Thread: Will you take up your LO's free nursery place?

Arif asked today when Leyla will start nursery. Apparently his dad had asked him the same when he was talking to him about buying a house. I was a bit taken aback by the assumption that she would definitely go to nursery even though I'll still be at home.

Do you think it's necessary for a child to go to nursery/preschool? I've always known that the option is there (she'll be eligible for 15 hours free nursery per week when she's about 3 years 4 months old) and of course I sometimes wish I could drop her off somewhere and have some quiet time, but I hadn't decided that she would go. She will be going to school rather than homeschooling, if that makes a difference. I do think it would be good for her socially but it seems so young to be going off on her own!

Yes she will be going, And hopefully i can find a job working 2 days and she can do 2 days for free, then will see about the rest... but yeah. they learn so much there and they get a look in at how Primary1 is going to be, 15hours a week isnt too bad, its either every morning or every afternoon here. So if i got morngins then i could just try get a morning job and have afternoons to do things with her

I dont know what my mindset about it would be if i was financially able to not work and choose. but for my situation now yes ill be taking the free place!

I will although i might not take the whole 15 hours. I don't intend to homeschool, I like the idea but I don't think it is for me, I'm not disciplined enough to make it work well. Most nursery/preschools feed into the local primary schools and the children have friends already when they join the school so it eases the transition slightly. I will miss LO terribly when he goes, we never spend time apart, but I have promised myself I will clean the house properly when he is in pre-school, until then playing is more important.

I used to think I'd never be able to send him off to the free nursery places as he'd cry and hate it but now I can see him enjoying it when he's older. I will miss him too as we spend all our time together too but I will probably use the free nursery time to look after a potential brother/sister.

Jaden went to preschool as soon as he turned 3, he was ready for the stimulation that nursery has to offer. Tbh i just couldnt offer him the attention i felt he needed, as i had charlie demanding a lot of attention (she was about 6m then) - i felt it would be good for him, for me, and for charlie. its not long anyway, 15hrs, and you dont even have to take that much. charlie is 2 now, and the nursery is accepting 2 year old funding too (12.5hrs), so she'll be starting in the sept term when she's allowed to start. she enjoys being with other children, is very inquisitive, starting to talk a lot, confident, and always busy looking for things to do. that makes me think she's ready for nursery.
In sept jaden starts school, charlie starts nursery, which will leave some precious hours alone with baby Time alone with the baby is very important

We get it in Ireland too and I'll be taking them up on it. I really will have to have a job by then (!) so for me it would be a case of having some free childcare. But even if I was at home, I would do it. I think they get to an age where they enjoy that kind of interaction with other kids and the independence of having so much fun without mummy around. I also think it's great preparation for starting primary school in a very gentle way. So it's a yes for me.

Most definitely! I'm not sure what gets offered, if anything here, need to speak to the HV next week at our 18month check, but yes, P will be going to 3yr old kinder/pre-school. I honestly think he would benifit HEAPS out of it, he already loves his toddler groups we do and to me, this is just an extention of this. I also think it would be good for him to be away from me for a few hours each week.
I'm also hoping that by then we'd have a new little baby, or very close to it, so that time for me to be able to spend with them 1 on 1 would be great for both me and the new baby.

I already don't feel like I can provide enough stimulation to keep P entertained all day every day so nursery/pre-school would be hugely affective in helping keep him active and busy.

Definitely. I think Ruby will really enjoy it and like Lu said, it's a gentle preparation for school. I will probably feel a bit uncomfortable initially given that I'll be at home but by the time Ruby can start pre school, (september 2012) I'll also have a 7 month old, so I think it'll be good for us all.

I'd not really thought about time alone with the baby! It does sound like a good idea and I'd never thought 'no way' but she's my baby. I'm sure it'll be far harder for me than her