School nursery or private?

[username35932]

Noticed a lot of parents put their DC into local school nursery's the year before they start school. Just wondered if this is considered better than private nursery's? Does it get them use to the school system earlier?
My concern is private nursery in terms of hours and no half terms suit us much better as we both work.

It depends on the nursery and what you want. A school nursery will have a graduate teacher not all private nurseries do. Also if the child will go to the same school as the nursery they do get used to the building, the teachers and the routine. It really depends on your child, and how good the the nursery he goes to now and the schools nursery are. You could always do some time at both perhaps?

We used the local preschool for the year before school so DC had friends to start school with. I work p/t and finish early 2 days to do the pickup anyway and in the holidays the private nursery had space for them.

It also saved money, because the preschool was only open 9-3 term time it was entirely covered by the funding, no wraparound fees to pay like we would have had to at nursery.

State nurseries are better as the staff are properly qualified. But normally only mornings or afternoons are offered.

If I didn't have to work then I would have put DD in the school nursery so that she had friends and more familiarity when going into reception.
As it is, we need wrap around care so need to use a private nursery.

It depends what suits you best.

Mine went to school nursery because I didn't need it for childcare. Therefore the fact it was 9-3 term time only wasn't a problem.

If you need long days and holiday cover, private nursery is usually better for this.

State nurseries are better as the staff are properly qualified.

Bit of a generalisation. Our private nursery has a couple of apprentices but also has EYFS teachers and a couple of others doing Level 7 quals. They do prepare them quite well for the transition to school, but that’s down to the individual setting.

We’re fortunate that our DC will go to school with some of their nursery friends but that’s just chance. Tbh that still wouldn’t have been a dealbreaker if the nursery was right for them anyway.

I sent two to the attached school nursery but my youngest is in a private nursery. Have no concerns about her starting reception next year and making friends.

Depends as others have said what you want really.... a lot send to school attached ones thinking that means they will be guaranteed a place there when in fact it has no influence on it.
Private ones are good if you want all year around care, otherwise you need to find school holiday cover. Private ones also open earlier and close earlier; school ones are school hours.
Our primary school when DS is at now didn’t have a pre school, even if it have had one i wouldn’t have sent him there as we needed 7.30 starts and 5pm finishes to fit with work.

His nursery, and a lot do had a teacher there as well. The preschool room like most
Followed a school structured day and he could do everything and beyond needed for when he started

We also don’t have many school nurseries at all in our area anyway, though of course there are preschools.

Also my DS and all his nursery friends (about 10 of them went from his nursery) had no trouble at all setting into school routine and school life.

Mine started at the same nursery she was at since she was 10 months old. So private nursery. I saw no reason to move her and I don't regret it one bit.
I work all year round so I needed it for that reason.
But other reasons too. I certainly wasn't bothered about her being with an actual teacher rather than a nursery nurse at that age so that wasn't a consideration.
Also people say in a nursery attached to a school the ratio can be less I wanted there to a good ratio of children to adults.
People say school nursery is more structured and more like a school. In my opinion they're going to spend years at school so I don't think they need more of it.

Pretty much everyone I know sent their child to a nursery attached to a school and people do seem to expect you to so I was like the odd one out. But it was the best decision yes

I think it probably depends on the school you're planning to send your child to for reception and what they would ideally expect the children to know before starting. Our school reception likes the children to know most of the alphabet letter sounds (excluding the less frequent ones like Z), to be able to count to 20 and to be able to hold a pencil correctly and begin writing their name. With that in mind, we wanted DS in a setting that would help him learn those skills so he started reception confidently.

Because DS had been at his school nursery, the first day of reception was straightforward. It all looked familiar and the staff knew him already having had a few visits into nursery and a good handover. Our school nursery also benefited from an experienced, qualified teaching team, a large number of teaching resources and senior leadership oversight. The huge downside is clearly it's term time only and usually half days only too.

DD however went to a CM until she started reception. DH and I were working full time and needed the childcare hours. I also didn't realise I needed to apply for a place and the council wouldn't send me anything telling me what to do!!!

And to add.... private nurseries can provide all the same learning as a school nursery can. You need to take a good look around and see approach they take and will it suit your child. Not all private nurseries are the same, neither are all school nurseries.

We kept DS at his private nursery for exactly the reason you describe - we needed longer hours and holidays covered.

When DD got to school nursery age, we chose to send her to the school nursery as we already had to worry about school holidays for 1, so worrying for 2 was not an additional problem. The school nursery had the advantage that she moved up to school with a lot of friends and was already familiar with the school and routines before she got there. However, I think this only made an advantage for the first few weeks - our prime motivation was convenience.

Mine stayed in private nursery as the hours are much better and we wouldn’t be able to work otherwise. My eldest went into primary knowing only 2 other kids in her class and was fine from day 1. Her closest friends are not ones from nursery anymore, but she does have fond memories of nursery still because it was just so great.

My dd went to a school nursery because I'm a sahm...she did three hours a day. It was perfect as we had most of the day together but she still got the benefit of nursery and I had a couple of hours to myself. It wouldn't have worked for us if I had been a wohm

Just to add, I wouldn’t send my dc to an ‘academic’ nursery no matter what. They don’t need to know the alphabet or how to read or any of that rubbish before starting reception (and if your primary says they do, choose a different primary as they are teaching to SATS and that’s not what you want). I have a PhD, my dc are quite clever, but they could write their name before reception and that was all they needed. 3 year olds need play and crafts and storytelling and socialisation. They don’t need phonics. They’ll get that drilled into them for years to come.

Pick the option that suits you better, the curriculum is the same and AFAIK, being in the school nursery doesn't guarantee you a place at the school later.
I've found private nursery staff about 1000% better with young kids than school teachers but that's my own experience, I'm sure others will tell you differently.

@username35932 I haven’t read the whole thread, but I moved my child from private to state nursery as the one local to us offered free full-time places, which saved a fortune and other than wraparound costs, it was £10/11 a week for school dinner.

Whilst school nursery operates until 3pm or thereabouts, we secured a place with the wraparound provider which opened until 5.45pm. This was only a difference of 15 minutes.

I agree not all nurseries are equal and I did like the idea of a school setting for some of the reasons listed by PPs.

My DS1 went to a childminder and then to school nursery in September after turning 3 (he was 3yr 2m). Was great for transitioning him to school. Same set up, same playground. He only did 9-11.30am, he went to breakfast club 7.30-9 and childminder collected him on my work days. Saved us a bit of cash aswell.

Oh and to add, wraparound also offered holiday club provision for the full day. We have been fortunate not to notice a difference. It’s been a positive experience and I’d do the same again.