Confused about nursery/preschool

[Anjied]

Hi all
First child & I am getting very confused over nursery/preschool/school. Need some help please.
Daughter who turns 3 this month is currently in a private nursery where she has been since just over 1.
Due to her birthday she will not start school till Sep 2023 when she will be nearly 5 yrs old
So are nursery & preschool sort of the same?
The nursery she is at has children till they are 5 & about to start school.
Is preschool just term time & 9-3?
I would love any help, advice & guidance please
Thanks

Are you at a private nursery?

Preschool is usually attached to a school...and they move from there into actual school for reception.

Some parents choose to stay at nursery rather than move to an attached preschool...others prefer to move their child so they will be with the children who they will probably attend school with.

Some school nurseries call themselves preschool and some private nurseries call their last room before school, the preschool room.
However in general a school nursery (term time only, school hours) would be termed a "preschool".

In out private 52 weeks of the year they have 4 stages.

Baby room
Little Toddlers
Big Toddlers
Pre-School

They move through the rooms when they’re of an age or ability to do so, culminating with preschool before moving up to school (reception starters).

Nursery’s attached to a school around here are known as ‘school nursery’ and are usually only 5 sessions a week termtime only (either mornings or afternoons).

So where I live there are pre schools, private nurseries and a school nurseries. Pre schools are term time only, only open school hours and take dc from age 2. Private nurseries are open all year round, longer hours and take dc from a few months old (obviously each has their ownhours egg but this is generally the case). School nurseries are term time onIy, only open School hours and take dc thread before they start school. At least that's how it is in my area, Yorkshire.

Apologies for typos!

Wherever they go for childcare, the same curriculum, the EYFS curriculum applies. Whatever its called... nursery, preschool, playschool etc.

Stick with your current setting - they all have to follow the EYFS so there’s no advantage in changing to a school nursery, and the hours are usually inconvenient for working parents anyway.

Also worth noting that a school nursery place doesn’t guarantee entry to the actual school in reception - you have to apply same as everyone else and the same criteria (distance etc) will apply whether a child is in the nursery or not.

There’s no distinct definition but pre-school is typically for an older age group, usually 2+, and often but not always attached to a school. My DD attended the school nursery and the main advantage was that starting reception was a very easy transition and she was guaranteed a place (private school) but on the flip side it was school hours, term time only which isn’t ideal if you work FT. I think they all have to follow the same Early Years curriculum though so whichever setting you choose there won’t be a huge difference in what she’s taught.

Where we are:

Pre-school - 3yo+ until school start, state-funded, often but not always attached to a school, not full time hours and not school holidays.

Private nurseries - 6mo+ until school start, privately paid but you can get 30 free hours + childcare vouchers etc, open approx 7.30am to 6pm all year except bank hols. This was the only option as we both work full time. If this is the route for you think about getting on a waiting list quite quickly.

You could in theory add private nursery provision or childminders around the pre-school set up but would need someone to pick up/drop off and you wouldn't get a fee reduction from the private provider.

Good luck!

Main disadvantage with pre-schools would be the term time only hours as PP's have mentioned. Both of mine went to pre-school attached to a school at the age of 3. They were with a childminder before that and she was able to collect them up at 3.30pm otherwise I would have left them with the CM full time as I work and couldn't manage a 3.30 pick up. If your child is settled in the nursery perhaps leave her there if the longer hours suit you better.

My DC were fortunate enough to then get into the attached school for Reception. This was great for my oldest as almost the entire nursery moved up with her so she already knew a lot of her classmates when she started 'big school'. It didn't work out the same for my younger child as the school had become extremely popular by the time he started Reception and most of his nursery friends failed to get a place. He got in on the sibling preference as we lived miles out of catchment.

*30 free hours from 3 years onwards.

Private nursery provision gets cheaper just after their third birthday - room fees are often a bit cheaper because they can have more children per adult as well as government funding kicking in if you're eligible.

A few generalisations here but hope it makes sense as a start!