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PRE-SCHOOL |
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Plan ahead and book your nursery place
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One of the main considerations with any working Mum, is that their
children are safely and securely cared for. It is vital, for the
parent’s peace of mind that their child is being looked after
in a caring and nurturing environment.
Demand for Nursery place has never been so great and anyone who thinks
that they can simply pop down to a nursery and start their child
their immediately could be in for a surprise.
Most have waiting lists and the golden rule is to get your child’s
name down as soon as possible.
One of the boom areas in recent years has been the growth of private
nursery schools which cater for parents who are willing to pay for
the extra flexibility they may offer. They are often used by working
Mums who find their fees are worth paying in order to maintain a
wage, and some nurseries take children from being only a few months
old.
 Pre school facilities vary enormously both in the facilities that
they offer and the cost to the parent.
The most widespread are playgroups which may take the children for
a number of mornings or afternoons per week. They are generally inexpensive
and perform a useful role, not only in giving parents a break, but
also in introducing children to social and group play situations
that they will encounter at school.
Most local authorities also offer nursery school places, in many
cases attached to existing primary schools, which again introduce
the children to school routine.
It is important to find out as much as possible about a nursery or
playgroup before making a final decision.
Speak to other parents about the services on offer and don’t
be afraid to drop in unexpectedly on the staff and children. In most
instances you should be made very welcome. |
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Your guide to ensuring the right choice of care |
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Creches. This term is commonly used to describe
two different facilities.
One is a day nursery managed on or on behalf of an employer for the
children of his employees.
The second is a facility attached to a shopping or leisure centre
where children are left by their parents for short spells of time.
Playgroups provide sessional care, for children
between two and five years old and aim to provide learning experiences
through
structured
play opportunities in groups.
Most playgroups are run on a self-help basis by of parents with one
or two paid staff. although a few are run by local authorities.
Playgroup sessions last for no longer than four hours
 Extended
Playgroups provide
care for children for more than four hours a day and many will be
used by parents on the same basis as
a day nursery.
Day Nurseries look after the under fives for the
length of the adult working day and may be run by social services
departments,
voluntary
organisations, private companies or individuals as a business, community
groups or employers.
Children can attend either part –time or full-time depending
on the child’s and their parent’s needs.
Private Day Nurseries vary considerably in character,
but all offer educational and day care facilities.
Maintained Nursery Schools and Classes are
establishments with their own identity.
Nursery classes or units are an integral part of primary schools.
Both kinds of provision are open during the normal school day, with
a great majority of children attending part-time, commonly five mornings
or afternoons a week.
Reception Classes in Primary Schools.
A number of primary schools admit children to reception classes before
they are five.
Most are four year olds admitted at the start of the school year
in which they reach five. The majority attend full-time. |
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The huge range of facilities available to parents and their
children can be rather confusing. Read our simple guide to help
you make the right choice. |
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