Give yourself a (short) break! (Pre-school in general)

Member Name: Rosie78

Product:	Pre-school in general
Date:	15/10/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Time for you, good for your child to learn a little independence and make friends

Disadvantages: Not all pre-schools are good, choose one you're happy with

The world of education and childcare for the under 5s is a confusing place! There's playgroup, pre-school, nursery, nurseries attached to school - all offering different hours of care.

For those who don't know, a pre-school is for children aged from 2, usually taking children up to age 4 before they start school. It is different from a nursery, because usually it offers only short periods of care - usually 2 and a half hour sessions in the morning from 9.30 until 12. There are some pre-schools that offer lunch and afternoon care, but they are few and far between.

Pre-schools are usually attended by children who have previously been looked after at home, ie having parents that don't work. Because they only provide short sessions of care, they are not really suitable for working parents, as 2 and a half hours isn't really long enough to get much done! But it's enough time to have a bit of time to yourself, have a rest, get some housework done, play with your other child etc etc. It also helps to prepare your child for school or nursery.

Pre-schools usually cost around £7 or £8 a session, but you will get 5 sessions a week free when your child reaches 3 years old. You will need to provide a change of clothes, nappy and wipes if your child is still in nappies, and a bottle of water (to ensure your child always has access to fresh water, required by Ofsted). It's worth having a look around a few and getting your child's name on the waiting list well in advance, as the good pre-schools can be oversubscribed. All pre-schools should have been inspected by Ofsted as well, so you should be able to read the report online.

Some things to look for when choosing a pre-school:
- do they have outdoor space available?
- do they have child friendly toilets and are they happy to change nappies if needed (they shouldn't have a problem with this)
- what snacks do they provide?
- do they have a settling in procedure? Are you able to stay with them if they're upset?
- how many members of staff are there? Will your child have a key worker?
- look for a notice board with information about what your child will be doing that week, any particular themes they are following and what snacks they will be eating.

Many pre-schools are within church halls, so have a large space for children to play.

The pre-school morning should have some structure to help your child settle. The routine usually includes:
free play
story/song time
outdoor play
snack time

There should be lots of opportunity for messy play, painting, playdough etc and a wide range of toys for your child to play with. Overall the environment should be safe and have warm and loving staff.

Pre-schools do have an educational element as well, and are guided by the Early Years Framework, but in my experience it's play based learning, and your child is there to have fun, as well as learning how to be away from Mummy or Daddy for a little while and make new friends!

Many pre-schools take children from 2, but neither of mine were ready until 2 and a half. Expect your child to cry when you leave them for the first couple of sessions, but they will probably settle quickly and the pre-school staff should be happy for you to phone mid morning to check if they're ok. Both my children were fully settled by the 3rd week. If your child isn't settling, they may not be ready for it or the pre-school might not be the right one for them. Don't be afraid to move them out if you're not 100% happy. Many children make the transition to nursery or school without any pre-school experience with no difficulty, it's not essential!

Summary: 2 1/2 hours of quiet time, and free for 3 year olds.