What is a Nursery?

What Does a Nursery Do?

A nursery, also known as daycare, is a place that provides care and education for infants and toddlers, usually      up to three years old. Nurseries offer a nurturing environment where children’s needs are met, such as feeding,  diaper changes, and supervised play. 

 Nursery provides a routine and structure to your child’s day. These can include mealtimes, naps and a mixture of both indoor and outdoor activities.  Great place for a variety of activities and for children to bond with their peers.This routine helps them to feel more confident and secure, in control of their feelings and is great preparation for school.

What is a Pre School ?

Pre-schools also have to register with their education regulator and follow their country’s curriculum.

Pre-schools can be stand alone, attached to an infant or primary school, or part of a nursery.

Some pre-schools are run by charities and committees which are parent-led and are held in community buildings such as a village hall. These pre-schools sometimes ask parents to help out with things like fundraising, volunteering and more.

What is the Difference Between Nursery & Pre School ?

Nurseries care for children at a much younger age, from a few weeks old or even from birth, until they are ready to start school.

Pre-schools care for children aged two to five years.

Nursery hours support working parents so tend to be between around 7-8am and 6-7pm.

Pre-school sessions are more structured and tend to follow the same hours as a school day, so run in sessions that are around two and a half to three hours long. They take place in either the morning or afternoon. Many only run term time.

If the pre-school is part of a nursery, children can still stay all day, they’ll just have their pre-school session as part of the day.

What is Required ?

Pre-schools tend to follow the same terms as school and will be closed during half-terms and Easter, summer and Christmas holidays.

Registered day nurseries must ensure that:

• all staff submit to a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check
• a first aid-qualified member of staff is present at all times
• at least 50% of staff have the relevant qualifications
• The premises have passed necessary inspection.
• This ensures that all the premises used are safe and fit for purpose. 

What is a Montessori Nursery ?

This is child-led teaching environment is a key philosophy of Montessori nursery. Children have the freedom to choose their own activities and are encouraged to work at their own pace. Montessori nursery is based on the idea that a child-led environment helps to build confidence and self-esteem.In a traditional classroom the teacher is the center of attention and the children have to follow the teacher. In a Montessori classroom the teacher follows the child.

In other words she/he observers the child and is guided by the child’s needs. As a result the teacher knows when to be active and when to be passive.

 Is Montessori Right For My Child?

The answer is that the Montessori classroom can work for any type of child. The small class size, individual based learning plans, and self-guided learning are all elements that make the Montessori design a good fit for most children. The number of students in the Montessori classroom is intentionally kept small.

Is The Montessori Approach Good?

Rather than being detrimental, the Montessori method promotes independence, self-discipline, critical thinking, and a love for learning. It fosters a holistic approach to education that respects the individuality of each child and prepares them for success in various educational settings and real-world scenarios.

 One limitation of the Montessori method is that  Because the Montessori approach is not well suited to all children, based on the idea that children are innately curious and motivated to learn, it may not be effective for children who are shy, struggling or who have special needs.

Does Montessori Really Make a Difference?

We specifically looked at how they performed in the areas of academic learning, cognitive development, social development, sensory motor development and creativity. The results of this meta-analysis show that Montessori teaching methods have significant positive impacts on social skills and school results.

Looking for Some Helpful Information Contacts?

If you are thinking or looking for a career in childcare. There are some good helpful information websites to view and sign up for a membership. They can offer help with training and other perks. Whether you’re thinking about what to do after leaving school. You might already be working with children or looking for a change of career. We have gathered some useful information and inspiration to help you find the right route. PACEY provides a course to help everyone who works in childcare understand their roles and responsibilities. In relation to safeguarding, protection and the welfare of children. This could be nursery workers, childminders, nannies and childminding assistants in England and Wales. Plenty more details visit  https://www.corampacey.org.uk/