Tips For Introducing Your Child To Nursery Or Pre-School
Introducing your child to nursery or preschool for the first time is an important milestone in their development. Although it is not a legal requirement to send your child to nursery, many parents will do so when they return to work, or to help their child experience new situations and meet other children before they start school at the age of four or five.
What is the right age to send your child to nursery?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but most UK nurseries will take babies from the age of three months (sometimes earlier) up to the age of three or four years. Pre-schools usually take infants from the age of three until they are ready to start in reception class at primary school, aged four or five.
Who is entitled to free childcare?
Bear in mind that childcare for the under-fives in the UK is only partially funded by the government, and many parents need to do careful sums to work out how much they will need to pay in nursery fees.
From April 2024, working parents or carers of children aged three to four in England are entitled to 30 hours of free childcare per week. The care must be delivered by an approved provider, rather than an informal source such as family members or friends. The eligibility for the funding is means-tested, so it will depend on the amount you earn, and other factors.
All parents of children aged three to four can access 15 hours of free childcare per week, regardless of how much they earn or how many hours they work. Working parents of two years can also access 15 hours of free childcare per week. From September 2024, this access will be extended to all children from the age of nine months.
Furthermore, from September 2025, working parents of children under the age of five will be entitled to 30 hours of free childcare per week. For parents who are currently entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week, the care provider will make the funding application on their behalf. To access 30 hours of free childcare, parents will need to apply online.
How to choose the right childcare provider
Once you have organised your finances, you will need to apply for a place at nursery or pre-school. If you are choosing a nursery for a child under one year old, it’s essential to consider the staff-child ratio, as at this age your infant is still very dependent on others to have their needs met.
Your child’s early years experiences are formative and can affect future development. All nurseries and pre-schools in the UK are inspected and rated by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED).
The OFSTED ratings are publicly available, and the results of their inspection are categorised into the following: Outstanding; Good; Requires improvement; and Inadequate. Read the latest OFSTED report for providers that you are interested in. Ask about their staff ratios, and what training and qualifications their staff have.
Other useful information to find out is what a typical day looks like, how they handle toddler tantrums, and what level of toilet training is expected. You might also take into account the level of development your child is at. For example, if they are confident and thrive in groups, they may enjoy a larger nursery, and quieter infants will be happier at a smaller provider.
How to prepare your child
Once they are settled in, most children will thrive, develop new skills and become more socially confident. They will also be more prepared to start reception class when the time comes. However, it can be overwhelming even for well adjusted children, and it’s helpful to ease the transition for them.
Before they start at nursery or pre-school, arrange a visit and ask to be shown key places such as classrooms, toilets, playgrounds, and canteens. It may be possible for the child to stay for lunch so they know what to expect, and you can assess the quality of the food.
Your child won’t be expected to be able to read or write, but it can help them develop language skills if you regularly read picture books with them, or sing songs and nursery rhymes. Arrange playdates with children their own age so that they can develop emotional and social skills such as taking turns and sharing.
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