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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

Difference between day nursery and nursery (pre-school). Can anyone please explain?

3 replies

Carmen123 · 22/03/2011 10:51

Hi
I am so sorry if my question is very naive, the truth is I have no idea how these things work but I get the feeling everyone expects me to! I tried to get some clarity from pre-school stuff but that didn't go very well. So please can you help.

My DD is going to a lovely nursery and she is really enjoying it. The primary school that lists our street in their catchment area (so I assume it is the one where she will be going) also has a nursery. But as I understand it is pre-school. It takes children from 3+ years. I have put my baby on their waiting list but I am a bit confused as to what are the benefits of taking her from the day nursery where she knows the stuff and the kids and has a lovely time and moving her to the pre-school. The only thing I can think of is that she gets used to some of the kids that will go to the primary. But, knowing her, I do not think she will be needing 2 years for that?

The pre-school does only half days, so that means she will still be doing day nursery part time. It takes about 1 hour "commute" from her current day nursery to pre-school. I can't see this being helpful if it goes on for two years.

So my plan was that I will try and see if I can get her in the pre-school a bit closer to when she starts the primary school.

I feel I need to mention that the current day nursery follows OFSTED (or whatever they say when they have all this development targets up to 5 years old when they start school)

What would you advice from your experiences? Thank you.

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Bramshott · 22/03/2011 10:59

No, I think you DO have a good idea of how things work!

The main benefit of her spending some time at pre-school / school nursery would be getting to know some kids who might be going to school with her.

IME many kids do a few sessions in a local pre-school in addition to day nursery, in the year before they start school. DD1 did 2 full days at nursery and 2 mornings at pre-school. OTOH, many don't, and go straight from a day nursery to school.

Wait and see what seems right for your DD at the time.

Carmen123 · 22/03/2011 11:09

Oh thank you so much. It sounds like I should go with my instinct. Closer to the day (i.e. depending on DD) start some sessions at the school nursery.

The duration of stay in pre-school should have no potential impact on her education. (Not that I am that stressed about it at 3-5 years old, but would like to have an informed decision)

OP posts:
Bramshott · 22/03/2011 11:57

The day nursery will also have to follow the Early Years curriculum with the 3-5 year olds, so they should be covering the same stuff.

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