Idiot's Guide to Pre-schools

[somewherewest]

16 month old DS is currently at home with either me or DH during the day, but we'd like to start him in pre-school a few mornings a week in a year or so. Problem is I'm completely clueless about the system in the UK (being an evil scrounging immigrant ) and all our friends with small children are using full-time childcare. Anyone want to help?

Preschool is usually provided free of charge for a certain number of hours once a child reaches three. Before this age, your son would be in a nursery setting...a private one where you would pay for his time spent there.

Some nurseries confusingly call themselves preschools but won't take private children until they're two....other places are like daycare and have ALL ages from newborn up to 4.