What's the difference between a nursery school and a preschool?

[user2020213]

Why do I pay £££ at DD nursery school when preschool is relatively cheap/free (once funded hours kick in)?

I haven't been able to find out from Google 🤷🏽‍♀️

Preschool usually has shorter hours compare to typical day nurseries.
For example ds went to a day nursery at £75 per day from 8-5.30pm
Now he goes to a ‘preschool’ from 9-12 @ £8ph

Oh and once he is 3 and has universal 15 hours it will be free

Yep, preschool normally shorter hours - good if you’re flexible wfh or SAHP but not much use if you’re in a 9-3 office job! Also nurseries tend to provide at least one, usually two, hot meals a day whereas preschool is generally a packed lunch sent from home so less convenient.

DD is not at a day nursery. She's at a nursery school, 9-12 term time only.

9-5 office job, that should have said!

My kids pre school opened 7:45-18:00 all year round.

Preschool is usually term time and shorter hours. Day nurseries are wraparound hours. Nursery schools are often classes attached to primary schools so no charge but only take children the year before Reception.

If you’re wondering why your day nursery is expensive compared to a preschool it’s likely:
Hours offered
Full year rather than term time
Start age 3 so no need to provide nappies
Less staff required from age 3.
Less overheads as often running from a municipal building

@GinaJaffacake

Preschool is usually term time and shorter hours. Day nurseries are wraparound hours. Nursery schools are often classes attached to primary schools so no charge but only take children the year before Reception.

If you’re wondering why your day nursery is expensive compared to a preschool it’s likely:
Hours offered
Full year rather than term time
Start age 3 so no need to provide nappies
Less staff required from age 3.
Less overheads as often running from a municipal building

No, DD at a something called "nursery school" (that's what they call it?) not day nursery/daycare.

It costs £2k a term to send her there 9-12 term time only (that figure includes funded hours by the way!). It's not attached to a school, just a stand alone site.

There are state funded Nursery/Pre Schools that are for Early Years Foundation Stage that take children for 2 years - age 3 - 4 (called Nursery Class) and then 4 - 5 (Reception Class). Usually part of a Infant or Primary School but you do get stand alone ones. Is yours a private nursery or a state nursery? If it's private that will be why you pay.

Firstly, preschool is for a very specific age group; 3-4 (4 year olds until they start school so they could be very nearly 5).
DS goes to a private nursery and they have baby, toddler and preschool rooms.

When used in reference to the childcare setting (not just in reference to the age group), preschools tend to be school hours or shorter (eg 9-3 or morning or afternoon sessions) and term time only.

To me nursery is all ages (0-4) and all year round, although nursery is a catch-all name for a group childcare setting and I think you do get some nurseries that are similar to preschools in that they're during term time only, for 2-4 year olds and not younger, etc.

Oh and my private nursery accepts government funding for the 15/30 hours, it's just that you can top it up to get more hours/days, whereas a lot of preschools will only offer the 15/30 hours.

Wondering if I'm being ripped off? Trying to figure out if there's a difference between nursery school over a preschool?

Cross post....yours must be a private one. You don't pay for state ones.

Nurseries is from 3 months upward. Preschool is the older kids in nursery, 3 years +

@Ilovemaisie

There are state funded Nursery/Pre Schools that are for Early Years Foundation Stage that take children for 2 years - age 3 - 4 (called Nursery Class) and then 4 - 5 (Reception Class). Usually part of a Infant or Primary School but you do get stand alone ones. Is yours a private nursery or a state nursery? If it's private that will be why you pay.

That makes sense! I guess it's a private one? I didn't know there's a difference? Don't think I'm getting much in return for the money we're spending to be honest.

My DS goes to a state nursery school which costs £0 (30 free hours) Mon to Fri 9am to 3.30pm.
Actually, it’s £30 a year for snacks. Attached to school.

That’s a nursery school - yours sounds private?!

So a nursery is likely to have a baby level, a toddler level and a preschool level

Nursery 3 months- 4 years, of which 3 years and upward is preschool

Nursery provides hot meals and snacks.
Our pre school we have to send in a packed lunch

Pre School isn't a phrase you hear much these days so I don't think it has a particular difference.

They all follow the EYFS regardless of the name.

All state nurseries should be listed on your council website - they would list the names of Nurseries, Primary, Secondary, Post 16 and Special Schools that are state funded. I don't know if private ones have to be listed. If yours isn't on the list then it's private.

Yes as MaxRushden said the curriculum will be the same whatever they are called. Some places call it 'Foundation Stage' rather than Nursery and Reception.

That seems insane? My DS went to a private preschool and it cost £23 per day (9-3) and took funded children.

Thank you so much @Ilovemaisie and @MaxRushden ! I'm going to try find a state nursery school in our area then. The one DD goes to is just the closest one to us and thought it would be nice to send her from 3yrs but the cost is pretty big and now hearing from friends their children go completely free! I don't mind paying if I thought there was a difference between state and private but it seems there isn't!

The preschool DC3 is going to attend is part of the early years at the older DC primary (and is school hours)

The nursery she currently attends is a stand alone nursery and is open 50 weeks of the year (8am-6pm).