Is there a big difference between nursery and pre-school?

[Pregnantandanxious]

My DC just turned three and has been at nursery since one. DC has just gone up to the next class there which while it's the same company and building, is classified as pre-school. Up until this point the practitioners have been very attentive both in terms of dc's development and happiness there and keep us informed of it all. We've been really happy with it.

Since moving up to the new class, it feels like the communication between them and us is completely different and they aren't really helping us with queries about what DC is doing nor telling us about what's been going on. Is this normal at this stage?

I was completely expecting this at school but was hoping I still had another year or so of being completely in the loop.

I'm expecting too much aren't I.

Ratios change from 1 adult :4dc, to 1 adult :8 dc.
Also, dc are (usually) likely to be speaking, and able to talk to you themselves much more than younger dc
Also, with COVID, all the usual handover arrangements have completely changed, and that has made things very, very different for all.

Depending on bubbles, and on the geography of the building and where the parents collect from, it can be quite difficult to maintain safe ratios in the room if practitioners are spending longer with each parents at pick up, whereas, in previous years, parents would (usually) come into the room, so there were more opportunities for a longer handover.