Nursery schools and classes If you're considering sending your child to a nursery school you have a number of options. Here we consider state and private nursery schools, and community projects run by other parents.

In this article

What's a nursery school? What's a nursery class? Ages covered

Pros Cons

Typical costs How to find a nursery school or class

A nursery school is independent of any school for older children, although it may feed into a particular one. Because it's a separate school, it has its own head teacher and staff (trained teachers, nursery nurses and classroom assistants).

A nursery school has to be registered with the Government regulatory bodies and is inspected every year. It will almost certainly offer a Government-approved early years curriculum.

There are different types of nursery schools, including:

• State nursery schools - funded by the local education authority and free.
• Community preschools - independently run on a not-for-profit basis (often by parents) and charge fees, although your child may be entitled to a free part-time place
• Private nursery schools - independently run and charge fees, although your child may be entitled to a free part-time place.

A nursery class is a preschool class attached to a school for older children. Its head teacher is the head of the entire school. It's staffed by trained teachers, nursery nurses and classroom assistants, who are also part of the main school. It will almost certainly offer a Government-approved early years curriculum.

There are different types of classes, including:

• State nursery classes - attached to particular state infant or primary school and run by the local education authority. They're free.
• Private nursery classes - attached to particular private schools and charge fees, although your child may be entitled to a free part-time place.

Nursery schools and classes cater for preschool children up to five years. Most take children from three, but some include younger children. The child/staff ratio for children aged three to five in a nursery school or class is between 20 and 26 children to two adults, where one of those adults is a qualified teacher and the other is a trained nursery nurse or classroom assistant.

• A nursery school or class will be registered and regularly inspected
• Your child will be taught by qualified teachers
• He'll have an appropriate and structured learning programme
• He'll be among children the same age
• He may have contact with older school-age children
• He may move directly to a linked school once he's old enough

• You may need additional childcare as most nursery schools and classes operate school hours (around 9am to 3.30pm), with normal school holidays of around 13 weeks a year
• The staff won't be able to care for your child if he's ill
• You may have to live within the catchment area for a particular school
• There may be a waiting list
• There may be fees involved, although your child may be entitled to a free part-time place
• Ratios of children to carers are much higher than in most other settings

Care is usually free if the nursery class or school is part of the state education system. If you're choosing a community preschool, expect to pay around £3.50 per hour.

If you're choosing a private nursery school, expect to pay from around £1,000 a term, but fees vary widely and depend on where you live.

ChildcareLink
A Government service that provides information and advice on childcare.
Freephone: 0800 096 0296
Website: www.childcarelink.gov.uk
This doesn't include Northern Ireland - try your local health and social services trusts instead.

The Independent Schools Council information service (ISCis)
Can provide a list of independent schools in your area.
Tel: 020 7798 1500
Website: www.iscis.uk.net

Your local education authority - look in your local phone book.

Other parents - nothing beats a personal recommendation; ask other parents if they know of a good local nursery school or class.

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