Pre-school vs Primary School Nursery
The Nursery Education Grant extends the options available to you as a parent of a child approaching pre-school age. Rather than continue with a full-time nanny or child minder, your child has the right to specialist early years education - at least on a part-time basis - to help provide the right foundation for the future.
There is an increasing trend for state maintained schools to provide on-site nursery facilities for children within their catchment area. You do also have the option of a pre-school class at a private day nursery. Remember that a place at your preferred primary school cannot legally be made conditional on you also taking up a nursery place there.
It is obviously up to you to decide which environment would give your child the best start to his or her education and you might find it helpful to consider the following comparisons:
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