Can someone please explain pre-schools, nurseries, montessories and prep schools to me please?

[Quootiepie]

Bit of a minefield what to "choose" as I don't really know the difference that much. Are some more academic and other more play focused? I gather montessorri and prep school are academic, but then what is the difference between them two? I really haven't a clue what I am looking for - just a place DS can go at 2/3 before school. Searched all the education websites etc. and have a list of places, but they are all different types but none really explain that well what they actually are, if that makes sense.

I thought Montessori was more play focused?

Pre-school is more academic and usually each child has a key worker to assess their development. Or thats how it works at my dd's.

Nurseries seem to be more play focused too.

actually what I mean is, my understanding on Montessori is that they are academic based but focus through play. If that makes sense?

I could be making all this up though and some clever little mumsnetter will be along to tell you

see, I go between 2 churches and one has a nursery and one has a pre-school. Then I have a Catholic Prep school really nearby that admits from 3months, as it's private I am presuming wildly (until I check Ofsted) it is "better" so if I can afford it (eek!) that's another option, then also not too far is the montessori I went to which obviously is what my mum chose instead of going to Early years at Prep so thought maybe it's better? You can see I really haven't a clue.

Most early years places should be focussing on learning through play, regardless of what they are providing they are following the Foundation Stage Curriculum.

Pre-schools tend to be open much the same times as schools, and many have a real problem with doing the whole 'care' thing. There are lots of places that won't change nappies for example.

Nurseries are a bit of both. It takes me three days to plan for my children based on their observations.

Montessori's I don't have much experience of, but they didn't appeal to me from the things I heard so I never went in that direction.

I work in a nursery and DD attends with me.

I personally chose nursery for DD (rather than working anywhere else) because you tend to get a home from home experience in the majority of places (it is only the minority of dodgy places that gives day nurseries a bad reputation). I liked the idea of her mixing with other children right from babyhood, learning social skills in kind of home routines. I liked the play aspect and the adult interaction aspect, rather than her being 'taught' as I have seen in many pre-schools. I like the way she is observed and then activities are planned to move her learning on, rather than her being called to do something that she doesn't want to do.

won't change nappies The one at church is open all day, surely they cannot leave them all day...

Well pre-schools in this area tend to open 9-12, have a lunch club and then re-open for the after noon from 1-3. If the church is registered for full day care and that is what it is providing then I doubt very much that they would leave children all day. That's the way it works where I am but it might be different in your area.

With regard to Ofsted, if you're searching out reports, I personally would not send DD anywhere that had a satisfactory, basically because I have worked in a "satisfactory" place and the care was a bit crap to be honest.

Well ours is called a playgroup but comes under the preschool learning alliance.

I think of nursery as all day care for working parents or a school nursery for 3/4 year olds.

My assumption is a preschool or playgroup would be for only a few hours a day and from 2 upwards. Most playgroups don't do nappies because they assume that by the age children start that they will be potty trained. However they cannot refuse a place because the child is still in nappies. Some say a parent will be called to change dirty nappies, but reckon that otherwise they wont need changing for the 2.5-3 hour session.

Montessori is often just a name (so they can charge more!) I don't think there is any restriction on who can use it. Round here the Montessori does tend to be more structured and is favoured by the parents wanting to get their kids into the private school - but I don't think this is truely 'montessori' which is much more learn though play.

I think you need to visit all the possibles to see what they are like rather than trying to guess the style from the name.

QP you want a pre school
they are funded
state monitored
sesional( ie not day care)

I keep forgetting he will (fingers crossed) be potty trained by then, but still at the nappies thing as I know 2 3yr olds in nappies still. Obviously state funded is really the realistic option, which narrows it down to the two church ones - the nursery and the pre-school. Neither have websites, only information on collective websites so it's hard to tell what they offer. When can I go view/put names down?

ring the settings you are interested in and make an appointment with the manager to have a nose around. there are some useful questions you can ask, i think they are on the ofsted website or they should be on you local early years website.

Quootie don't confuse prep school and pre-school

Pre-schools are what used to be called playgroups. They are usually committe run children go for 2 and a half hour sessions and can be held at places like church halls or community centres or a room in a primary school.

Prep schools are private primary schools, strictly speaking prep is aged 7-14 and pre-prep is aged 4 - 7.

Quootie - I would think that there is very little difference in the 2 church settings - DD went to a so called nursery a t our church, and a so called pre - school at another church, both similar in what was done and ethos, both did 2.5 hour state funded sessions, and one did lunch cover and a 2.5 hour session in the sfternoon, so she did a full school length day one day a week.

I think when it is session rather than day care, pre school or nursery really do mean the same thing.

The prep school had an early years, definatly a prep. school. Will check out the 2 church ones, especially if they offer the same type of thing. Thanks x

Montessori is a holistic approach to a childs development done at the childs speed using specially designed 'toys' that encourage toe child to use all senses, the ones I trained in were fantastic, never pushed the child. If you wantme to explain further I can.

ah, so how would that differ from a preschool and a nursery then? Thanks x

HI Quootie long time no see hope you and yours are well.I was wondering the same myself then at my dd2's 3 yr check i got given a guide by sure start that tells you all you could want to know.It's called Looking For Childcare a guide to help you make the right choices.For a free copy you can dial 0845 60 222 60 quoting reference SESCO6-17 and state what languuage you want it in.Hope that helps.
Think you can also view it and download at www.surestart.gov.uk/aboutsurestart/parents/lookingforchildcare. Sorry don't do links!

There are five areas in the montessori, they usuallly start with sensory, and social, going on to cultural and reading/writing and maths. They have an area for each one in the school and the children should have the freedom to roam around in each section and to play, they will have a key worker who will intoduce things when the children show an interets but other than that it is entirely the children who set the pace, for example in the social area it teaches them skills like pouring, sorting, tying shoes laces, zips as well as being aware of other people and how other feel, sensory is basically letting them explore the world using their senses, etc

Actually AFAIK it is illegal for pre-schools to say they won't change nappies because chidlren with SN could well still be in nappies at pre-school age.

Our fabulous state nursery school makes a point of saying that they will take children in nappies, children starting potty training, children who want to do it all themselves...etc etc.

However I guess in practice many playgroup type places prefer children to be out of nappies. which let's face it as we're talking 3yos mostly they would be if NT.

Montessori btw is very child led and I was impressed with one I saw. The money can be an issue tho IIRC they take vouchers once child is 3 like other playgroup.s

You really needto go an dlook round th epossibilities QP.

Montessori schools need Montessori trained teachers. Some of our children went to Montessori nursery schools in the mornings from age 3 until they went to proper school.

If you want your child to go to a particular private school at 5 or 7 you may need to look at what school at the younger end is best at preparing them for that too.