One thing to consider when looking for an early years place for your child is what early years setting you prefer. If you aim to prepare your child for school, pre-school may be a good option. But what is a pre-school and what is the difference between nursery and pre-school?
Table of contents
At a glance
- Target age and purpose: Pre-schools provide early education for children aged 2 to 5, offering a more structured, school-like environment following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to ease the transition into Reception.
- Operating schedule: Pre-schools typically operate during school term-times only (closing during school holidays) with shorter hours (often 9am to 3pm, or 2.5–3-hour sessional blocks), whereas day nurseries cater to children as young as 6 weeks and remain open year-round for longer hours (e.g., 7am to 7pm).
- Community and governance: Many pre-schools are parent-led, charity-run, or attached to local primary schools, operating out of community venues like village halls or church centres.
- Cost and support: While fees for part-time attendance can run into thousands of pounds annually, parents can offset costs using Tax-Free Childcare, government-funded hours (15 or 30 hours depending on eligibility and nation), or Universal Credit
What is a pre-school?
Pre-schools are early years settings which provide education for children aged two to five. At these settings, children 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.
They are sometimes attached to primary schools and are usually open during school term-times, which means they are closed during school holidays. Many will only be open from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday.
Pre-schools often offer shorter morning or afternoon sessions between 2.5 hours to 3 hours. They may also offer wraparound care, breakfast clubs, lunch clubs and holiday play schemes.
Some settings are run by charities and parent-led committees and are run in community buildings, such as a church or a village hall. They can 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 Reggio Emilia.
Difference between nursery and 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:
- They tend to be for children aged between two and five years old
- Pre-schools are more formal and structured to help with the transition to school
- Sessions are often 2.5 to 3 hours long, either in the morning or afternoon
- Opening hours are usually 9am to 3pm
- Usually follow school term times, with breaks during half terms and summer holidays
Nurseries:
- 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 choose an early years setting for your child, there is lots to think about and it can be daunting as you want to get it right.
What you need to consider includes the setting’s location, size, ethos and more.
To find out about other types of early years settings click here.
How much does pre-school cost?
Like any other type of childcare in the UK, pre-school is expensive and can put a significant dent to your family budget.
Sending your child (aged under two) to pre-school in the UK for 25 hours a week (part-time) is on average £9,438 per year in England (50 weeks, not including funded hours), £6,654 in Scotland and £8,167 in Wales.
However, there is help available to make childcare more affordable. Follow the links below to explore what help is available where you are in the UK.
UK
- Tax-free childcare (get 20 per cent off childcare, up to £2,000 per child)
- Universal Credit (replacing Child Tax Credit)
England
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Next steps
- Compare local pre-schools and nurseries: Assess whether your family requires year-round, full-day childcare (day nursery) or if term-time, sessional hours (pre-school) fit better with your work and care routine.
- Check funding entitlement: Check GOV.UK or your local authority website to see if your child is eligible for 15 or 30 funded childcare hours and apply for Tax-Free Childcare to help cover remaining fees.
- Visit settings early: Arrange visits to local pre-schools to inspect their facilities, ask about their educational approach (such as Montessori or EYFS focus), and check availability for upcoming term start dates.