When you come to choosing what early years setting is right for your child, it is useful to know what is a nursery school and what is the difference between a nursery and nursery school?
Table of contents
Main differences of a nursery Vs nursery school
Leadership
- Unlike a nursery, a nursery school has at least one trained teacher with Qualified Teacher Status. There is a headteacher who is an early years specialist.
Age
- A nursery can care for children at a much younger age such as from a few weeks old, or even birth, up to the age of five years old.
- Nursery schools are attended by children aged three to five years old. Some will take children from two and a half. Children usually start in September after their third birthday.
Opening hours
- Nursery opening hours support working parents, so are usually between around 7-8am and 6-7pm.
- However, nursery school opening hours are usually from 9am until 3.30pm during term time only, but many offer extended hours. This gives parents the opportunity to drop off early or pick up late.
Early years learning
- A nursery’s tends to include lots of physical, social and emotional learning as part of their structure. It is a childcare setting that looks after young children (0–5 years).
- Nursery schools provide more structured, educational activities.
Both nurseries and nursery schools follow their country’s national curriculum:
- In England – Early Years Foundation Stage
- In Scotland – Early years Curriculum for Excellence
- In Wales – Curriculum for Wales – Early Years
- In Northern Ireland – Curricular Guidance for Pre-School Education
All childcare settings listed must be registered with Ofsted in England or CIW in Wales or Care Inspectorate in Scotland. Northern Ireland, nurseries are inspected by Early Years Teams within Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts. Nurseries which are attached to independent schools are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.
What is a nursery school?
- This early years setting can be run by a local authority, a private company, a charity or individuals.
- Age is typically 2-4 years.
- Not attached to a primary school.
- Trained teacher or headteacher in charge.
- The focus is educational assessments, such as in literacy, numeracy and expressive art and play-based learning.
- Flexible hours (often offer full-day care and part-time early years education). Some also offer childcare via after school clubs.
– What is a state-funded nursery school?
Maintained Nursery Schools have a head teacher who is an early years specialist and at least one teacher with qualified teacher status (QTS).
They are run and funded by the local authority, are either attached to their respective primary school or in a separate building.
These nursery schools are only open during school hours during term time, offering childcare and education to children under five.
They were originally set up in deprived areas of the UK to enable all young children access to education. Many of these early years’ settings are located in the most deprived areas in England.
– What is a private nursery school?
Private nursery schools can either follow the same term time as state-run nursery schools or be open for most of the year.
A private setting may charge fees, be more demanding and have different approaches and philosophies to learning, such as Steiner, compared to a state-run setting.
Typically, these settings are for pre-school children aged three to four. However, some accept children aged two and a half.
– What is an independent nursery school?
Some independent schools have nurseries attached to them, where children learn through play in structured environments. Children benefit from the school’s facilities and resources. For example, the children could get access to the school’s library, sports centre and more to prepare them for the next stage.
What is a school-based nursery?
- A school-based nursery is located on the premises of a school.
- It may be operated independently or managed directly by the school.
- Typically provide care for children aged three and four, while others also accommodate younger children.
- This varies by setting, as different age groups are subject to different regulatory requirements within schools.
The government is creating over 3,000 school-based nurseries in England. They will be either run by a school, a private or voluntary provider or a childminder.
What is a school nursery? (maintained nursery class)
- Run directly by the school.
- Usually follows the school day and term times.
- Places are often allocated through the school or local authority.
- Typically it is early education for 3-4 year olds.
What is a pre-school?
Neither a nursery school nor a nursery are the same thing as a pre-school.
- Pre-schools can be stand alone, attached to an infant or primary school, or part of a nursery.
- They are early years settings which provide education for children aged two to five.
- Children going to pre-school will learn and play in a more structured environment to help them with the transition to Reception.
What is the difference between nursery and pre-school?
- Nurseries care for children at a much younger age until they are ready to start school.
- Pre-schools care for children aged two to five years. You can find out more about the differences between the two types of settings here.
How can I find the right nursery for my child?
Now that you know more about the types of nurseries, you may want to know about how much early years fees.
If you have questions about funding, you can read about how to get help with childcare costs and 15 and 30 hours funded childcare.
To help you choose the right nursery for your child, you can visit the Finding a nursery page.
FAQs
What is the difference between a nursery and nursery school?
A key difference between a day nursery and a nursery school is that a nursery school has a trained teacher or headteacher in charge. Day nurseries can care for children from birth up to the age of five years old but nursery schools take children aged three to five years old. Nursery hours are usually 7-8am and 6-7pm and nursery school hours are from 9am until 3.30pm during term time only.
What is a nursery school?
Nursery schools have a trained teacher or headteacher in charge and are attached to primary schools. They follow their country’s national curriculum e.g. England’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. They are registered and inspected by Ofsted and can be part of the free state education system (also known as maintained nursery schools), independent or private with varying fees. They place a high importance on educational assessments, such as in literacy, numeracy and expressive art and design, with the aim to prepare the children for primary school. Learning through play is still present, however.
What is the difference between a day nursery and a nursery school?
Nursery schools are attached to a primary school and offer sessional-based education led by qualified teachers to prepare children for school. It is normally for children between the age of three and five. Although learning through play is an important part, nursery schools provide more structured education and can use the attached school’s resources and facilities, such as the library and sports centre.
At what age do children go to nursery school?
When it comes to nursery schools, children aged three to five years old can attend, but some take children from two and a half. Children normally start in September following their third birthday.
What is a Maintained Nursery School?
Maintained nursery schools are state-funded and were originally created to ensure children from the most deprived areas had access to education. They are only open during term time and offer education and childcare to children under the age of five.
What types of nursery schools are there?
Nursery schools can either be run by your local authority, independently or privately. Independent and private nursery schools may have a different approach to learning compared to a state-run setting, such as Steiner.
What do nursery schools offer?
Nursery schools offer educational sessions to prepare your child for primary school to make the transition easier. They are usually open during school hours in term time with options for early drop off and late pick up.
Have you started looking for a nursery near you?
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