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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 between a Day Nursery and a Pre-School?

10 replies

mumtosp · 03/12/2014 11:49

Hi all,

DS has just turned 2 and I am only just starting to look at the local pre-schools so that we can register him for one when he turns 3. When I looked at the council website, there were loads of them - some described as day nurseries, some pre-schools, some were in church halls...what's the difference between them? They all are rated either Good or Outstanding, so choosing one is proving difficult!

DS currently goes to a childminder, and I was planning on sending him to a pre-school when is he 3 for a couple of hours a day and letting him continue with the child minder.... is this what most people do? I am not looking for somewhere that is full day as he is very happy with our childminder...

Also, I need something that focuses on EYFS and prepares him for starting Reception...

Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance for your help :)

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Spindelina · 03/12/2014 13:52

Anywhere that takes the funding will have to do EYFS, so don't worry about that.

"Day nursery" generally means the sort of place that is open from 8am-6pm and takes children from a few months old up until starting reception. Most people who use their 3yo funding in these places are using them for childcare anyway and will pay to top up the hours. But if they accept the 3 year old funding and have space for your DS, they are legally obliged to offer you hours such that you don't have to top up.

"Pre-schools" are the sort of place that offer 3 hour sessions in the morning or afternoon, and that's all.

Where would your childminder be happy dropping off?

insancerre · 03/12/2014 15:17

Day nurseries and present schools both follow the eyfs and prepare children for school
Present schools are more likely to offer shorter days and term time opening whereas a day nursery is more likely to offer longer opening hours and be open during the school holidays
I manage a preschool but we are open 8-6 all year round so I suppose we are a day nursery too
We use the term preschool as we are in the grounds of a school and we only take children from 2

HSMMaCM · 05/12/2014 17:04

Your cm should be focussing on EYFS ...

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 05/12/2014 17:37

A pre school is generally term time and short days.

A nursery is year round childcare.

bearwithspecs · 07/12/2014 17:39

Look at what is local to your CM and offers the hours you want. Don't worry about the name - all same curiculum

BackforGood · 20/12/2014 20:45

In our authority, the names are interchangeable. I go into places that call themselves 'pre-school', some called 'daycare', some called 'Nurseries'. Some called 'Nursery school'. Some called 'Playgroup' . If you tried to group them according to what they offer / provide, the settings with the same names wouldn't be in the same groups. There are also nurery classes in schools and 'stand alone, maintained Nursery schools'

You need to phone up and ask them what they offer.
I'd have though your first port of call would be to ask your CM where she was happy to take to/pick up from. She may also be able to recommend, or not recommend local places.

Does your CM already go along to CM groups ?

ReallyTired · 20/12/2014 21:30

A day nursery offers wrap around care and meets the needs of working parents. A pre school only offers short days and is term time only. Pre schools tend to be a lot cheaper than day nurseries because most of them are charities.

tilder · 20/12/2014 21:44

I find nurseries tend to be commercial settings, offering care for working parents. So normally 8am to 6pm, throughout the year. Preschool are normally run as a charity by volunteers and may be linked to a school. They generally offer term time, school hours. Then a whole lot that offer something in between.
I have found that the free hours can be offered by all types and childminders.
Pros and cons to all. I guess what you go for depends on what is on offer, the hours/days you need and what suits you and your child.

mygrandchildrenrock · 02/01/2015 23:00

Don't forget Nursery Schools and nursery classes in primary schools. You will get your 15 hrs free education and children will be with qualified teachers.

TheTescoManAlwaysRingsTwice · 14/01/2015 14:23

I am a fan of pre-schools that operate 3 or 6 hours a day out of a church hall - because they are typically staffed by mothers of school aged children!

But a nursery is much more convenient if you work - or even if you want the flexibility to arrange care in blocks long enough for you to do something for yourself.

Personally - I wouldn't bother with a nursery school for an oldest child - because you have years ahead of you to get sick of the school building - but they obviously are very convenient for subsequent children.

They all have to follow the early years curriculum - but the longer hours of a nursery means that they are more focussed on care (naps/meals etc) - whereas a pre-school will be structured play/singing/art and then back home for eat/sleep/tantrum.

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