What is an unofficial feeder pre-school?

[Nuttal]

Hope someone can help as I am finding all this so confusing!!
We have an option between 2 X term time pre schools for our son. One of the pre schools is across the road from the primary school we would like DS to attend but is not an official feeder to that school. However, I have been told that most children from that pre school do end up going to that primary school. No idea if there is an unofficial link - does such a thing exist? I would have thought the usual catchment rules would still apply?

You are correct the school will go by it's published criteria for admissions.

For a state school, feeder preschools/nurseries don't exist.
Most children probably go to the school because they live locally.

Great - thanks! I was so confused because one of the local mums started referring to feeders which had stressed me out.

I thought feeder nurseries are only a thing in private schools.

But most people will pick a nursery close to home. If the nursery is opposite a school then chances are it’s also most of the children’s closest school so seems unsurprising that most of them end up going there. I suppose you could call it an unofficial link if you wanted?

Had no idea there were feeders for private schools so what the other mum was saying makes perfect sense now.

Both pre schools we have been offered are close to home so was also wondering why one of them seems to have a much higher number of pupils attending the primary school we want.

I've heard people talk about "unofficial feeders". It does just mean the pre-school and the school are close together and most children from the pre-school end up at the school.

In the particular example I'm thinking of there was some collaboration between the pre-school and school. The pre-school used the school's forest school site, were invited to certain events such as the summer dance, and visited the reception class during the transition period.

It had no bearing on admissions but did mean the children were familiar with the school before starting.

May just be the nature of the school’s catchment area and where the pre-school sits in relation to it.

If the preschool uses the same criteria for allocating spaces as the school, they naturally end up with a similar intake. They might then do transition activities in the summer term.
But the school doesn't give priority to the preschool attendees.

My DD goes to a preschool that is on site at my DS' school.

Attendance at that preschool does not guarantee you entry to the school.

However, she like many of her classmates have older siblings already in the primary school. It means most of them get in on a sibling priority (which I hope happens for her)

Thanks everyone! Much clearer now