Preschool or nursery?

[CinnamonBunYou]

My DD is two next week. She's in a private day nursery 5 half days a week whilst I'm at work. I was under the impression that it's best to send them to preschool when they are three to help get them ready for school so I've picked up an application form from the school down the road from me.

I've done a little research and it seems most preschools are for children to socialise and play with other children to prepare them for big school but she's already doing that anyway at nursery. Nursery do have a preschool room but I'm not sure if it's the same as a preschool that's attached to a primary school.

I'm wondering if there is much point in me sending her to nursery at 7am, then the nursery taking her to preschool for three hours at 9am, then picking her back up and going back to nursery for an hour.

Will it be more beneficial for her to go to preschool rather than just stay at nursery?

Sorry if I sound really dense but I have no idea about this stuff and have no mum friends to ask

[HSMMaCM]

Depends on the pre school and nursery really, but there are a couple of things to consider. Will the nursery charge you for the full day regardless? Both nursery and pre school follow the same EYFS curriculum.

[Snossidge]

If it's a school pre-school, then the biggest difference will be that there will be a teacher there.

I think the disruption of going to two settings would outweigh any benefit from higher qualified staff though.

[dementedpixie]

I would keep her where she is or it will be too disruptive with all the to-ing and fro-ing all day

[bittapitta]

School nurseries are generally free in the sense that they cover the 15 hours per week 3+ year olds are eligible for. If you can afford it then the private nursery you are currently using makes more sense, no need to shake things up, all private nurseries should be following the EYFS anyway so she will be receiving education and socialising there too.

[FrancesHaHa]

Your nursery should give you the free 15 hours at 3, so shouldn't make any difference financially either way.

We chose to keep dd in her nursery. Partly as it was convenient, as like you we were working, but also because we wanted to keep her in a more play based environment for longer. Technically they are all following the EYFS, but from what I've seen the preschools are more 'school like' eg wearing a uniform, attending assembly, starting letter sounds etc. I figured she's got years of that to come, why not let her just play for longer in a nicer environment.

She's now at school, as it hasn't seemed to have been a difficult transition. Nursery did lots of getting them to sit for carpet time etc, which I'm sure helped.

Overall, I think it probably depends on what the preschool and the nursery are like though.

[BackforGood]

All should be covering the same curriculum.
School Nurseries will have a qualified teacher in charge, which the day nurseries won't as a rule, I know there is the odd exception, but school nurseries have a ratio of 1:13 and PVIs have a ratio of 1:8, so people have different opinions about which is 'better'. Personally I don't think you can generalise.
In your circumstances though, I wouldn't move her if you are happy with the Nursery, and if she'll have to be to-ing and fro-ing

[northdownmummy]

I've been going through the same thoughts. My DD is 3 and the deadline for nursery applications is the end of his month. We really like the day nursery she's in and there's a big problem with under provision of preschool places in our town. We're in NI so not all providers offer the funded places and our current nursery doesn't.
I've pretty much decided that since they follow the same curriculum id rather keep her where she is. There would be additional cost in transporting between nursery and preschool.

[lynnprice]

It depends on preschool or nursery school, But as some preschools are not just to keep engage kids into study or running games. Some of them are very nice where your kid learns to improve skills in preschool environmental activities and ready for challenging tasks to grow.