Confused about pre school vs nursery class?

[Tillyandjamie]

Hey I'm new here, and this is my first post. I need some help from you ladies.
My daughter is 3 and a half and attends a pre school. We just recieved a letter from them saying that the school next door has placements in their nursery class for 3 year olds, and could we let them know if my daughter will be going there or staying at current pre school. What is the difference in your opinion between a pre school and nursery class? We would if we get a place like her to attend this primary school. She will be starting full time school next year so I'm unsure whether this is the best step or to keep her at pre school another year? What are you experiences on this?
Thankyou

[Twinklestarstwinklestars]

There's no guarantee of getting a place at the school just because you go to the pre school, my son attends the primary school foundation class but he's a sibling too and I don't want to have to move him again when hopefully he'll get a place at the school. Could you do a mixture of both settings?

[kimmills222]

It depends on what they are providing in the new school, if its ok then you can send them to the new place. But if its not then let her be in the preschool because in my opinion a preschool is better than a nursery.

[cheerypip]

check the staff/child ratios in both settings - MUCH higher in our nursery class at local school compared with preschool.

[ReallyTired]

In my opinon school nursey is better than pre school. If your child is bright then they will learn more in a school enviroment with a qualified teacher.

In my experience the school nursery class is more like reception than a playgroup. The ratios are far larger than pre school and is more structured and formal. Going to school nursery allows your child to make friends with children who are likely to be in her reception class. I imagine it is likely that many of your daughter's pre school friends will leave and go to school nursery.

The only reason I can think of not sending a child to school nursery is if they are not toilet trained. Although the law insists that schools do take children in nappies, it isn't fair on the child. It is not practical to toilet train a child in a class of 30 with just a teacher and a TA.

If the school is next door to your house then I think you should have a strong chance of getting a place there for your daughter.

[Littlefish]

ReallyTired - just a small point. The ratio of adults to children where a qualified teacher or early years professional is in charge is one adult to 13 children, so you would only ever have 26 children with a teacher and a TA.

In the school nursery at work in, we always have a teacher and 2 TAs.

We are also happy to support children who are not potty trained. They are in the minority as most children are potty trained before they start, but it's certainly not a problem.