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.

Most of the ones round here actually say 'private children's day nursery' or similar just after the name.

I'm wondering if you're reading more into it than people mean?

Is the other nursery in the village a pre-school (eg, 9-4pm, term time only), that might make it seem different in their minds?

I just called my DCs (private day) nurseries "nursery" but none of the nearby schools have nursery classes, if they did I might have called it something different.

Private nursery and pre school nursery is different isn't it? Most people main private nursery is childcare I would think.

I referred to my children being in a private nursery which was a childcare provision that o paid for rather than preschool nursery which is an educational setting.
But you judge away OP

OK, the other nursery is not run by the council or a school! So I don't get what the difference is? The prices are very similar.

The other nursery was originally set up by parents, 40 years ago. It then developed into an independent business. It was the only nursery in the village. Then a Montessouri company (chain) bought a nursery next to it, and it seemed a bit posher and nicer, so people started calling that "The Private Nursery". But in reality, they are both the same kind of thing. The other nursery is not school or council funded.

I say private nursery because we have 2 private nurseries and one council run one in our town. That's not including the ones in the schools. All 3 of them attract fees though.

I realise children get funded hours at these nurseriesbut it's still a privately run business.

@OverByYer

I referred to my children being in a private nursery which was a childcare provision that o paid for rather than preschool nursery which is an educational setting. But you judge away OP

Actually, I'm making observations and I genuinely don't understand it. I don't mean to judge. I just don't see another explanation, other than it being snobby, because, if you read my posts about about the other nursery - it's not a school, or council nursery.

I'm surprised they're not calling it The Montessori if they want to show off.

They are both privately run businesses. OK, I don't think people are reading my later posts.

Private nursery is a childcare setting with children from 0 - five years as a rule and offering 8am - 6pm care. You have to pay and can use 3yr+ vouchers towards it. They usually offer a pre-school curriculum to children from 3 yrs.

Nursery school or state nursery is a school setting, only for children aged 3+, free of charge, usually 3 hours a day but some will do a smaller number of full school-length days. It's not really childcare unless you work very few hours a week.

We had a childminder so my DC did the second but not the first.

It just sounds like a weird and very specific situation for your town. It's totally normal elsewhere to refer to private nurseries as such because the others are council led.

I do agree though that showing off is constantly referring to it as Montessori rather than nursery.

@OpenTheBloodyWindow

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.

Yes, exactly this where I am in Scotland too. There's no snobbery attached - it's literally just a description. And yes, a lot of people split hours between private and the school nurseries here too, so definitely no one is snobbish either way!

If they're both the same then I would just act confused and ask which one they are talking about. Seems very odd!

Round here it’s not to suggest it’s posh but to distinguish from school nursery.

I work in a local authority nursery school, they're a rare thing around these parts. Private nurseries to us are all those which are run as businesses, like the one my DD goes to.

What kind of snobbery is that? Even if it is the nursery of a private school it is still a nursery open to the paying public as every other one.

Just trying to pretend to be part of the crowd before their time?

If I remember correctly at least half of the children in my DS’ private school’s nursery progressed into estate schools, the nursery was not better or worse than any other high rated nurseries around, albeit it was a bit cheaper.

I’ve talked about/ used the term private nursery to variously explain:

• to my grandmother that DS is full time year round at nursery
• to a younger colleague how I manage to work normal 9-5 hours as a single parent
• to my friend why I’m eligible to claim Universal Credit despite having a decent salary (fees are astronomical)

There’s lots of reasons it comes up in conversation, and believe me it’s not ever once been snobbery.

@Horehound

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

Why would you not just call it nursery though?

Unless you're having quite an in depth conversation about how you manage childcare.

I've always called ds3's childcare a private nursery. It's just to distinguish it from school nursery, which he also attends.

I think it must have something to do with what the other nursery (40 years old) used to be when it was first set up, and perhaps how it was run for many years. Certainly, in recent years, there's no difference. But perhaps it has not managed to shake off it's original identity as being that old parent-run nursery. It's now an independent business. They have full days, but they don't take babies. They take kids from 2 years old. So, that's another difference.

OK, cheers guys, I think its a regional oddity here. But I now understand what the difference should be! Willing to concede that probably not snobbery then!

I used to say DD went to a private nursery mainly when explaining she was in outspoken of school hours/terms

My child goes to a school nursery but before that went to a private nursery, I would say it to distinguish between them. Firmly working class here!

To me, 'private nursery' means something different to a state funded one, not necessarily wonderful and often with less adherence to regulations. Nothing to do with being 'posh' or wealthy.

Sometimes people have to say their child goes to a private school to explain something, such as breaking up earlier for summer holidays or preparing pupils for 11+.

Does it matter? Ive never thought of it as you do, just accept it. Different strokes for different folks.

Why would you not just call it nursery though?

I called DDs nursery from ages 1-3 a private nursery because if I just said ‘nursery’ people assumed school nursery (which was on the same road), assuming I had a 3 year old. When I said ‘the private nursery’ people knew I was referring to a younger child.