WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NURSERY & PRE-SCHOOL?
Deciding what type of childcare is right for your child can be tricky as there are several options available. One thing to consider is what early education approach you want your child to experience. If you prefer an early years setting which aims to prepare your child for school then pre-school may be a good option.
WHAT IS A PRE-SCHOOL?
Pre-schools are early years settings which provide education for children aged two to five. Combined with childcare, children going to pre-school will learn and play in a more structured environment to help them with the transition to Reception.
The national curriculum is followed and taught, such as the early years foundation stage (EYFS) in England, which covers seven areas of learning including communication and language, maths and expressive arts and design.
Pre-schools, which are sometimes attached to primary schools, are usually open during school term-times and closed during school holidays. Many pre-schools will only be open from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday. This means pre-schools often offer shorter morning or afternoon sessions of 3 hours.
Settings like Little Pickles, are run by a charity and parent-led committee (although not all pre-schools are like this). Charity run pre-schools like Little Pickles often ask parents to get involved with things like fundraising, volunteering and more.
Like nurseries, pre-schools may have different approaches to early years learning, such as Montessori or Regio Emilia. Get in touch if you’re interested in learning more about the Little Pickles approach.
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A NURSERY & PRE-SCHOOL
Pre-schools and nurseries are similar in many ways but have some differences, such as the age of children they care for. Here is a summary:
Pre-schools:
Pre-school is normally for children aged between two and five years old
Pre-schools are more formal and structured to help with the transition to school
Sessions at pre-schools are often 3 hours long, either in the morning or afternoon (or you can choose both)
Opening hours are usually 9am to 3pm
Usually follow school term times, with breaks during half terms and summer holidays
Nursery:
Nurseries may take children who are as young as six weeks old and up to five years old.
Nurseries offer education but involve more childcare elements
Open for longer hours than pre-schools with some open from 7am to 7pm
Normally open during the whole year, with some exceptions
When it is time for you to look for a nursery or pre-school for your child, there is lots to think about and it can be daunting as you want to get it right.
If you have any further questions about the Little Pickles Pre-School, we will be more than happy to help.
