A Very Formal Nursery

Is it expected that the children in the nursery will go on to join the school, where it will be expected to call teachers by their surnames?

The nursery my kids went to did call staff by their first name, but when I moved them to the nursery attached to the school they now go to the staff there were called by their surnames (my kids were 3 when we moved them). I think it changed the year my son started as I think they wanted continuity between the nursery and school, and as the staff in the nursery may also be in reception class (as they are all part of the EYFS) then it was decided it would be confusing if children could call them Katie in nursery yet Mrs Brown when they were in reception.

Edited for spelling

If the Nursery is attached to a school they will have to address staff by full names when they leave. A name is just a name to a child whether it's Mrs Smith or Maureen. The worst thing (which I have seen in a State school Nursery Class) is children calling the Nursery Nurses/TAs by their first name and the teacher by Miss/Mrs Surname.

I don’t think it really matters. They’re probably going for consistency so that the kids call the teacher the same name all the way through the school, especially thinking of the head or the specialist teachers that they’ll have from the nursery but continue with all the way up should they stay on at the school. It doesn’t mean that the nursery isn’t play based or anything of the sort, aren’t all nurseries play based? Mine went to a private school nursery and called the teachers by the surname and it was still a lovely and friendly place with plenty of playing. And he hasn’t had to learn a new name for the head, the sports teacher, the French teacher etc now he’s in reception.

Personally i’d be more interested in how happy, engaged and cared for the children seemed. But if it’s not for you, just choose a different one.

Our school based nurseries are a mixture. the staff in the rooms are first names but if they come into contact with school staff such as DHT and HT or any if any staff are helping out then they will be surnames as the older children would call them. And the admin is Mrs X because she covers both

It literally makes no difference it’s just a name to children

It’s a little old fashioned but it’s not going to make the slightest difference to your child and how they relate to their care-givers. (I was looked after by a neighbour as a child who we knew as Mrs Brown. I was very much attached to her and she was a lovely, warm, friendly woman!) Focus on the other things you observe when you visit: do the children seem happy, well cared for, are there plenty of interesting age-appropriate activities, do they spend lots of time outside and physically active? What they call the staff is irrelevant and the children won’t think it’s odd at all.

I don’t agree or disagree. I think it’s great there is a range of nurseries available and parents can chose what suits their families.