This is hard to write as I didn't expect to be even thinking of this until LG reached the age of four and started Reception.
LG started nursery at the age of three months. This was a huge decision based on finances as well as my career as a teacher. I put her into a nursery close to my place of work incase of any emergencies and to ensure I kept a good work/life balance.
Over the last 21 months, I have watched her confidence grow and loved the pick up where her key workers gush over what she has been doing or saying.
The closure was a shock to say the least. This nursery is part of a large chain (but is probably one of their smaller venues) and due to the government's initiative for 30 free hours in September it has meant that our nursery cannot afford essential refurbishment as they would not be able to recuperate the costs. I can't frown upon the free hours as hopefully I will benefit from these when LG turns three but it is disappointing the impact that it has on some of these small nurseries. The nursery staff were told they would try to fit them into other branches but lots of these have had to look for more local options and therefore are also leaving the chain. Promises to keep children within the chain have also been difficult with options being a distance away and limited spaces.
The nursery closes mid-August but we thought the best thing was to finish at the end of the month of July and then we can start a new nursery and LG has time to settle before the new academic year starts for myself. I visited three nurseries who were just about within budget and none of the them have truly captured my heart yet. I've opted for one where I know the staff due to my school and it's the one LG warmed to the most due to a lot of role play areas. Settling-in days begin next week so we will see how that goes.
One of the heartbreaking things is that LG has friends that she talks about constantly. She pretends she's on the phone to them at home and will tell me stories about them. Nursery have also been telling stories recently about how she's talking for the children e.g. saying they've finished their lunch and don't want anymore, that they have been pushed by someone else, etc. I decided I couldn't allow her to lose one of these friends in particular. She also started nursery at three months but a couple of months after LG and people used to get both babies confused. LG's friend also greets me every time I see her with a massive smile asking for "cuggles". I reached out and wrote a card to her parents. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm pretty shy (and unsociable because of this) so this was a big deal for me. My anxiety was that they wouldn't want to keep in touch and would laugh at my efforts. I gave the card to nursery on Wednesday and sure enough we received an email where her parents too said that they wanted to keep the girls together and that we would try our best to arrange play dates in the park. Phew!
Thankfully my husband managed to leave work early to come with me to pick up LG for the final time. I couldn't have done it alone. LG was super excited to see Daddy there as I almost always do the pick ups alone. One staff member came rushing out to say she had come in especially to say goodbye to us and LG as she'd been off sick. She was dressed in her civvies and not uniform. They gave us all LG's books, extra pictures, cards they'd made and a story book. It was all too much for me as I tried to fight back the tears. I eventually managed a 'Thank you for everything,' and sharply made for the exit. As I walked out the gates tears rolled down my cheeks. It's hard to leave somewhere where everyone has been amazing and you felt your child was safe and happy and you're being forced to venture towards the unknown. LG is oblivious to the fact she won't be returning there so perhaps this change will be the easiest. As time goes on and she becomes more aware it can only get more difficult. We also had a card with our things from LG's friend's parents. This is my only comfort at this change, she will hopefully still see her friend regularly. They also said they know people at LG's new nursery and they've heard lots of praise about it.
I'm now trying to think positively for the future and hope that LG loves her new nursery as much as this one and that she makes new friends quickly.
LG started nursery at the age of three months. This was a huge decision based on finances as well as my career as a teacher. I put her into a nursery close to my place of work incase of any emergencies and to ensure I kept a good work/life balance.
Over the last 21 months, I have watched her confidence grow and loved the pick up where her key workers gush over what she has been doing or saying.
The closure was a shock to say the least. This nursery is part of a large chain (but is probably one of their smaller venues) and due to the government's initiative for 30 free hours in September it has meant that our nursery cannot afford essential refurbishment as they would not be able to recuperate the costs. I can't frown upon the free hours as hopefully I will benefit from these when LG turns three but it is disappointing the impact that it has on some of these small nurseries. The nursery staff were told they would try to fit them into other branches but lots of these have had to look for more local options and therefore are also leaving the chain. Promises to keep children within the chain have also been difficult with options being a distance away and limited spaces.
The nursery closes mid-August but we thought the best thing was to finish at the end of the month of July and then we can start a new nursery and LG has time to settle before the new academic year starts for myself. I visited three nurseries who were just about within budget and none of the them have truly captured my heart yet. I've opted for one where I know the staff due to my school and it's the one LG warmed to the most due to a lot of role play areas. Settling-in days begin next week so we will see how that goes.
One of the heartbreaking things is that LG has friends that she talks about constantly. She pretends she's on the phone to them at home and will tell me stories about them. Nursery have also been telling stories recently about how she's talking for the children e.g. saying they've finished their lunch and don't want anymore, that they have been pushed by someone else, etc. I decided I couldn't allow her to lose one of these friends in particular. She also started nursery at three months but a couple of months after LG and people used to get both babies confused. LG's friend also greets me every time I see her with a massive smile asking for "cuggles". I reached out and wrote a card to her parents. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm pretty shy (and unsociable because of this) so this was a big deal for me. My anxiety was that they wouldn't want to keep in touch and would laugh at my efforts. I gave the card to nursery on Wednesday and sure enough we received an email where her parents too said that they wanted to keep the girls together and that we would try our best to arrange play dates in the park. Phew!
Thankfully my husband managed to leave work early to come with me to pick up LG for the final time. I couldn't have done it alone. LG was super excited to see Daddy there as I almost always do the pick ups alone. One staff member came rushing out to say she had come in especially to say goodbye to us and LG as she'd been off sick. She was dressed in her civvies and not uniform. They gave us all LG's books, extra pictures, cards they'd made and a story book. It was all too much for me as I tried to fight back the tears. I eventually managed a 'Thank you for everything,' and sharply made for the exit. As I walked out the gates tears rolled down my cheeks. It's hard to leave somewhere where everyone has been amazing and you felt your child was safe and happy and you're being forced to venture towards the unknown. LG is oblivious to the fact she won't be returning there so perhaps this change will be the easiest. As time goes on and she becomes more aware it can only get more difficult. We also had a card with our things from LG's friend's parents. This is my only comfort at this change, she will hopefully still see her friend regularly. They also said they know people at LG's new nursery and they've heard lots of praise about it.
I'm now trying to think positively for the future and hope that LG loves her new nursery as much as this one and that she makes new friends quickly.