Nursery/pre-school - panic and confusion

[FattipuffsandThinnifers]

DS is 21 months and is down on waiting lists for two nurseries. The age range for both is 2-5 - does this make them nurseries or pre-school? What is the difference? These are both private ones. Are there pre-schools at state primaries? Should I be registering for these too, or is it too early?

I'm in south London and it is fiercely competitive to get in to them. I'm worried that I've left it so late he may not get into either until he's way over 2 (at the earliest), so am now panicking about where he'll go when he's 3 if he doesn't get into either of these.

I am so confused, arrggh!

nurseries are open all day

preschools or nursery schools offer sessional care eg mornings or afternoons

state primaries also have preschools - they usually start from the term after your child turns 3
you need to apply for them usually a couple of terms beforehand

Thanks for replying, and the info on state pre-schools, that's good to know.

So there's a difference between nurseries and nursery schools? Just to add to my confusion! Although one of those he's down for has just changed to having all-day sessions only. Does this mean it's a nursery school, rather than a nursery?

they can call themselves what they like pretty much

Ah, right.

Thanks for your help! I've been looking at my local authority website but it is rubbish, and really confusing.

www.childcarelink.gov.uk/
should have info on nurseries plus you can call your local childrens info service for advice

Doesn't really matter what they're called. As Eldon Ave says, they can call themselves whatever they like, really.

Some (not all) schools (private and state) have nurseries attached.State nurseries usually offer a half day session. Private schools can offer what they like. They usually take children from age 3 (or 'rising 3', ie. 2 yrs 10 mths). There are also nurseries/playgroups that aren't attached to schools that offer mornings or afternoons only for children, usually from age 2 up.

Private, community and charitable nurseries also exist. They are usually 'daycare' and provide longer hours (ie. 7.30am-6.30pm-ish_ for working parents. They usually take children from babyhood.