Home > Parents > Childcare Solutions Guide > Choosing Childcare > Childcare Options > Nursery Schools

Nursery Schools

Nursery schools are open during school hours, normally only in term-time.  They offer care and education for children aged between two and a half and five years old.  Children can sometimes attend full time from 9am to 1.30pm, but many attend just for morning or afternoon sessions.  They can be a private business or be part of a primary school.  All nursery schools are managed by their local Education and Library Board and are not registered by the HSST.

Under legislation from the Department of Education, 4 year olds are eligible to free nursery education in their penultimate pre-school year.  This can be delivered via a nursery school or unit (units are usually attached to a Primary School) or via a pre-school playgroup via PEEP (Pre-school Education Expansion Programme) places.  In general these places are available for 3-4 year olds though in some instances nursery school/units can take 2 year olds (PEEP places cannot take 2 year olds).  Nursery school/unit sessions generally run from 9.30am – 12.30pm, whereas a PEEP place will run for 2-21/2 hours.  To secure one of these places parents need to apply in January for admission the following September.  Application forms and explanatory booklets (which set out statutory and provider criteria) are available from all nursery schools and playgroups.  Further information is available from the Transfer Open Enrolment Officer in each of the Education and Library Boards:

School prospectus’ and School Inspection Reports are available on the DENI (Dept of Education for Northern Ireland) website www.deni.gov.uk , or contact the Department on 028 9127 9279 / 9726 for details on how to access inspection reports.  Pre-school playgroups providing PEEP places are also subject to inspection by the Department of Education.

Nursery schools are ideal if:

• You want good childcare at a low cost and have access to a state nursery school
• You want your pre-school child to mix and socialise with similar-aged children in an educational environment.  This can be a good introduction to primary school life
• You want your child to develop a range of skills
• You work part-time within nursery school hours, or can combine nursery school care with other childcare arrangements (ie a childminder or relative offering part-time care)

A nursery school may not be so suitable if:

• You have working hours that can’t be fitted around the nursery or term-times
• You feel your child is not yet ready for the structure of a nursery school or needs more personal care.  The ratio of child to carer may be higher than in private nurseries, though within legal requirements (ie 1 staff member to 26 children as opposed to 1 staff member to 4-6 children depending on their age).  Some nurseries expect a certain level of development eg children may need to be fully toilet-trained.

Always check:

·        The staff ratio, premises, and level of supervision, which should be constant.  The atmosphere should be calm, happy and well-ordered, with children given plenty of positive reinforcement.

·        What out-of-school trips they do and how well organised they are.  Some nursery schools regularly go on trips to local parks, for example.

·        Toys and equipment – they should be in good condition and accessible

·        How open staff are with parents.  High child to staff ratios may mean you get limited time with carers, but feedback is essential.

Questions to ask:

• How much continuity of care is there?  Even older, more confident pre-schoolers dislike lots of change and constant new faces to get used to
• Is there a good mix of creative play, free play and sitting-down activities?  Do they have the opportunity for physical play and outdoor activities?