Pre-school Education dilemma - whether to switch nurseries

Make-it-3

Wow, thanks for that very detailed reply PrincessDon. I can see why the second nursery is rated outstanding then as it probably ticks more of OFTSTEDs boxes.

I'm pretty sure the current nursery follows a lot of this. However the outside space isn't immediately attached so outside time has to be planned into the day.

I have mentioned my issues with the desserts offered and been told if I want I can ask for fruit to be substituted, but I don't want my LO to be singled out in this way and think sugary desserts are taboo.

In fact, thanks for everyone's input. I think we are going to see if we can defer taking the place and see if we can be reconsidered again when she is older.

sooty&sweep

Go with your gut instinct, ofsted inspection results can be useful but are by no means the be all and end all.
If your daughter is happy and is progressing well then personally I'd leave her where she is as they are obviously doing something right. The odd bowl of angel delight as part of a balanced diet will do her no harm !
Jen

dawyldthing

It is because the EYFS is trying to incorporate the Italian Montessori approach (and this had been recommended to be extended to age 7 as it is shown children are put into formal education too quickly and they don't get chance to learn through play - it makes up the principles of the EYFS which any foundation stage setting has to follow) - childrens imagination going was highlighted the other day when I was on a bus and this 3 year old kid was screaming at his mum because he couldn't get Fireman sam game to work on her iphone :C

Heres some info, there are others like Piaget and others which show the principles of how we learn - like we have to have been through something to build on learning - such as princesdons example on flowers as only through working with flowers would help knowledge of what they need to survive etc. Anyway heres some more information: http://www.montessori.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/50582/guide-to-early-years.pdf

Mrs.W_2

I'd say sod Ofsted reports! In recent years they've failed to see serious abuse in nurseries in Devon and Birminham. Go with local advice. Ask the mums whose kids attend what they think. Ask them to be brutally honest.

whitewing

If you were really convinced about the original nursery, would you even contemplate switching?

Your DH wants to switch.

Your toddler won't remember it long term.

You could perhaps switch back, but you may not get another chance to move.

fluffnutter

She's a one year old! She doesn't need uniforms and 'structured' play and OFSTED reports. She needs cuddles.

ALIBOBSY

Went through something simular with my kids (14,9,6 and 2).

They all went part time to a lovely nursery around the corner from where we live. They do use all the appropriate guidence, etc as they have to. But its much more informal than others around here and opens school hours only so is more like the old style playschools people used to have years ago they can only start at 2 but they don't have to be potty trained and they have some sessions for the older children designated as pre school sessions.

Generations of kids have gone there and although there are full qualified staff many are also volunteers-one is my old neighbour whom I have known since I was 7 and a lovely lady who adopted 3 and fostered over 100 children over the years.

BUT when my eldest was coming up to preschool we felt some pressure to put him in the preschool attached to the local primary we wanted him to go to. We split his time doing 3 mornings there and 2 at the nursery he loved. It worked OK but there were times he would ask not to go to "big" school and preferred the nursery and even criedand the uniform at that age is hard work to get either to fit or keep clean little ones.

With DD1 we again split the time knowing she would be attended that school as a sibling (virtually guaranteed in this area) we went 2 days in the formal pre school and 3 days in the one she loved. The nursery offered us the chance to do 2 of her sessions in one day with lunch in between when she could bring either a lunchbox or something they would heat up for her and a separate morning session.

It worked OK but we did have an issue with the preschool when they decided towards the end of the kids last term to do a "lunch" exercise. The letter came out and they basically said any children who wanted to try school lunches could in the last 30 mins of the normal morning session (you'd have to pay full price to the school) to practice for when they went up to reception, but any children who didn't want lunch could just have the normal 30 mins in PS.

When myself and a friend picked our girls up after the session they were both really upset. Neither of us had done the lunch thing as we were intending ours to have sandwiches. Basically any kids who hadn't paid were made to sit at the tables with the kids who had and watch them eat-not even given a drink!!!!

TBH although annoyed-and I rang to point out how upset my DD had been to the lady in charge(as did my friend and I later found out a number of other parents), we decided to let it go as it was just one day.
Suddenly the next week we got a letter saying as the experiment had gone so well they would keep doing it till the end of the year!!!

I rang to speak to the preschool but all they could suggest is to pay for lunches I didn't want or afford. The final comment was "I don't see what all the fuss is about its just lunches".
I was upset and annoyed so contacted the school and happened to catch the head of the governers who I knew. I explainned about the situation and they way my concerns had been dismissed and suggested why couldn't kids who would be on pack ups bring them from home, or finish 30 mins earlier, rather than sitting there bored and/or upset for 30 mins. She agreed. DD came home with an urgently revised letter that day offering what I had suggested and I lost count of the mums and dads who spoke to me to thank me for speaking up.

So with DD2 we just stuck to the nursery we love, she did 2 full days and took a lunch in with her, plus another morning session. Loved her time there as they had play sessions when the younger children were there in the mornings and more structuredish preschool stuff on the afternoons she was there. I found she was very happy and more settled than the others, came on faster with reading etc and went quickly, happily and smoothly into reception.

DD3 is at the nursery 2 mornings a week and will stay there until she goes to school.

So for me unless you are unhappy with the first nursery I would leave things as they are, they are settled and happy and a move could upset them or throw up an issue/assistant you have problems with.

Ali x

Make-it-3

fluffnutter wrote: »

She's a one year old! She doesn't need uniforms and 'structured' play and OFSTED reports. She needs cuddles.

As she would say "almost, nearly two"!

skintchick

Make-it-3 wrote: »

As she would say "almost, nearly two"!

She's nearly two. She doesn't need structured play and uniforms. She needs cuddles.



Seriously, she is tiny, there is so much time for structure later.