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'Normal Nursery' or 'Private Nursery'

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:50 am
by rockster24
Hi,

My daughter (17 months old) is currently at a standard day nursery (busy bees) and is getting on perfectly fine. We are happy with the food/activity's etc they do. This nursery goes upto age 5

Our long term plan is to send her to a private school from age 5 years onwards. And some of the schools we have looked at also have a nursery from 3 years onwards.

I wanted to know if anyone has experience of putting their child in a 'standard' nursery first and then move them to a private facility at around 3 years old. And how they coped?

I understand the private one has a more structured day rather than more free play. And there is more of a discipline required there too - e.g. they 'have' to do the activity's rather than at busy bees where they say they are encouraged to take part but if not, are not forced into doing anything.

Anyone have any input? As our preference would be to keep her at busy bees until 5 years old but then dont want her to get a shock if and when she starts private school at 5 and has to be more structured etc.

Thanks in advance.

Re: 'Normal Nursery' or 'Private Nursery'

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:01 pm
by Reading Mum
I moved my DD from a 'normal' nursery to the nursery at her Indie junior school at age 4. We didn't move earlier as the school, at that point, did not have a holiday club and I needed cover during the school holidays. She started after Easter and by the summer they had a holiday club in place.
The school was aimed at 'academically able' girls and did operate a selection process even at 3 so they knew they had a reasonably bright intake. There was still a strong focus on play but there were more rules, the day had more structure and there was a school uniform. DD really thrived - she had been bored at nursery but they wouldn't undertake what they termed 'schooling' such as teaching her to read in case the subsequent school did things differently.
It was the right move for DD.