Around here you can start LO at preschool at 2yr 10 months. Being that Oakley was 2 weeks late it means that we really miss out on preschool fees played. So Oakley will only get his 15 hours after easter which is sooooooo annoying.

Nevertheless there are places at the preschool and I know Oakley is mature enough and will love it so I have signed him up for 2 days from Sept.

Just being nosey really and wanted to know where you were all up to.

Only thing that Im really concerned about is helping him with the toilet. He can't pull up / down his pants and shorts - his a big lad and they just get stuck And he sits down and they said its easier if the boys stand up to go - So that will be Daddy's job this summer! :lol:

Holly isn't yet but she is starting in Jan for 2 half days a week which will increase over time an she will maybe go in for 1.5hrs once a week from November time.
Its so rubbish that Oakley won't get funding until easter, September is still a few months away so Im sure Oakley will be much better at going to the toilet himself by then.

We aren't but I'm hoping to get something sorted soon.

Gracie's been at a private preschool nursery since Jan for one day a week. She'll get 15hr free next Jan but that has to be over three days to get full entitlement. I'll put her in 2 full days and a morning in Jan to reap the benefits - it's the only bloomin benefit I get being a working mum!

Max is in private nursery 2 days a week so his free preschool hours will go towards that although as Ali says it will have to be spread appropriately to actually be able to claim the full amount (RIDICULOUS) so we are yet to work out exactly how best it will work for us!

fin has his name down at a pre-school next to oneof the schools - its the omne the childminder does the school run to... he is down to start jan so will go mon-thur 12.30 - 3.30 wed and thur he will be at childminders from 8 - 5.30 so she will take and pick up BUT Strill have to pay her...arrgghhh!

then in the septewmber next year it will change to the morning saessions andhe will go 4/5 days then!

i have been thinking maybe better to have him in a nursery for childcare then they deduct the free amount BUT thinking they are more expensive so i will ghave to pay full fees for all the holidays, and the time in between each day and would want mason there so more money again!

all a headache!

Hi noah started pre school at 2 he does 2 mornings a week and seems to really enjoy it recently we ve had tears as I've left but it's almost as if it's become a habit for him to do this as he s fine going in and then as I leave he will well up and sometimes real screaming crying clinging onto me but I'll pick him up give him an extra big squeeze and then say do you want to help viv count the lunch boxes and he ll stop crying straight away and be fine. They say he s getting on really well there and recently has been very chatty and giggly and interacts well with all the other children especially some of the older boys but I guess that's cos he has an older brother. That's a revalation to me because although he seems excited by what he does there and comi g outand showing pics etc it is worrying that he s started being teary I'm hoping it's vos it's the end of term and he s getting tired. The talking thing is great to because he is so quiet and his 2 1/2 check revolved mainly about his speach! ( or lack of) of I had any other choice I don t think I would have started him at 2 he is such a baby! Or maybe I just baby him too much. Around here there is 1 nursery for whole area and always has huge waiting list so
e childminder but few spaces and seemingly not when you would need them and so pre school is really the only option. I did get him a childminder place on one day and he goes to my mil on another day. I would definately book your child in for free places at pre school even if you don't use full entitlement and then if it does nt work out then stop or change pre schools I've booked Noah in for extra from January so I don't miss the space but it's another 6 months away so if he s not ready or it does nt work someone else canhave the space. Because they'll be nearly 5 when they start school in September they ve got 2 full school years worth of preschool before they start so it's plenty of time if you decide lo can wait a term or 2.
Actually I suppose I say I would not have put noah in at 2 but he s a happy and mostly confident child and I think pre school must have helped that.
Anyway sorry I rambled my way round that answer!!
Jules x

yeah the 15 hrs is great as is only 12.5 at mo, that kicks in in sep. ryan is with me at nursery full time so already well settled but when he moves in to preschool i know he will be cared for brilliantly.
i just pay for the hour for lunch and the morning and afternoon hours around the sessions as obviously the funded bit is only for 3 hour sessions at a time.
dont worry too much about toileting, we have children who strip off to go! whatever is comfortable for them., they are still very young and have 2 years to get ready for school! a good setting will support whatever it is your childs needs are... thats what its all about (nursery deputy hat coming off now!)..
ryan has come on in confidence brilliantly since being at nursery. best thing i did (AND HARDEST!!) xxx

Philip goes to pre-school 2 mornings a week which will continue in Sept, although depending on OH work it may increase to 3 mornings. He loves it and has hated not going during the holidays. He should get the 15hrs in Jan although I haven't put his name down for the school nursery yet so may not get him in there till after easter now, but his pre-school does the 15hrs and as they only do mornings that will be all week sorted!

What is the difference between preschool and nursery? I don't think they do a preschool as such over here. Brendan moved up to the older ones at nursery this month so he is now with 3-5 year olds. I think they moved him now because his 3rd birthday falls within this year. They don't start school until they are 6 over here, so it is all a bit later anyway and tend to do a lot more learning through play at nursery. Not that I have any clue what nurseries are like in the UK!

Liz. A preschool tends to be held in a village school or a childrens centre you leave your toddler and nursery is part of a primary school and takes them a bit later at 3 but getting your child into school nursery in Hertfordshire has no bearig as to whether they will get a school place lots of preschools here offer to keep them til school age and parents leave them there as they dont want to move them again. therefore gettng a good nursery place isn't hard but school place is