can someone please explain the difference between a day nursery and a pre-school?

[Tutter]

am a tad confused

pre-school is a nursery attached to a school, where they do either a school day (9-3) or half days more commonly at the beginning anyway.

day nursery is day-care: so usually open 8-6, they can sleep there etc etc. suitable for working parents.

i think anyway!

you see, that's what i thought too

but last week i went to see a montessori school for children aged 18mo to 5yrs - open from 8am to 5:45, with all manner of sessions available during the day (e.g. 8-1, all day or school hours)

going to see a day nursery today - for babies aged 3mo up to children aged 5yrs - and am unsure of the difference

want to ask intelligent questions and appear informed

(the day nursery is open 8am - 6pm, so very similar)

Day nursery usually provides childcare for longer hours, and may take children younger than 3. They also tend to run through school holidays and their primary purpose is childcare for (working) parents. Whilst they will follow the foundation stage curriculum they may only do so for part of the day.

Pre-school isn't a formal term around here, and can be anything from a playgroup operating for 2.5 hours per morning to a more formal nursery class attached to a school. The difference seems to be here that pre-schools stick to school holidays and aren't as much use for working parents.

Ds2 goes to 2 "pre-schools", one of which runs in a church hall for 2.75 hours per morning, the other is attached to our primary school and is open 8am - 3pm during term times.

DS1 goes to preschool two mornings a week for two 2.5 hour sessions.

He will go to nursery school when he's 3.9 which is attached to his primary school.

Amidaiwish, Yes you are right about day nursery, but what you describe as pre-school is really nursery school! Children only go for half days until they reach Reception age.

Not too sure what pre-school really is, I think it's what I would call playgroup - half day sessions but you have to pay until after the 3rd birthday.

ok

i think i get it

so - from my perspective, there's little difference. i'm a sahm who just wants to start ds1 on a couple of mornings a week in preparation for ds2's arrival in the summer (mostly so i get some time just with the newborn)

Read their Ofsted reports. How old is DS1?

preschool CEHAP

Yes, that's true. I pay a fiver per 2.5 hour session. The local Montessori charges £13, I think.

my preshcool sessions are totally covered by vouchers

Mine too Cod.

Yes, DS1's will be in September. He misses the cut-off for vouchers by TWO blinking days. If he'd been born on his due date...

You will get funding from the term after child turns 3yo ,for nursery and preschool. This makes the expensive options more affordable (parent pays the difference).

the nursery was great

it's £36 for 8-1

the pre-school is £21

advantage of nursery is it'sopen 51 weeks of the year

Tutter £36 for half a day??!!!
Where on earth do you live?

berkshire, clary

full day is £60 - think that's par for the course in london and surrounds (unless i'm proven to be wrong...?)

wowwwwww

Quite shocked at that. So nursery full time for s/one WOTH would be £300/wk...£1200 a month.

Not worth working then unless you earn about £25k at least.

I guess everyone else knew this already but i'm staggered (by my ignorance as much as anything).

Hmmm, I'm in London and don't pay that for an over 2.

Ds's preschool which is attached to the school and is open 8-3 costs £2,000 a term, so £40 per school day. Reception costs a bit more (can't remember offhand - £2,300 per term). I know that SW London can be pricey. I know it is a daft question but have you looked at the Ofsted reports? The most expensive day nursery locally (a BUPA run one) has a less than impressive report.

but pre-school is cheaper than a day nursery, isn't it? (from what i've read below)

have recently moved from sw london so am comparing prices to friends' nurseries there - between £50 and £60 a day

Our preschool (west london/surrey borders) costs £10 for 3 hours. When the funding kicks in it's a very reasonable £1.70 a session

preschool is not daycare tho, it's 2.5 hrs a day as a start in education and usually runs for school terms. So if you want daycare (which you maynot, Tutter) it's not much use. But if you want a taster for school then it's great. And free once child is 3.

Hmm... don't think it's so cut & dried really!

The DSs went to 'Pre-school' at a full-time day nursery. It wan't attached to a school, but the Pre-school class followed the same Early Years curriculum they would have done if they'd gone to the pre-school class of the local infant school.

However because it was part of the day nursery it was open 8.00 - 6.00 pm.

I think you might have it there Legacy - it's the early years curriculum bit that makes it Pre-School.

Tutter - I think you just go on the feel of the place, and what it is that you want for your dc.

Then it's a day nursery legacy IMHO. Of course they offer a pre-school element, after all plenty of children whose parents use that as day care will need that at 3+.