nursery or pre-school - the difference??

[catflap]

ok, so I may have been an infant teacher, but I seem to know absolutely nothing about what happens before then...

Can some of you experienced mums enlighten me as to the difference between nurseries and pre-schools, please?

dd is 20 months and I am thinking that I would like her to be going somewhere soon for her own development but can't afford much. The sort of thing that i have visited for work when I had kids coming into my reception classes is the thing i am after, but at what age do they start? Do they have to be dry? Are nurseries usually only available/appropriate where parents work?

I have a few numbers of local places to call, but thought I'd try and get a bit ore clued up first...!

Thanks!

[Tommy]

where are you? I think it depends on what's in your area.
DS1 is in a nursery class which is attached to an infant school. All the children do 5 sessions (morning or afternoons but can't mix), the start there the term after they are 3 and you don't have to pay. The staff are teachers and classroom assistants and they join in a bit with the "big" school - assemblies and stuff.
Pre-schools are usually run by a committee and the staff are not usually teachers. normally children start at 2 years 9 months and you have to pay then - around £5-7 a session IIRC. The term after they are 3, the preschool can apply for the childcare voucher thingy so you may not have to pay then or pay a discounted rate. My friend's DD goes to one like this and she does 5 session but can mix the mornings and afternoons.
HTH

[Sparklemagic]

catflap, I guess at 20 months your daughter would have to attend a day nursery if you wanted her to attend somewhere, as no pre-schools take children under 2 yrs 9 months (in my area, anyway!)

FWIW, my opinion is that attending playgroup with you is probably enough at this age and then you can get her into a pre-school at 2 yrs 9 months. The pre-school my DS attends is pretty typical I think, in that it's free after the child is 3, it's run by staff who may be NVQ qualified but are not teachers, and it has good links to the local infant school. Our pre-school sessions are 2.5 hrs each, just right IMO for this age of child. It's very 'free' as well, though there are lots of crafty and other activities on offer and they follow a school style 'registration' when we first go in.

HTH!

[Sparklemagic]

oh, meant to say with most pre-schools you can choose the amount of sessions your child does, to suit them - no 'having' to do five sessions - my DS does two currently and will go up to three a week in the term before he goes up to school. So there's alot of choice with how much involvement you think she needs.

[LIZS]

Pre schools/playgroups/nursery schools are normally from 2 1/2 - 3 up, sessional and focus on the Early Learning goals - they may be privately owned , run by the community (in a church hall for example) with qualified leaders or attached to a school. Nurseries cater for babies to school age , may include a preschool room/session for older ones , but can also offer full day, all year round care. All should be Ofsted inspected and folow the same Early Years curriculum for 3+.

hth

[coppertop]

The pre-schools in this area take children from 2yrs 6mths but I think that's about the earliest that anyone will take them. Children don't have to be dry to attend.

Ds2's pre-school does morning sessions only but others also hold afternoon sessions. These are 2.5hrs long.

[rummum]

Hi catflap... there was a thread about this on sunday... I've just copied and pasted this from the other thread (still can't do bloody links)


day nurseries are open from about 8am till 6pm, every day and are run by qualified nursery nurses/nvq3 qualified staff
nursery schools are open term time only and offer a 2 and a half hour session everyday, these often have qualified teachers running them and nursery nurses/NVQ3 qualified staff helping. They take children the term after they are 3 (for free). They are run by the local LEA
Pre-schools or playschools are open term time only are run by nursery nurses/NVQ3 qualifed staff and take children from about 2 and a half years old, again funding after the term they turn 3. They again offer 2 and a half hour sessions every day. some children move on to nursery, they follow the same curriculum, as nurseries. Pre-schools are often a charity and have a committee of parents to funraise.

Hope this helps....

[catflap]

That's great ladies, thank you. I am in Kent. I was definitely looking in advance as people round here had mentioned enormous waiting lists.

My last question, because I think I nearly have it now! - are all day care settings of any variety duty bound to follow the Foundation Stage curriculum? Am I right in reading that LIZS said that is was all settings?

Sorry I missed the previous thread - I don't get to check the board every day.

[rummum]

yes... sometimes the pre-schools or nuseries start it or the schools.. it depends on their birthdates...

[moondog]

It's all the bloody same anyway.
Turn up,faff about with a bit of playdough,ruin yuor clothes with some paint,thwack a dog eared book about the place,have something to eat and then clear off home.

[hunkermunker]

You forgot glowering at other toddlers, MD

[rummum]

Dog eared book, moondog... do your children go to the same nursery as galaxy...

[nulnulcat]

my dd is at a kindergarten dont know whether that is nursery or pre school she has to where school uniform, it takes children from 2 yrs 0 months mornings or afternoons has a curriculam to follow

[sinclair]

If you are lucky enough to have stand alone nursery schools in your area, or nursery classes attached to primary schools, these will be LEA run, so will publish admissions criteria - usually SEN, siblings, proximity to the school not necessarily in that order. So don't panic about getting your name down - you have plenty of time to apply and it isn't first come first served anyway. No idea how private sector works tho.