What are the benefits of pre-school over day nursery?

[wasabipeanut]

DS is nearly 9 mo and goes to nursery 3 days a week while I go to work - he seems to enjoy it most of the time.

I realise I have a lot of time to worry about this as he wouldn't need to go until he was 3 but should I take him out of nursery at that point? Do pre schools offer significant advantages? I had this realization that competition for good primary school places is fierce - would pre school make a difference?

Also, do pre schools have huge waiting lists?

[Romy7]

All it means is you have a nightmare getting childcare for the other half of the day as you will only get an all-mornings or all afternoons place, not both... pre-schools and day nurseries work to exactly the same early years guidelines so it won't make a difference education-wise. numbers might be smaller in a nursery so your ds would be in a smaller group. Some people choose to move to a pre-school if your primary has a linked pre-school (so that he might meet other children who will be in yr r with him) but no guarantees, and it does not make any difference to actually getting a primary place - it still goes on normal entrance criteria (ie where you live/ catchment)/ how many places the school has/ how many children in catchment are yr r that year etc etc
and yes, pre-schools generally have massive waiting lists...

[wasabipeanut]

Hmmmm, interesing. Are yours in a pre school Romy or are they still too young?

[posieflump]

no they are the same, work towards the same curriculum
only benefit is if the preschool is attached to the school you want your kid to go to not to get him in, but so he will have friends once he is there but this isn't essential

preschools are 2 and a half hours a day not 8-6 like nurseries so not much good if you work, unless you use a childminder as well

[Romy7]

One in yr3, one in yr 1, one in nursery...

[wasabipeanut]

Sounds like we may as well stick to the nursery unless things change significantly.

I can't believe I am stressing over schools already when ds has yet to celebrate his first birthday. Crazy world.

[Romy7]

DD1 was in nursery then pre-school (attached to the school), DS1 was in pre-school (not attached to the school), DD2 is in nursery and starts yr r in september. Have seen no difference at all tbh - they have all settled fine in school and all achieved the same things in nursery/pre-school. personal choice - but from a work point of view nursery wins every time!

[wasabipeanut]

I guess this early years curriculum will mean they will all have to do the same thing anyway.

But that is another debate!

[Romy7]

they work towards same foundation stage guidelines now, (up to end of yr r), so whatever 'curriculum' is in place at that point would be the same in either nursery or pre-school.

Hope you make your mind up in the next couple of years