INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS NURSERY?
The term “nursery” is often used to encompass a variety of group arrangements for early
-year childcare. There are differences between settings, in terms of the services they
provide, but all nursery settings offer professional registered childcare for children under 5
years old. Nursing schools, kindergartens and preschools tend to cater to the needs of
children between the ages of 3 and 5, offering early education in the years before they start
“big school”. A large number of these settings are custom built and are sometimes part of
larger school buildings.
Kindergartens also tend to provide childcare for children from the age of six weeks to 5
years. Opening hours may vary slightly but childcare centers are usually open between 7am
and 8am to accommodate working parents and close between 6pm and 7pm. This means
nursery staff will often work shifts. Nursery schools and childcare centers can be run by
private businesses, local authorities, voluntary or community groups, schools, colleges or
employers. Settings can vary from very small with just 15 or more children in daycare to
large ones, with up to 150 children in place. In England, childcare centers function within the
Early Basic Level Framework (EYFS). In Wales, nurseries fit the requirements of the CIW
curriculum and the Foundation Phase. Play and preschool groups offer care and education
to children ages 2 to 5, with sessions lasting from two to four hours. These operate on time
periods, tend to be smaller and may have morning and evening sessions. Nurseries tend to
be arranged around the age of the child, and will often be divided into rooms for children of
various ages. Each room has a main staff, and the staff team tends to stay with the same
children. Nursery management needs to ensure that each room in the childcare center has
a number of qualified staff, depending on the number of children.

WHAT IS KINDERGARTEN?
Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical
activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to
school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th century in Bavaria and Alsace
to serve children whose parents both worked outside home. The term was coined by the
German Friedrich Fröbel, whose approach globally influenced early-years education. Today,
the term is used in many countries to describe a variety of educational institutions and
learning spaces for children ranging from 2 . Students usually 5-6 years of age, based on a
variety of teaching methods.