Should children go to pre-school

[toddlers896]

Afternoon all,

Ime just curious on your thoughts. Should kids go to preSchool. I have one that doesn't want to send her child despite the fact she would get 15 hrs free therefore she won't be going to school until next September and she will go straight into year 1
Her behaviour is really challenging at the moment and I honestly think she should be at school.
I've already suggested it to mum but they said no so I just have to wait another year and hope her behaviour gets better. Roll on 530, I need that glass of wine today ha ha. Oh did you know a glass of wine has the same amount of calories as a dohnut - I saw it on good morning Britain. Think I better change my drink, this job will make me huge :laughing:

[blue bear]

There are children who definitely should go to pre school, those that shouldn't and those that will do well either way.

At the end of the day it's parents choice, I've had several not go and yes you have to change your practice to meet their needs, lots of socialising and group experiences before school

[funemnx]

I've always believed that children should go to playschool for their last year before big school. They are ready for it and so are we!

P.S. Wine is fat free ;)

[Simona]

What a good question and for parents to decide but what about the children?
I agree that some children would benefit...others do not need to access that kind of provision and so on and on.

My feeling is that some parents follow a pattern or get drawn in what their friends do or say ...'your child will be left behind'...or your child needs to 'get ready for school'...kind of pressure parents are under?

But.... is it good for children to move from one setting to another simply because the inspectorate, in agreement, with the DfE has decided that children must be in school at a very early age?...so before that they need to sample some sort of group provision to get ready for phonics and the rules of formal schooling.
Has anyone proved that staying in a CM's setting is not good enough preparation for school?

I think we all read what the media report and what both DfE and Ofsted constantly moan about:that children are still arriving at school 'not ready'...whatever that means...maybe someone ought to look at child development and put 2 and 2 together and follow other countries examples at starting at 6.

On the other hand for some children attending part time in a preschool and part time with a cm in a home caring environment may do the trick...a CM's setting is none other than a home based 'preschool'...my view of course.

[Kiddleywinks]

I think it depends on the child.
A year can make a huge difference to a LO's level of confidence and how they will cope in a room full of 26+ other children.
Some children are better in smaller settings, some thrive in larger ones, some cope really well with a structured day and routines, others don't.

I do try to keep to a school like timetable with things like outside play regardless of weather, lunch times, etc so at least there's some type of continuity when they leave here for preschool/big school. Not sure if it does actually help as I've always done it, but hey ho, I hope it does ;)

[Simona]

I think it depends on the child.
A year can make a huge difference to a LO's level of confidence and how they will cope in a room full of 26+ other children.
Some children are better in smaller settings, some thrive in larger ones, some cope really well with a structured day and routines, others don't.

I do try to keep to a school like timetable with things like outside play regardless of weather, lunch times, etc so at least there's some type of continuity when they leave here for preschool/big school. Not sure if it does actually help as I've always done it, but hey ho, I hope it does ;)

Yes Kiddleywinks...exactly what I said and agree with others...it is to do with each individual child and ...of course...where money is and so on and so on....in the end the parents decide though


I wonder how children in Finland, Sweden and the rest of the world cope when they are faced with formal schooling at age 6...not 2, 3 or 4?
I wonder how the children, lucky enough to attend the Reggio preschools, deal with attending the same setting ...with the same teachers ...for 3 years before entering compulsory education at 6?

Maybe if we followed their example we would not be asking the question in the first place?

[toddlers896]

This is the reason the parent doesn't want the child going to school too early - in Poland they don't go until they are 6 or 7.
In my opinion I think this little girl is going to struggle. She is an only child, very spoilt and likes to be the dominant one. I have no other children her age, all her friends her age have gone to school so she pushes and pulls the younger ones about. Hopefully I am wrong on this but at the moment she is very hard work and if her behaviour doesn't change she really will be in for a shock at school.

[zanacal]

I had not planned for my 3rd son to go to pre school as he was settled with a childminder, however the term before he was due to start school he became very unhappy about going to the childminder, his behaviour had become rather challenging at home and I believe from what he said that the childminder struggled to deal with this (as did I but her approach wasn't consistent with my own and I wasn't comfortable with some of the things my son was reporting back to me). I somehow managed to find a pre school with places and he went for half a term before he started school and he loved it and flourished so much that I feel bad I didn't send him sooner! He did find activities such as circle time difficult to begin with because he wasn't used to being in a larger group but he got the hang of it and he's doing so well now he's at 'proper' school. My daughter will go for some sessions at pre school before she starts school based on this experience - but I do agree that it depends on both the child and the childminder/childminding setting (if that's the alternative to pre-school).

[Mandy75]

HI

I think its a good idea that your child go to pre-school,my 2 children do,and i think it helps with their development,as a parent and training practitioner in a pre-school,kids love it,they enjoy alot of different activities,learn from other lil ones,form friendships,and have fun.
I totally understand what it feels like to leave a child in pre-school,but believe me as i have been on both sides as a parent and now training in a pre-school,every child settles in,there are plenty of staff to comfort a child,and have a distraction for the child to help them over come the seperartion anxiety.