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Preschool education

Nursery class worries - any advice?

9 replies

Scotia · 21/09/2007 23:06

My son is in his pre-school year in a nursery class. We get funded places for ante-pre and pre-school years. There are morning and afternoon sessions - my ds goes in the afternoon with most of the younger children who will not be starting school next year. I wasn't given a choice in this. Every other child who is old enough to start school next year attends the morning class.

My worry is how he will settle in school when he won't know any of the other children in his class, while the other children will have had a year getting to know each other and forming friendships. I have broached the subject with the nursery teacher, but she was not very helpful. There are no places available in the other class, so nothing can be changed to accommodate him.

Should I be concerned about this, or am I worrying about nothing? I'm really not throwing my toys out of the pram about this - it doesn't make any difference to me whether he goes mornings or afternoons except from this point of view. I was quite happy to accept an afternoon place for him, but I thought there would be other children in his class that he would go to school with.

I have 4 older children and never been in this situation before. Can anybody offer any advice?

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Scotia · 22/09/2007 11:12

Bump.

Any advice or experience of this please? It's not about school-bashing, just a situation I have no experience of. My girls all moved on to school with other children from their nursery classes.

Just reassure me he won't be left out when he starts school.

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LIZS · 22/09/2007 11:38

dd joined a school straight into Reception from elsewhere, class of 16, 14 of whom had been in the nursery. She soon made friends, it really was not a problem. More of concern for you might be whether your ds is experiencing the same curriculum and activities as the others, if so I'd not be too concerned tbh.

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puppydavies · 22/09/2007 11:50

is there a single class or more than one in reception? our morning and afternoon classes were mixed up so those in nursery together weren't necessarily in same class and new friendships have been formed already - they seems to be much more adaptable in that way than older kids. plus there are always newcomers who haven't been at nursery at all.

all that said, i'd ask the school their rationale behind this and whether it's possible to change to mornings - no harm in asking.

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Scotia · 22/09/2007 12:03

Hi, sorry I should have said we are in Scotland so slightly different system. I think your Reception is more like our pre-school year nursery, which is my son's age group now.

To answer questions, no the afternoon class is not following the same curriculum. I have to admit that is a major concern to me. They are treated as a class, rather than two different age groups. He is having the same programme of nursery education as the ones who will have another year of nursery after he leaves to go to school.

In fact, I am pretty sure the staff are not even aware of his capabilities as they do not do individual assessment in his class, but they do in the other one. The morning class is having a parents' consultation during the year, but not the afternoon class.

I don't want to keep him back a year because he has not had the same preparation as the other children in pre school. He is a very bright little boy, but I think he needs to be getting into a more structured environment before sticking him in a classroom situation.

There are two P1 classes, but my ds will not know any of the children in either class.

He is a sociable little soul though, and there is every chance things will be fine for him, It's just a nagging doubt that I am not doing the best thing for him by having him in the nursery class.

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Scotia · 22/09/2007 12:06

Puppydavis, I think having typed all my worries out, you are right. I will have to have a meeting at the school about this.

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brimfull · 22/09/2007 12:08

I would be concerned for the same reasons as you.
Despite the fact that he'll probably be fine when he gets to school,it ssems unfair that the others are all getting to know each other and preparing for school and yours is still in with the little ones.

.Could you change nurseries or is this the only choice.

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Scotia · 22/09/2007 12:13

He can't change nurseries, this one is attached to the school and is the only one in our town. The only other option is a pre-school playgroup, but this wouldn't be funded. Not so important in the whole scheme of things though.

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Scotia · 22/09/2007 12:14

One other thing. We have only quite recently moved to this town, so I don't even know the other mums or children outside the school to help him develop friendships away from the nursery.

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brimfull · 22/09/2007 12:31

I'd have a word with them.

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