What age should a child go to nursery in the UK?
WHEN it comes to deciding when to send your child to nursery there is no right or wrong answer.
For some parents the age their child goes to nursery is determined by when they want to return to work, for others the right age may come a little later.
Here is how to figure out what is right for your child.
What age should a child go to nursery?
It varies from nursery to nursery but some child care provides take children from as young as three months right up until age four.
At five your child would have legally reached the compulsory age to attend school. For this reason most parents send their children to school in their fourth year.
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For many parents childcare depends solely on the household budget.
The average cost of sending a child under the age of two to nursery is £260 a week for 20 hours.
But the for eligible parents.
All children three to four in the UK are entitled to between 11.5 and 16 hours of free childcare per week, this rises to 30 hours if both parents are working.
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Experts at say toddlers aged to one to two can struggle with separation stress after going to nursery. Whilst children aged two to three may seem nervous when attending nursery which is pretty normal.
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Can a 3 year old go to nursery?
Most children start nursery aged two to three.
At this age children are independent yet curious. They have developed everyday skills like eating by themselves and following instructions.
Your child will likely still be developing their communication and social skills, sending them to nursery with other children should aid this.
3) How to choose the right childcare and early years education for your child
Choosing the right time to send your child to nursery isn’t easy but there are few things you should bear in mind when making your decision.
Before you decide when to send your child to nursery you should consider where they might go.
Check what provisions the child care provider has in place. Is there a dedicated space for babies away from older children?
Staff at day nurseries are trained to create a stimulating environment that will help your child to thrive, based on a curriculum specially designed for children under five.
There should be at least one staff member for every three children under two and every eight children ages three and up.
All nurseries should be registered with Ofsted and must follow the early years foundation stage (EYFS) curriculum.
Also consider your child's individual needs and personality. Are they outgoing or shy? Does your child have medical conditions that they need support with?
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How well does your little one play with siblings/others? What is your child's toilet and sleep schedule like?
In the end know one knows your child better than you. And whatever you decide nursery’s should have a number of different options to support your child's individual needs.