH he wasn't ready either until the following Sept, I chose to postpone his start they did have places available.

What do you mean "he wasn't ready"? Surely a 3-year-old is plenty ready enough to start mixing with other kids at nursery? :think:

duchy

onlyroz wrote: »

What do you mean "he wasn't ready"? Surely a 3-year-old is plenty ready enough to start mixing with other kids at nursery? :think:

There is more to nursery than "mixing with other children"
Plenty of children aren't fully ready by 3 --our obsession to move children into a educational enviroment doesn't suit all children and some are ready earlier and some later......and some parents even choose to skip pre-school and wait until reception -doesn't mean their children aren't mixing with other children though. Children (and family circumstances) are all different and don't run on "timetables".

pandora205

Were the hoped for places free? If so, this is unusual as there is very little funded provision for two year olds. In my area we have some in some post code areas but the majority are fee paying. If the places are fee paying there is usually quite a choice in an area if you are prepared to do your homework and travel.
If you are considering alternatives don't forget that preschool provision includes preschools as well as day nurseries and independent school nurseries.

Many two year olds do not attend early years provision and only start when the 3+ funding comes in. Most areas have toddler groups and activities in Children's Centres (as well as other provision such as Tumble Tots, etc.) so there is usually quite a bit going on for the age group, albeit with their carers. The local NCT group may also arrange coffee mornings and activities.

Shelley84

If they are 4 in Dec 2012, then surely they would start school in Sept 2013, not 2014? My DS is a Dec baby and started school in the Sept before his 5th birthday, in the Foundation / Reception class.

mrcow

Accept the place for 2012 regardless. Make sure they are on the waiting list too in case there are any drop-outs.

If you find anything more suitable in the meantime, then great.

But starting in 2012 is just fine when they are only still 3. They can stay with you for the extra months.

themull1

If you don't work anyway, is there a problem with just keeping them at home? Normally people send their kids to nursery because they go out to work.

elff

themull1 wrote: »

If you don't work anyway, is there a problem with just keeping them at home? Normally people send their kids to nursery because they go out to work.

No i dont work but the boys are mainly with me (daddy gone by 715am and gets home anywhere between 630 - 8pm) I also have a 5yr old.

Although i take them to todlar groups they are usally only for and hour and a half and are £2+ per child.... TBH unless we happen accross some kids in the park they dont get to play/interact with other children other than their sister who really dosn't like/want to play with them and spends most of her time shouting at them or complaining to me that they are following her - We have a surestart centre at the top of our road that no only offers 1 session a week and as you can imagine it is really busy and we are often turned away -9my dd class is always the last to be called into school so we are to far back in the queue (we queue 1/2 hour before the session outside the locked gate...)

HV and GP have both said they NEED nursery as it will help no. 2 son especially with his problems and they both need to interact woth others - they are both bright and are so willing to learn they know numbers colours shapes size's but they get board with just me. I lay different toys out every day and we go out alot but it still dosn't seem enough for them

I am going to wait untill we have seen no 2 son consultant in a couple of weeks - we are waiting on the results of his chromosone tests - I am praying nursery school is all we are having to be concerned about

moomoomama27

onlyroz wrote: »

What do you mean "he wasn't ready"? Surely a 3-year-old is plenty ready enough to start mixing with other kids at nursery? :think:

Ahh if only it were as simple as that! Not every child is ready to make the step of nursery at 3. My son had plenty of interaction with other children, at mother/child groups, local play centres and playdates, however he is a very sensitive child, and found it very difficult to be away from me, so by going to groups together and giving him the confidence to do activities alone, but with me in the background gave him the confidence to go to nursery later than the suggested term after their third birthday!

Each child is different, my girls were more than ready by age 3, and attended at 2yrs 10 months, and 3 yrs 1 month!

jellyhead

Fingers crossed that you get an earlier place.

I don't know how things work nowadays but my eldest who is now almost 15 got 8 hours funding for nursery when he was 2-3 because when he was assessed at the child development centre they said he would benefit from nursery. Social services arranged to pay for nursery elsewhere because their own nursery was full (I didn't have a social worker, it was just the way things were funded - his statement of special needs for nursery and school said 'funding for nursery only, no further social services involvement'). In the end my boy wasn't diagnosed with anything (except moderate developmental delay) and his chromosome tests were clear (they were looking for fragile X). He still got his nursery place though, because he had a need even though he didn't have a diagnosis.

I don't know if they would give nursery to both of your children though, or just the one. It's a shame that toddler groups near you are so expensive, and for 2 children too Do the sessions at the children centre charge for both children? I think ours used to charge £1 per group.

jellyhead

themull1 wrote: »

If you don't work anyway, is there a problem with just keeping them at home? Normally people send their kids to nursery because they go out to work.

People send 3 year olds to nursery for all kinds of reasons, especially if they fight a lot, and live in a flat with no garden.

I loved being at home with mine (I still do - he's 5 and we look forward to the teacher training days) but I think I would find 2 young children a lot more difficult than 1.