Day nurseries
Day nurseries offer full or part-day care in a group environment. They:
- care for children aged approximately 3 months to 5 years
- are often open all year round (typically 8am to 6pm)
- provide structured learning through play, meals and outdoor time
Pre-schools
Pre-schools offer sessional care during term-time. They:
- usually care for children aged 2 to 5
- run short sessions (mornings or afternoons)
- are often based in schools, halls or community centres
Local authority maintained nursery schools and classes
These are government-funded nursery schools that provide early education only. They are run in a similar way to day nurseries and pre-schools.
They normally open during school hours and terms. Some providers also open for longer hours and during the school holidays. They usually care for children aged 2 to 5, but some can care for younger children depending on how they are registered.
Legal ratios
Each adult can care for either:
- 3 children under 2 years
- 5 children aged 2 years
- 8 children aged 3 to 4 years (or 1 adult to 13 if the adult is a qualified nursery teacher)
Help with the cost of childcare
They often offer funded childcare. In West Sussex, this is referred to as the Early Years Funded Entitlements.