Why do you put your little one into nursery/pre-school?

Social skills and interaction with other children mainly

For the social aspect of my child. So that when he’s 4 and goes to school he’s socialised and he’s in that environment of sitting down and learning, being quiet when it’s reading time, the whole learning aspect and teaching them a lot of knowledge before they reach school so that when they do it’s not scary for them. I couldn’t imagine having him home all day till age 4 then goes to school and is scared because he’s never been in that sort of environment before. My little one started reception this September and not one drop off has he cried and not wanted to go in because he’s had a nursery environment and me dropping him off for almost 2 years prior x

Socialisation, teaching them valuable skills/helping with their development. I have the option of free full time childcare via my mother in law but I feel what my daughter can gain from nursery is invaluable. Plus I don’t want her first proper experience of making friends to be when she starts school

I work in a nursery and my baby will be coming with me back to work in the new year (she will be just 5 months old!) Nurseries are great for socialising, independence and confidence

To interact with other children and learn bits milestones etc . And to work too

I was having another baby and my son wouldn't play independently (at all) when I'm around and honestly, it was just too much with the house, a newborn etc. We tried it and he loved it.

Initially to work. I'm now on mat leave with my second and considered taking my first out of nursery but she loves nursery and I cannot consistently provide the play, social and learning experiences that nursery can.

My youngest started school preverbal. I put her in preschool age 2 to help her speech but to give her some time purely for her as I had my oldest son out of school as we were trying to find an sen school. I couldn’t take her to playgroups ect because I couldn’t bring my eldest with me. She loved it though.

Having worked in early years for over 20 years we don't do nursery until age 3 and then it's to help prepare for school

I was so depressed at sending my boy to nursery full time when he was 9 months old but my partner and I had no other choice because we both need to work 9-5 Monday to Friday and have no family support for consistent childcare. He’s now almost 2.5 and he is a little superstar. He loves the nursery and is the most confident little boy, so happy and clever and so many people comment on his social skills and confidence in general tasks. I really think the nursery has had a lot to do with that. I’m so happy that we’re in a financial position to be able to afford the childcare fees because although at first I didn’t see it as a blessing, it’s definitely a luxury that’s been great for his development and allows us to work x

All of the options you’ve listed and more! I want to go to work. I work in a school, but he goes all year round so when I’m not working and it’s a nursery day I have that time to do other stuff - self care, house stuff, errands etc. He has undoubtedly benefitted developmentally from going to a setting with other children of his age. Communication and language, and social and emotional development especially, but academically too. He has access to resources and equipment we don’t have at home. The socialisation is an aspect I can never replicate at home. His eating at nursery is fantastic too, whereas we have phases at home where it isn’t. Professionally speaking from my time as a reception teacher and now a deputy head, I’ve found that children that go to some kind of setting prior to starting school are better equipped for the transition (not all, obviously!) so I want him to be used to going to a setting that mimics many aspects of school to support him through that.

For social reasons and to help with speech. Plus they need to have a routine

Socialisation, learning new skills, getting the opportunity to do things we don’t/can’t do at home, reducing separation anxiety, preparing for school. Loads of reasons ☺️

I use a school nursery, so it’s just school hours and term time only and they take them from 2 onwards. With my daughter it was so she could socialise away from me (she started just after two - then covid happened but she resettled so well after everything lifted - and is now 7). With my son (2.5yrs), it was initially the same reason. But it has also enabled me to return to studying for a career change so I do that on his one full day. He goes one morning & full school day. My in-laws live 2.5hrs away, husband’s job is based 2hrs away so when he needs to go there he either gets up at 4.30am or stays overnight, & my mum doesn’t drive and lives in a different town. With him going there, it’s consistency for him - with breaks due to term time only, it’s cheaper than a private nursery and allows me to get things done without worrying about childcare when husband’s away, also with it being on the same site as my daughter’s school it makes it easier & is only a 10 min walk from home.

I have to work. There's no way else for us to survive

To socialise and learn from other children

To work and for his own development, it’s great for them to be around other children and his nursery is great with messy play, lots of outdoors time etc

My daughter started at a pre school when she was 3 . I did this so she could play with other children particularly of the same age . X I thought it did her good to play with other children consistently who were her own age . X

Purely for his benefit. Socialisation with other children his age. Help with developing communication. Help with being separated from parents for a few hours. They can do things for him that I at home can’t, such as learning play, different types of sensory play etc. and boredom! He gets sososo bored at home with me