What's the difference between nursery and pre-school?

[theminxy1]

I think I am being a bit stupid about this - my nearly 3yo dd is at nursery 2 days a week. She really loves it and is very happy there. So why does everyone keep asking me when she is starting pre-school and looking at me like I am mad when I say she isn't!?!

I thought pre-school was basically the same as nursery just (probably) attached to a school? The nursery she is at offers the 12.5 free hours for 3+ year olds so I can't see why I should move her when she is settled.

Am really confused - help!!

There are no medical reasons for the lack of toilet training ... as one parent explained "I just never got round to it..." and another said "She won't do anything I say.."

When the Foundation Stage was introduced there was no one happier than me ... at last my reception children "belonged" and were no longer hanging on the bottom of KS1 with all the downward pressure that entails and I had the freedom to teach my class the way they should be taught (through play and experiencing for themselves) but like many others who work in Early Years I had big issues with the EYFS consultation document one of them being that reception children still fell under infant class size legislation rather than an appropriate adult child ratio required to provide the best provision for the under 5s. Professional concerns were ignored (I imagine because of cost) and England (Wales has opted for a adult child ratio of 1-8 in reception and 1-15 in KS1) continues with 1-30. If you read teacher's forums you would find many teachers find themselves the only adult with 30 children for most if not all the week (school budgets)

mrz

in an ideal world KS1 would be abolished and the EYFS would be extended to 7.
There would be no more SATs
ratios would be 1-8 and everyone working within the sector would have a proper qualification, preferably a degree, and lots of experience.

Well. I can only dream

and I agree that children should not be arriving at school in nappies

some parents just don't have a clue!
All the children in my pre-school came out of nappies before they moved into the pre-school, last September. This was done by working in partnership with the toddler room staff and parents.
I know where you are coming from, I don't have time to change nappies either and our ratio is 1-8.

To get back to the point about nurseries and pre schools, to me a nursery is a private company run for profit - offering a place for working parents to leave their children(age 0-5yrs) for a fee (some may or may not be claimed back depending on childs age)

Pre school is a sessional group where parents take their 3-4 yr old (maybe 2.5yr old) for educational play. The basic session is 2.5hrs with some places offering a lunch club option to extend the session to 4hrs.

And what self respecting parent would allow a child to wear nappies at 5 years old? Their children deserve better.