Parents who call it a "Private Nursery"

[BeepyBoo]

Something I've noticed that is mildly amusing - I don't understand why some parents feel the need to mention that their kid goes to a "Private Nursery".

I understand that some nurseries may be more council funded and have lower fees perhaps, but, around here Mums use the term "Private Nursery" to point out that their kid goes to the Montessori Nursery in the village, rather than the (also full fee paying) alternative nursery in the village that just has slightly shorter hours but considered not as posh. The latter has no special council funding, and the usual funded hours can be used at both.

I'm guessing this is just a snobby, show-off thing that make is sound posh (a bit like using the term "the Private School") rather than using the actual name of the nursery. Usually "The Private Nursery" is said in a rather smug way too. I don't really get what a Private Nursery is?? Aren't they all if you are paying the usual high fees? Fees all similar for nurseries round here.

Are they just distinguishing it from a school nursery?

Ha I am totally with you on that point, I was so confused when someone said it toe, I presumed it was pre school of a private school!

That is the technical term

Private (day nurseries) , Voluntary (charity pre school settings ) and Independent (indie schools)

PVI.

It’s definitely to distinguish from a school nursery-they all give you the funded hours (pretty much).

@2tired2bewitty

Are they just distinguishing it from a school nursery?

Yes, That is a maintained setting and not a PVI

Before anyone asks, my kids are not at nursery! Just noticed some Mumsnetters using that terms in their posts, and also Mums in the village.

Private nursery: not a snob thing round here, plenty of kids round here at the local state primaries to private nursery by necessity.

To me, private nursery = work rather than school hours, open all year round, not attached to a school

It just means not a school nursery where I am. Your situation sounds different as I would call both of them private.

It just means not a nursery not attached to a school.

The only time I've heard people say 'private nursery' is to distinguish it from a nursery attached to a school. That usually comes up in conversation if people are discussing nurseries and someone with a child in private nursery doesn't have to do school pick up times for example. In my experience there's never been anything snobbish about it

When I hear private nursery I think people are trying differente school nurseries

*it means a nursery not attached to

Saying Private nursery is the norm around here just means anywhere that's isn't council run or attached to a school.

I've never heard anyone say it but if I did I'd assume they were just making it clear that it wasn't a school nursery although I don't think they have those in my area which actually probably explains why no one ever needs to say it

Pre school children go to playgroup, nurseries or child minders here

I would use the term to distinguish from a school nursery or a pre school which might be run as a charity and has shorter hours.

OK, thanks. But what I'm confused about is that the other nursery in the village in not a school nursery. There's also no difference in the funded hours that can be used between any of the nurseries around here. They all let you use your government funded hours for age 3+ or younger for those with certain benefits, even the Montessouri.

As most others have said, private nursery to me is a nursery that usually takes babies as well as pre-schoolers and is open full working hours as opposed to a school nursery, attached to a school offering school hours to three year olds.

Sound like you have got the wrong end of the stick OP

People ask about DS nursery a lot at the moment as he is 3. So I say he is staying at his private nursery rather than moving to the school one. Nothing to do with snobbery just what they are called.

I agree it’s just to distinguish from school nursery. It’s privately run. My kids only went to school nurseries but I would not judge anyone using the term private nursery

The other nursery does not belong to a school though. It's an independent one, not a chain. Is that why?

My child goes to a private nursery 🤷
Lots of nurseries are private. I think I've said to someone once, one time my son was at a private nursery because that's what it is

Like, it's not council run..

I would take it the same way as pp. If anybody said that to me trying to "impress" me, it would entirely pass me by!

It just distinguishes it from a council-run or school- attached nursery here (Scotland). The hours/set up is a bit different but you can use your funded hours at either (or split between them as my kids do). It's not a snobbery thing at all to call it a private nursery!

Maybe the folk in your town are a bit weird about it or trying to show off or something but I've never come across that at all. It's just an explanation more than anything.

If the other village nursery doesn't attach to a school then it's a private nursery. Do the children from your village normally go to a primary school in another village? Maybe the parents are highlighting their DC have remained in their private nursery as opposed to bussing them to the next village to school