As a parent, deciding whether or not to send your child to nursery or preschool is a big decision. A decision that you will want to think about carefully.
It’s an important decision, for you, and for your child. We find parents welcome guidance on whether it’s right for their family or not.
The reasons to send your child to nursery and preschool will be unique to each family.
The benefits of nursery or preschool for your child are vast.
From providing structure and routine, to early learning and development of core skills.
Within this article, we’ll highlight a number of benefits of sending your child to nursery and preschool. We’ve also included some quick FAQs every parent wants to know before making such a big decision.
Is there a difference between nursery and preschool?
The main difference is the age of children at each setting.
Some nurseries care for children from birth, or a few weeks old. Preschools on the other hand are for children approximately 3-5 years old.
For parents returning to work, nurseries are the popular choice of childcare.
Other forms of childcare options, include childminders and au pair services. You may be interested in our Ultimate Guide to Understanding Different Types of Childcare.
Benefits of nursery and preschool
Children attending nursery and preschool will be exposed to an array of opportunities and experiences, all carefully tailored to enhance their cognitive, physical, and emotional development.
Let’s take a look at the core benefits of nurseries and preschools.
Early Years Learning/Education
Encompassing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (in England), nurseries and preschools encourage children to learn through play in the following 7 key areas:
Communication and Language
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding of the World
Expressive Arts and Design
All EYFS providers (in England) must register with the regulatory body Ofsted, where inspections will take place every 4 years, or sooner if needed.
You can find the latest Ofsted inspection report for each Lucky Beans Childcare setting here.
We are very proud to have been awarded Good at our latest inspection at Growing Beans Streatham Preschool in November 2024.
With a team of highly trained educators, you can rest assured that at Lucky Beans Childcare, we do not use a one-size-fits-all curriculum.
With a bespoke curriculum, our aim is to support your child in becoming healthy, creative, and resilient learners.
Placing your child at the heart of our planning, we ensure that our curriculum is tailored to the individual needs of each child.
Visit our website to learn more about our philosophy and how we support your child’s education and development.
Physical Development
Highly trained and experienced childcare providers will ensure your babies and toddlers are provided with opportunities that will support their physical development.
Knowing where each child is in their stage of development, allows the staff to purposefully plan activities that will encourage and support each child to meet developmental milestones.
Be that in providing suitable toys and resources for tummy time, aiding with rolling over, or manipulation of toys with hands and fingers.
And for older children, examples of activities within preschool will aid with balance, throwing and catching, and in using a fork and spoon independently.
Such activities will help your child’s fine and gross motor skills, physical movement, builds confidence, and allows them to develop at their own pace.
Physical activity is important, at any age.
Benefits of regular physical activities include brain health, improved attention and memory, building muscular strength, and overall long-term physical and mental health.
Social Skills Development
Humans are social beings - even from a young age. Babies seek out human interaction and, according to Professor Angelica Ronald, prefer to look at face-like patterns than any other patterns.
And where are there lots of other little tiny humans to seek out interaction with? At nurseries and preschools of course!
Have you even watched children socialise, play together, and communicate with each other, even when there is a language barrier?
It’s inspiring!
Nurseries and preschools have well thought out spaces and resources that allow children to communicate with each other, to play together, and to support and inspire each other, regardless of any boundaries.
Building life long skills of social interaction.
Learning to socialise and interact, not only with their friends and peers, but also adults, teaches your child about different perspectives, taking turns, showing empathy, and fostering meaningful relationships and friendships.
Cognitive Development
Learning is always more meaningful and has a greater impact, if done subtly.
Through play and engaging activities, children at nursery and preschool will be learning skills they are not even aware of yet.
Skills such as numeracy and literacy, problem solving, classifying objects, improved memory, and so much more.
Here at Lucky Beans Childcare we offer additional extra curricular activities for all our children in the form of Ballet, Tennis, Spanish, and Adventure Box sessions.
These early childhood education opportunities has a wide and deep rooted impact on a child’s development, for the here and now, and for their future.
You can read more on the structured learning programs we offer to foster growth and learning, as well as our bespoke curriculum overview.
Emotional Development
As a positive psychologist, our founder, Dr Caroline Curtis, places emphasis on children’s personal and emotional development.
With a home-from-home environment, your child will feel valued and supported as an individual. Allowing them to understand their body, their emotions, how to regulate, and most of all… allowing them the freedom to be happy.
Our blog on How to Support Children’s Emotional Regulation explains more on the importance of developing the skills to identify and label emotions.
School Readiness
In addition to what we have already discussed, benefits of nursery and preschool support your child in being more prepared for the next stage of their education.
They will have all the tools they need to have the confidence to explore the world, be creative, ready to learn, and most of all, to be themselves.
Whereas compulsory school is free, nurseries and preschools are privately funded.
However, there are financial assistance available from the government. Who qualifies for the funded childcare changed in April 2024. You can find up-to-date information on out dedicated Funded Hours for Childcare page.
Registering your child at the right nursery or preschool
It is always best to register your interest for your child to attend nursery and preschool as soon as you can.
Always visit a range of settings to get a feel for how things are run, which setting will best suit your little one, and that aligns with your values.
Take a look at the reviews for the settings, and ask lots of questions.
For more detailed advice on choosing the right nursery for you, take a look at our 5 top tips to help you choose the best nursery/preschool.
Visit our admissions information to find out how to enroll your child and the benefits of joining our family community.
With many benefits of nursery and preschool outlined, it’s easy to see how early experiences from these settings form the foundations of language and communication development, fine and gross motor skills, literacy and numeracy skills, social interaction, as well as supporting their emotional wellbeing.
But don’t just take our word for it.
The ongoing long-term Study of Childcare and Development by SEED has found that formal childcare provision leads to better outcomes for children, in terms of cognitive and socioemotional development.
As well as designing a bespoke curriculum, following early childhood programs such as the forest school ethos, allows the staff at Lucky Beans Childcare to create an holistic and child-led approach to learning and development.
Why not get in touch to schedule a visit or to ask any question you may have. You can find FAQs towards the end of this article.
“The staff are very caring and incredibly creative with the activities they put together for the children with a lovely emphasis on being outdoors”
FAQs
In the UK, do you have to send your child to a nursery?
No, you don’t have to.
It is compulsory for children in the UK to start full-time education after their 5th birthday. Sending children to nursery and preschool is a choice many parents make in order to support their development and prepare them for school.
What is the best age to send a child to nursery?
There isn't a best age.
All children adapt and develop at a different pace. Whatever age your child starts nursery, it’s important to take the time in choosing the right setting for you and your child.
What is the hardest age to send a child to nursery?
There is no right answer for this.
There are a lot of factors to consider when is the best time, and worst time, to send your child to nursery. As long as the childcare setting is high quality, the starting age doesn’t really matter.
At what age should I enroll my child at nursery or preschool?
It’s always best to do this as early as you can.
Childcare settings, especially in South West London, tend to fill up fast and have a waiting list for enrollment.
Are there disadvantages in sending your child to nursery?
This is a personal choice.
Every family, and every child, is different. As a parent, all we can do is make the best choice for our children.
Is preschool better than nursery?
Both are an added advantage to the learning and development children experience at home.
Preschool allows children more opportunities to follow curriculum based learning, whilst nurseries are tailored to support babies/children to develop core skills such as communication and physical movement.
When should you not send your child to nursery?
You shouldn’t send your child to nursery/preschool if they are unwell, have a fever, a sickness bug (vomiting and diarrhoea), is infectious, or has a rash. I
It’s always best to keep your child off nursery and to seek medical advice when needed.
Is under 1 years old too early for nursery?
It’s not too young. It depends what the parents feel comfortable with.
For some parents, returning to work may be necessary before your baby turns one. What’s important is finding a childcare setting that’s equipped and knowledgeable about the developments and needs of a baby.
How long can a baby stay at a nursery?
Nurseries tend to be open 07:30 - 18:30.
When a baby, or a toddler, starts childcare, there will be an open conversation on how long they should be at the setting for. This is especially important during transitions, for example, your baby may start with an hour a day, gradually building up to the desired time.
Is 3 years old too late for nursery?
It’s never too late. Education and developing skills is available at any age for a child.
Children at the age of 3 are more likely to be inquisitive and ready to explore the world and to make friends with other toddlers.
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