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Stay at private nursery or move to a school one?

11 replies

TopBanana · 19/12/2006 10:32

Hi, I'd be really grateful if someone could give me some advice.

I went into the nursery this morning and the owner started asking me if I wanted dd1 to stay there to do her proper nursery education stuff or go to a school nursery. I had dd1 going on about Santa, dd2 squirming under my arm so everything been a bit hectic I just said yes she'll stay.

Now I'm wondering if I've done the right thing. Am I paying for something I would get free at a school nursery?
The owner got me to sign a form saying I wanted 5 sessions a week and started going on about ?25 discounts

I know I should have thought about it properly but I was kind of put on the spot.
Dd1 loves the nursery and dd2 will be going soon too. Also if she was to go to a school nursery I'd have to arrange for someone to pick her up and take her back to the private one.
Are there any differences between going to private or school nursery?

Thanks for reading

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tiredemma · 19/12/2006 10:42

I decided to stay in the private nursery as- I didnt want to take ds2 away from his friends yet ( he will only just be 4 when starting school, dont think he would cope to good at just 3 with leaving his old pals)

Also I need allday childcare - not just 0900 to 1130, or 1300-1530, so private works best for us.

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KTreePee · 19/12/2006 10:45

Is your dd at the private nursery because you work? In that case it probably would be easier to leave her where she is for now - but it was an easy decision for me to make when I was in a similar position because the school my dd was going to go to didn't have a nursery attached, so it would have meant moving her to a different place for a year...

If the school she will go to does have a nursery attached, you might want her to go that nursery before she goes to school so that she starts to get to know some of the other children - but as you say, you would need to find a childminder to have her for the afternoon or to take her back to the private nursery.

In terms of comparing the two nurseries, they should be both following the appropriate curriculum for the age of the child so in theory they should cover the same things. The thing about the money is that the government covers the cost of 5 sessions (2.5 hours each) - generally at school nurseries there is no further charge, but private nurseries would obviously charge for the additional hours your dd is there.

HTH

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Lio · 19/12/2006 10:48

It's complicated for us, TopBanana, but in case you need to consider the same things, here's the gist:

ds is 3 (born Oct 2003) and goes to a private nursery 2 full days a week (that is all we need, we manage the other 3 days between us as we both work part time). The choicse as of Sept 2007 will be:

  1. Keep as we are.
  2. Accept the offer of state-provded nursery care, comprising 5 'sessions' per week. These sessions are a bit less than 3 hours each.


The advantage of state-provided care is that it's free, the disadvantages are:
  1. It's only 3 hours at a time - we would have to employ a nanny or use a childminder to collect him and care for him until 5.30ish for the two days a week that we both work.
  2. We would have to find a way to cope with all of the holidays and half terms.


The advantage of the nursery would be:
  1. Full days.
  2. They don't shut for holidays (except Bank Holidays).
  3. dd would go there too and we wouldn't have to find another carer.


SO that's what we are thinking about. We have visisted the local state-provided nursery schools and they are great. Hope it helps a bit
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TopBanana · 19/12/2006 10:51

Thanks for your replies.

She is there because I work, but only 3 days a week now. I'm on maternity leave at the moment but will probably go full time within the next 6 months so it would be handy to keep her there.

I don't think the primary school she will go to has a nursery attached so none of the children will know each other. But I will check just to be sure.

Thanks again for your advice.

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TopBanana · 19/12/2006 10:54

Thanks Lio, dd1 was born Sept 03 so they're about the same age. Dd2 starts in February so it would be easier all round to keep her where she is.
When I pick her up I'll ask the owner to explain the prices to me so I know exactly what I'm doing

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wrappingpaperBOwZZAndribbons · 19/12/2006 11:09

If there is not a nursery attached to her school and you are working I really think the obvious decision is to keep her where she is and have a somewhat reduced bill. I did that with DS (although there was a school nursery) and he was able to claim his 5 sessions in the 3 days I worked which was a significant financial saving.

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Twinkie1 · 19/12/2006 11:15

I work 2 days a week and DS goes to nursery but when he is old enough for the school nursery he will go there which mans him leaving his present nursery and going to a childminder before and after his 2.5 hours at nursery - DD went to the nursery DS will be going to and it has a special ofsted award from the government - the teachers have been there years and DD really came on through going there as well as being involved in the school before she went full time and knew most of the children who went into reception with her. And the school will not let me pout DS into private nursery 2 days a week - he has to attend the school nursery 5 days a week.

I know its a change for DS but he will get used to it and I will give up work if needs be.

As for the funding - you will get the nursery place paid for by the government or a certain amount off of your private nursery bill as the nursery can get 2.5 hours a days money from the government also.

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TopBanana · 19/12/2006 11:16

Thanks, I think I will just keep her there. Shes happy there and knows everyone.
I'd never even thought about it till today!

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TopBanana · 19/12/2006 11:17

Thanks Twinkie1

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Wordsmith · 19/12/2006 11:33

You will get the discounts once your child is 3 whether you use them in the state nursery or the private one. With DS1 he was at private day nursery 2 days/week and just went to the school one for a year before he started school, a couple of the other mornings (ie, Mon and Tues am - pre-school nursery, Thurs and Fri - all day at day nursery.) This was purely because I wanted him to get to know some of the children he's be at school with and there weren't many at his day nursery who'd be going to his school.

The pre-school vouchers (or whatever they're called) entitle you to five sessions of pre-schooling a week. They can also be used at day nurseries (and any other form of registered childcare) but a 'session' only means 2 1/2 or 3 hours (need to check) so won't cover a full day at day nursery - but will mean a significant discount.

I used four free sessions at day nursery (two mornings and two afternoons) which gave be about one third off - I just had to pay for the 'extra' hours - and one session at the pre-school so I just paid for one session there.

It's quite straightforward at the shorter pre-school sessions, but not so easy to work out with a day nursery - but you don't have to - they'll do it all for you as long as you tell them you want to claim.

As for which is better - if you're happy with the nursery she's at, and don't need her to meet other children for school familiarisation reasons, then I'd leave her there. They all follow the same curriculum.

Sorry, this is probably a bit more info than you need - just got carried away!

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TopBanana · 19/12/2006 11:44

Thanks Wordsmith, thats great. I think I understand now!!

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