Is Prep school nursery better than state nursery?

[hiphiphurray]

Just that really....cant really afford private, but if nursery year makes any difference then would push the boat out and pay for that year at a prep school. But could not afford later so child would have to go to state school for reception year. The question is: does it make any difference to a child's progression if he/she has attended a prep school just for nursery year rather than a state nursery? I suspect the answer is no...but it is just a guess based on no experience!!

Many schools have a combined nursery/ foundation stage unit. Dd state nursery does a mixture of child led and adult led activites. They have a range of activites and the children get to choose two actvites and the adult suggests an activity for them to do. The school tracks their progress in different areas of the EYFS and addresses each child's strengths and weaknesses.

For example a boy who has weak fine motor skills would be "encouraged" to do threading or play with playdough or use sissors. Otherwise children just do the activites they find easy and not develop skills in their weak areas.

Some special needs children have speech and language theraphy activites (as part of an IEP). How on earth would you get these activities done if child is allowed to do whatever they please?

''How on earth would you get these activities done if child is allowed to do whatever they please?''

Any good nursery does exactly as you have described and are following the EYFS - there is some structure to the activities out for the children and reasons for them - but the children see it as play but the adults are observing their behaviour and development.

People seem to think that EFYS is just shambolic playing. It isn't. It's learning through play. Very different.

My DS attended both.

Broadly I would say 6 and two 3's. Certainly no forced academia in either. More getting the children engaged in activities and inducted into school ryhthms and disciplines.

Main difference was that at Prep the nursery interacted far more i.e had lunch with, joint plays and joint trips with the Reception and Y1 classes. This made the transition to Reception very smooth.

Prep nursery also funded by EYF from govt and tax relief voucher scheme.

I dare say though that state nursery attached to infant school would be able to create the same closeness.

Pick the best school for your chid and your family.

Really tired- You really misunderstand how a play based curriculum actually works. You are definitely not alone in this.

Assuming the staff are well-qualified and understand how children learn, there is careful planning, observation and evaluation that goes into every single minute of play. The adults plan how they will interact, what words/questions they will use, how the equipment will be set up. So their role is clear. If a child has particular targets/IEP we differentiate practice to support that. We observe and adapt. Constantly evaluating & reflecting on our interaction. There are rules, there is discipline, there is structure. It just might not be obvious to someone who still might believe children should be seen and not heard.

We track our children's progress to, we are proud that we are consistently excelling when our children leave us for school, especially with PSE skills. The two other areas we assess are out children's levels of well-being and involvement. Future markers of the personality traits they will have as adults.

If I send my child to a school that does all the thinking for him (what to play with, what to say and when to say it) How does that encourage any of the complex social or personal development skills that are so necessary to thrive in not only school but life?

There is this idea that play based is easy and you just let them get on with it! It is much the hardest age group to plan for IMO. Sitting them down on the carpet and getting them to do formal work is much easier for the teacher, but not as good for the child.

I think some posters need to remember we are talking about 3 year olds! Small children! Teacher I think your posts are spot on! DD1 has just started at a nursery attached to a state school, and from what I have seen, that is exactly the approach they adopt and I am very happy with it. A friend's DD has just started pre prep at the local (pushy) prep school. I have no doubt that at the end of the year, her DD will be seen (by her) to have a head start, but I also have no doubt that my DD is in the best setting for her.

Don't forget that many (most/all?) nurseries attached to prep schools will take the childcare grant on offer from the government, don't rule them out just because you think they will be more expensive. Our attached nursery is rather reasonable, especially when you consider they get fed, have a much bettwe adult to child ratio than is legally required, will probably have a smaller group of children etc...