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Have just read that some nurseries have mixed classes of 3 and 4 year olds. Does anybody have any experience of this?
I thought 3 year olds had a lot of 'free play' and 4 year olds had more of a structure?
Have just read that some nurseries have mixed classes of 3 and 4 year olds. Does anybody have any experience of this?
I thought 3 year olds had a lot of 'free play' and 4 year olds had more of a structure?
i personnaly think what a 3 year old need and what a 4 year old needs are 2 different situations, my sonn is starting 3 nurseryu after easter, but when it comes to august they are mixing both classes up, our school is just starting this, if i had an option he would be in a class with just 3 year olds.
mums angels
27-Feb-09, 23:19
i personnaly think what a 3 year old need and what a 4 year old needs are 2 different situations, my sonn is starting 3 nurseryu after easter, but when it comes to august they are mixing both classes up, our school is just starting this, if i had an option he would be in a class with just 3 year olds.
All nurserys have to now take on 3 and 4 year old they can't actually say no but 4 year olds take priority .
My son is in a mixed class and i havn't noticed too much of a problem but really hit home first week back in January when my son came home after nursery with an "i am 5" balloon .. my son was only just 3 at the end of September so made me realise the extent of the age differences . I would rather he just be in a class with his age group but unfortunatly this can't be gauranteed .
Alice in Blunderland
27-Feb-09, 23:21
Our nursery in Thrumster has always operated on a mix of three and four year olds sincew it opened and they have managed extremely well at this.
The size of the nursery at this momment is around fourteen children in total I dont know if its the fact that its a small nursery that makes this possible.
If in doubt shop around look at the care commision reports and base your registering of your child with a nursery which you feel is best for them. :)
apparently our school is the last one to do this.
ShelleyCowie
28-Feb-09, 00:02
My OH's son is in a mixed age nursery and we have never seen a problem. His son was actually showing the younger ones how everything was done because he was there when he was 3 aswell. He said he liked helping the younger kids.
i personnaly think what a 3 year old need and what a 4 year old needs are 2 different situations, my sonn is starting 3 nurseryu after easter, but when it comes to august they are mixing both classes up, our school is just starting this, if i had an option he would be in a class with just 3 year olds.Is there so much difference between a 4 year old and a 3 year old that they would need to be kept separated?
Is there so much difference between a 4 year old and a 3 year old that they would need to be kept separated?
There is a bit TBH but havin said that the classes in our school have always been mixed and they are both fabulous! I do think tho it has a lot to do wi who is in charge of the nursery. There are two nursery classes here so it is best to mix the children cos if not imagine if your's was the only 4 yr old in a class of 3's and it came to moving on to P!? Often classes up the school are composite too and this does not seem to be a hindrance as the teachers should be trained to cope! Anyhow there are many different levels in a class of children of the same age too!
Is there so much difference between a 4 year old and a 3 year old that they would need to be kept separated?
educational wise i would say there is, my 3 year old wont be as advanced as say a 4 year old due to start p1.
There is a bit TBH but havin said that the classes in our school have always been mixed and they are both fabulous! I do think tho it has a lot to do wi who is in charge of the nursery. There are two nursery classes here so it is best to mix the children cos if not imagine if your's was the only 4 yr old in a class of 3's and it came to moving on to P!? Often classes up the school are composite too and this does not seem to be a hindrance as the teachers should be trained to cope! Anyhow there are many different levels in a class of children of the same age too!
educational wise i would say there is, my 3 year old wont be as advanced as say a 4 year old due to start p1.Thank you both for your answers, I was genuinely curious as to the differences a year can make at that level of developement.
travelling man
28-Feb-09, 01:06
My youngest is due to start nursery in August so I'm going to go on Tuesday to their open day. My other kids all went to Mount Pleasant and they loved it. The staff are great and the nursery is bright and cheerful but they had separate classes when my others went and it's going to be mixed next year. I'm not sure that's a good idea. There could be nearly 2 years difference between the youngest 3 and the oldest 4 in a mixed nursery.
Nursery School has no real interest for me for years as my daughter is way past that that age who is now a qualified Nursery teacher but I do watch children develop around me
I personally think there is a huge difference between 3 and 4 yr old 3 year olds are still to me Kindergarten age while a 4 yr old is sometimes ready for big school it all depends on again the individual
I do not agree with both ages in the same class as the 4 year old could in intimidate the younger child for many years to come
Nursery School has no real interest for me for years as my daughter is way past that that age who is now a qualified Nursery teacher but I do watch children develop around me
I personally think there is a huge difference between 3 and 4 yr old 3 year olds are still to me Kindergarten age while a 4 yr old is sometimes ready for big school it all depends on again the individual
I do not agree with both ages in the same class as the 4 year old could in intimidate the younger child for many years to comeI am finding this hard to take in, how could a four year old intimidate a three year old?
They are not that far away in terms of developement, sometimes the 3 year old is further advanced intellectually.
I am finding this hard to take in, how could a four year old intimidate a three year old?
They are not that far away in terms of developement, sometimes the 3 year old is further advanced intellectually.
MM mmm each to there own I still think a 3 yr old is kindergarten and a 4 yr old pre school huge difference
MM mmm each to there own I still think a 3 yr old is kindergarten and a 4 yr old pre school huge differenceDefinitely, each to their own. I just don't get the huge leap in advancement that distinguishes a 3 year old from a 4 year old, my call.
By the time they reach 4 they are probs more able to play together rather than in a more solitary fashion of a 3 year old - they don't easily interact with each other. Each individual child is different tho and it depends if they have siblings too. Depends on the nursery as well whether they would have places to accommodate such separation. My two have done mixed in both a tiny class and a much larger (to them) one and have both coped with it marvelously!
By the time they reach 4 they are probs more able to play together rather than in a more solitary fashion of a 3 year old - they don't easily interact with each other. Each individual child is different tho and it depends if they have siblings too. Depends on the nursery as well whether they would have places to accommodate such separation. My two have done mixed in both a tiny class and a much larger (to them) one and have both coped with it marvelously!That's not strictly true, Wifie. 3 year olds and much younger have no problems interacting with other children.
That's not strictly true, Wifie. 3 year olds and much younger have no problems interacting with other children.
I meant 3 year olds with each other - I have seen it - they grow out of it! It is just a stage and like all stages they move on! Bottom line here is it all depends how good the nursery is!
I meant 3 year olds with each other - I have seen it - they grow out of it! It is just a stage and like all stages they move on! Bottom line here is it all depends how good the nursery is!No, it depends on how good the nursery is. Again, my call.
Definitely, each to their own. I just don't get the huge leap in advancement that distinguishes a 3 year old from a 4 year old, my call.
your call what do you mean ?
3yr old kindergarten 4 yr old pre school huge difference and to make one the other is robbing them of childhood a 3 yr has only just advanced from toddler stage Im a big person I dont need nappies I use big toilet etc
where as a 4 yr old as developed all that skills in his/her mind ages ago and pushy mummy and daddy your a big person now your going to BIG school soon just let them grow up at there own pace why the need for continious pushing and they still have a year to go until they are 5 now thats a big push
I rest my case
your call what do you mean ?
3yr old kindergarten 4 yr old pre school huge difference and to make one the other is robbing them of childhood a 3 yr has only just advanced from toddler stage Im a big person I dont need nappies I use big toilet etc
where as a 4 yr old as developed all that skills in his/her mind ages ago and pushy mummy and daddy your a big person now your going to BIG school soon just let them grow up at there own pace why the need for continious pushing and they still have a year to go until they are 5 now thats a big push
I rest my case
My call, I.e, My opinion. A lot of the differences you state are instilled by the parents.
My call, I.e, My opinion. A lot of the differences you state are instilled by the parents.
touche !!!
It is not only 3 and 4 year olds there are 5 year olds in the same class too. This can result in there being over 2 years difference in age - a big difference when it comes to social skills. Some of them still dirty nappies and could result in teasing. I personally have seen this happening.
celtic lass
28-Feb-09, 11:31
i think 3yr olds should be in playgroup and enjoy that play year before moving on to nursery after all they are only 3 and will do at least 11yrs in a school enviorment let them make their friends and enjoy their play as a nation we expect our kids to grow up to fast plenty time for nursery when they are 4
my son is in the "baby romm" in his nursery just now, but will move to the "big" room when he is 3. The kids stay there until school, but i have only ever heard good reports. I think its because there enough teachers to make sure all the kids have sufficient and appropriate activities to do.
All funded Caithness playgroups and nurseries follow the same curriculum for 3 - 5 year olds, all should now be taking both 3 and 4 year olds and organising activities suitable to their age and stage of development through good play exeriences.
travelling man
28-Feb-09, 21:38
All funded Caithness playgroups and nurseries follow the same curriculum for 3 - 5 year olds, all should now be taking both 3 and 4 year olds and organising activities suitable to their age and stage of development through good play exeriences.
Some nurseries(not the school ones as far as I know) take kids from 2 1/2 to 5. There is no comparison between the needs and interests of 2 year olds and 5 year olds and with the best will in the world staff in nurseries will be hard pushed to give every child what they need.
There's no way I'd put my kids into a nursery at 2 1/2. There's plenty of time for that.
celtic lass
28-Feb-09, 21:48
well said travelling man
Calvin And Hobbes
28-Feb-09, 22:00
I have been reading this thread with interest -
My daughter is 3 and has been attending a local playgroup since last August. We have been very lucky in that most of the children in the group are of a similar age and are all looking forward to their fourth birthdays coming up. Having said that there are differences of maturity and social skills within even her little group.
She will be transferring to the school Nursery this year which I hope will see her continuing to enjoy herself within the learning environment but will also start the transition from a Nursery to the big school and P1.
There are a lot of interesting points raised within this thread but at the end of the day whether a 3 year old is capable of interacting and socialising with 4 (and possibly 5 year olds) - they won't be going to the school the year after.
I think that 3 year olds should be at a playgroup and do exactly that - play! 4/5 year olds should be getting introduced to a slightly more structured setting in preparation for what lies ahead!!!!
God Help Them!!!!!
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