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Preschool education

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

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Original poster

what's the difference with nursery and pre school?

16 replies

fragglerocker · 08/12/2011 18:45

Ok, probably a really obvious question but I have only have 1 DS so I have no experience of this. I thought they were the same thing, people just call them different things. I was having a grumble to my mum today about DS's nursery and she said 'oh don't worry he will be going to school nursery soon'. What is she on about?? DS is 2.8 and goes to nursery part time. I thought he stayed there til he went to proper school. He will be 4 and a half when he starts school and I can't really imagine him where is now when he is 4. I am really

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bruffin · 08/12/2011 18:48

Dcs was called a preschool and they were there until nearly 5. It had a separate room for rising 4s

thebigkahuna · 08/12/2011 18:50

Normally it's the hours - pre schools tend to run two three hour sessions a day, nurseries tend to be wraparound care while parents work.

Lots of pre schools type settings are feeders for specific schools, but not all. I think most pre schools tend to be charities too, rather than a private business like a nursery, or council run like a state nursery.

Clayhead · 08/12/2011 18:52

Just to be awkward thebigkahuna - my dc's Pre-School offered wrap around care and was a private business!

They did the Before/After/Holiday Clubs for the school whose site they were on, run as a limited company though.

thebigkahuna · 08/12/2011 18:55

That's why I said "normally" and "lots of" clayhead

Actually, a few of the pre schools attached to schools here do offer wraparound care - but no during school holidays. Absolutely useless to those of us who have no other help and don't have term time only jobs.

Original poster

fragglerocker · 08/12/2011 19:09

Ok, so he will just stay where he is until school? There are pre schools at some of the primary schools near us and I didn't know if they would be different to his nursery. Do they do more educational stuff in pre schools or is it just 'play' like in his nursery? There are some nearly 5s at his nursery but I don't think much teaching goes on with them, I think they just play with the younger kids. Do they just learn everything at school? We do a lot of reading with ds at home and try to teach him numbers, colours etc but i don't think he does much of this stuff at nursery too.

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thebigkahuna · 08/12/2011 19:14

They should all be following the EYFS from 3 (not sure about before this age as never used one before DD turned 3).

There shouldn't be any difference as they will all have the same curriculum to follow in terms of learning and developing new skills, social awareness etc.

At pre school age they should only be learning through play - not sitting at desks learning formally. So, for e.g, my DD's pre school have taught her to write her name but she did it by learning to write it with her finger in sand to begin with.

He will stay wherever you want him to stay. Shouldn't miss out by going to nursery at all.

Original poster

fragglerocker · 08/12/2011 19:20

Thanks bigkahuna is all a bit clearer now!

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Clayhead · 08/12/2011 19:34

Exactly as thebigkahlua says - the only difference I can think of is dd & ds went to things like school assemblies (just special ones), Christmas plays etc. and took part in the activity week at school too.

EYFS & ratios the same everywhere. Learning through play until the end of reception.

Original poster

fragglerocker · 08/12/2011 19:45

Thanks clayhead. One of the things that worries me a bit at his nursery is that all the kids, no matter what age, all play together in one room. They do have seperate rooms (baby room, over 2s and over 3s) but on most days they all play together. So there are babies, 2s 3s and 4s all in the same room. How are they supposed to learn through play if they are not in age appropriate rooms? I suppose it bothers me more that DS plays with some over 4 boys that don't behave too nicely and I would rather he played with the nice boys closer his age!

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Clayhead · 08/12/2011 20:16

Well children learn at home playing in families and they're all mixed up ages! So long as the staff are good enough to differentiate at certain times I wouldn't find that too much of a worry myself.

LucyLui25 · 09/12/2011 10:16

the new ethos is that children learn better in mixed social groups. The new EYFS will want children confident, socialised and very self aware to be considered 'school ready' as i understand it. By having all of these children going into year one will be much more susceptible to reading and writing as they have developed their own foundations and are happy confident children. Pre schools only cater for children aged 3-5 (maybe 2.5) nurseries take children from much younger and may offer 'benefits' they all have to deliver the same education and maintain the same ratio's.

BaaBaaHumbug · 13/12/2011 21:08

Does anyone know the ratios?

lilham · 13/12/2011 22:32

I know it's 1:3 for babies (under 18mo) and iirc 1:8 for preschoolers. Not sure about toddlers.

LucyLui25 · 14/12/2011 17:50

i:4 toddlers (2-3)

LucyLui25 · 14/12/2011 17:51

i??? 1:4

mrz · 18/12/2011 19:36

I think it depends where you live. Here the class before reception is called nursery so nursery is either a school nursery class or a separate nursery school and pre school is usually privately run

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