Starting school, nursery and pre-school is one of the "big" steps that you will make with your child.

When the time comes to consider your child's future you will embark on a journey like no other - and selecting the right environment for your child to learn can be a daunting process.

Many pre-schools now take children from the age of 2 years, and you pay for your child to attend these sessions. Funding is not available until your child is 3 years of age and then only in the term following their 3rd birthday. Confused already! I know I was, in fact, without the advice and support of the my "mummy" friends I would not have known where to go to get advice.

However, I did know that I wanted to pick a pre-school or nursery environment that would give them a fun time to meet and play with other children their own age and perhaps to go onto to primary school with.

Pre-schools and nurseries are often attached, even if not physically, to a local primary school. Many local schools work closely with pre-schools and nurseries to start building a strong relationship for the future.

Selecting the right place for your child is not easy, in many ways it can be hard, below are some personal tips for you to consider:-

• You will have to leave your child, perhaps for the first time, in a strange environment and this will bring tears! despite knowing it will be good for them. You need to prepare yourself for the feelings of separation for your child and you.
• Make sure you visit the pre-school and insist on some settling in days. If they don't offer them ask for them - this means you can stay with your child so that they can get used to the new environment.
• Look at the pre-school setting and the activities they offer, most pre-schools will publish their weekly activities and you will get a chance to see the variety on offer to meet your child's "learning through play" needs.
• Get involved with the pre-school, most are run by a voluntary committee and are always looking for help and support. It is a great way to learn about the setting and how they run plus you can meet other parents and make some new friends.
• Investigate different pre-school settings, as they are all different, and you need to feel comfortable that they will meet your child's individual needs and yours, as you will be there a long time before your child starts school.
• Remember this is a big independent step for your child so understanding your child is very important, especially if they don't like to separate from you.
• Don't try to get too competitive - this is a time to learn through playing, and not a structured school environment - it is very easy to get caught up in "why is he not reading yet" - try and avoid this as I have known children to be pushed to read before they get to school and then they are bored and distruptive in the classroom because they know it all. Don't rush them and let them play....