Struggling to choose between daycare and nursery? You’re not alone! Many parents find themselves puzzled by the options. Daycare offers childcare for working parents, while nursery focuses on early learning. It can be tricky to understand the differences. This article clears up the confusion, helping you decide what’s best for your family.
What is day care?
Daycare is a service that provides childcare for families. It cares for infants and young children during the day. These centres help working parents balance work and family life. Daycares typically accept children from six weeks to five years old.
Key features of a day care
- Offers play, social activities and learning opportunities
- They may also provide meals and transport
- Provides flexible hours
- Creates a safe and fun atmosphere for
- There are a variety of activities available
- Play-based learning is at the centre of their approach
What is a nursery?
Nursery places an emphasis on early childhood education. It gets your little one ready for school. Nurseries focus on structured learning. Nursery offers an educational programme for young children. It focuses on school preparation. They learn through structured activities and curriculum-based learning. Nursery schools commonly cater to children aged three to five years.
Key features of a nursery
- Provides a structured learning environment
- Focuses on caring and teaching for children
- Offers activities to help children develop their learning skills
- Prioritises school readiness
- Ensures children reach key milestones in their development
Similarities between day care and nursery
In the UK, day care and nursery are both childcare settings for young children. They follow the same Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which emphasises learning through play. Both are regulated by Ofsted and aim to provide a safe and nurturing environment that supports children’s early learning and development.
So, is day care the same as nursery?
Overall, they both share similarities but the main difference between day care and nursery is their approach to learning. Also, day care and nursery serve different purposes. Day care focuses on care while nursery focuses on education. Also, day cares tend to cater for very young children, sometimes as young as six weeks, and provide childcare for working parents. This means they will typically open earlier to accommodate the parents’ work schedule.
Here at First Steps, we are an Ofsted-rated Day Nursery located near Peterborough. We are an enthusiastic team of individuals dedicated to providing and fostering an interactive and safe environment for little ones to develop and learn new skills. We cater to those between the ages of 0 and 18 months to 3 and 4 years old. We also provide nutritious meals to all of our children and have even received a 5-star hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency. Book a tour to visit our fun and modern facilities today!
