Nursery ... Pre-school. Are they the same thing?

[Propinquity]

I have a read several times on these forums now people stating their child is at both nursery and pre-school. I thought pre-school was just the modern name for nursery?

My 2.5 year old goes to what is officially named a Pre-school, but myself and others call it a nursery.

pre-school can be part of a (primary) school or part of a nursery. nurseries usually take children from babies up to nearly 5y (before reception starts), so from 3y they go into the pre-school group of that nursery.

ds went to a nursery attached to a school - i called it nursery. He was there from age 3 until he started school. DD went to a nursery not attached to a school and we stilled called it a nursery. She stayed in the same group throughout the time she was there (age 3) up until she started school.

I find this all very confusing too!! So where does play school fit in to it all?! X x x

Nursery for me is from 3months to 3years then pre-school from 3years until they start school.

Some nurseries are the same building as pre-schools. Some pre-schools are just that and only take 3 & 4 yr old children and some pre-schools are attached to the primary school.

Play school is the same as pre-school.

This makes sense to me but one friend I know calls pre-school the 3 months to 3yrs part and nursery the 3 & 4 yrs part.

All very confusing I feel.

To me Nurseries care for children full time at least 8am to 5.30pm. They take all children under school age

Pre-schools offer sessional care following the school day so 9-12 or 12-3. They take children from 2/2.5 to school age.

In general nurseries are businesses & pre-schools are community/charity run.

DD goes to a childcare institution for 18 months - 4 year olds that is attached to a primary school. She started at 18 months, so I called it nursery. She is now 3 and still at the same place (for a few hours a week), so I still call it nursery. Some friends called it school when their 18 month old started there. The place itself is named after a fictional character and doesn't specify whether it is a pre-school or a nursery.

There is no universal answer to your question, sorry. Call it what you like!

Here we seem to have "nursery" meaning paid day care, baby - school age.

Then there is also "nursery" or meaning the first class in the primary school, covering dc from the first term after their third birthday for 3 hours a day. Government funded and run with the rest of the school, no difference, uniform, school rules etc. Usually morning and afternoon sessions. Not optional though, if you are in you are in, not messing about with days and times etc. The september after their 4th birthday dc will move to reception, full time, school rules, uniform etc, in the september after they turn 5 will enter year 1...

LoonyRationalist has summarised it best I think.

I remember my younger siblings being taken to Nursery (1970s) which was within the school grounds, back in the days when it was called Infant and Primary School. Old photos of that school clearly show the sign entrance saying Nursery.

I'm going to continue calling it nursery, but Loony has explained it well. The (officially titled) pre-school my 2.5 DS attends is within school grounds in a mobile with own enclosed play area and they do have much more desk based learning activities whereas the other also called a pre-school but within the church hall, has derfinately more play-based activities, yet both cater for same age group.

Middle School/High School/splutter 'Academy' !! Don't even start me on the Americanised modern secondary school re-brands

Generally there are 3 kinds of early years establishments.

Day nurseries - usually provide care/education for children 0-5, 8am-6pm all year round. Normally private, though some are run by the LA or by charities.

Nursery schools/nursery classes - state nursery education, often part of a primary school though some are stand alone nursery schools, take children from the term after their 3rd birthday, open 9am-12/3pm, term time only (though some have holiday clubs).

Pre-schools - take children from 2 or 2.5 years old, usually term time only and open 9am-12/3pm, often run by churches, charities or commitees of parents.

agree with imperfectionist - no universal answer! even when I talk to my sister (north east) and my bf (surrey) they call things by entirely different things.

My sons go (went) to a private nursery, in one building, where essentially they have 3 'areas' or 'groups', babies, toddlers, and pre-school. So the kids there range from 3 months to (just under) 5 years. I always call it nursery, although DS1 used to say 'nursery is for the little ones mummy - I'm in PRE SCHOOL now!!'

There is another premises down the road, and this is a pre-school. By that definition, it means it only takes 3-5 year olds.

My sisters daughter started school at 3. She called it 'school' as did the school, but in my mind, whilst it is in the school, and part of the school, this is actually 'pre-school' because of her age (and because she claimed 3-4yo funding for it). but then thats me!