afternoon nursery at 3 years: bad idea?

[koshkalila]

my dd has just been offered a place at our dream school for nursery after Xmas. Thrilled to bits but they only have afternoon slots, inevitably, as it is not popular. She will go from 12.45- 3.15. Usually she eats and sleeps at these times and that's it. Will she be exhausted? can I change her nap time or best just to cut it out altogether? don't want to miss opportunity but don't want her to be unhappy.

[anchovies]

My ds who is 3 goes for exactly the same times and has quickly adjusted. He was tired at first but we always have a quiet time when he gets back and he has been fine. We just cut the nap out all together and apart from having to be very organised at lunch time it has been pretty easy.

[Yaddayule]

By 3 my dd had dropped her afternoon sleep (irrc she stopped at 2.9) If it were me and you really want her to go to this nursery, I'd take the slots and use the Christmas break to gently wean her off her sleep time

She'll probably be tired for the first few weeks starting nursery anyway so try to get her sleeping patterns in place before she starts

[JenT]

does being in the nursery help you get a place at the primary school?
Ours does not - so although I will say that I think it is a good idea and she will adapt, if you are thinking of doing it to help her get a place next year I would check it out.

Jen x

[koshkalila]

no it doesn't help with getting a place for real school but I figure she'll get the benefit of a couple of years' good foundation either way. And you never know they might decide they can't function without us ;-)