The Blossom Nursery Glossary - Childcare setting types

From EYFS to XYZ, we’ve pulled together every term you might need to know to work, run, open or book your child into any childcare setting.

From Daycare to Montessori and Pre-School to Sure Start, we’ve got definitions for each setting you’re likely to come across.

Childcare setting types

There are many different types of childcare settings in the UK. We’ve included the definitions of the most common types of early years providers.

Blossom provides software for these kinds of childcare settings:

Early years provider

An early years provider offers childcare for children under five. They will be registered with Ofsted and will follow the EYFS statutory framework. Early years providers range from childminders to nursery schools, each providing childcare and child development opportunities.

Day nurseries

They may be stand-alone day nurseries or one location within a group nursery. Private day nurseries operate under their own opening times and charge for their services.

Private nurseries are often open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., although a child will unlikely stay the whole time.

PVI Nursery

PVI nurseries stands for Private, Voluntary and Independent.

Childminder

A childminder or childminder agency provides childcare in their own setting (often their homes). They will have fewer children in their care than in a nursery setting.

Some childminders only look after school-aged children, whereas others are registered as early years childminders. Childminders have their own EYFS statutory framework to follow.

Local authority-maintained nursery school (MNS)

A local authority nursery school is funded and maintained by the local authority. It is managed like a primary or secondary school and has a headteacher and qualified nursery teachers. Local authority nursery schools often support children aged 3-5.

Preschool

Also known as a nursery school, preschools are attached to primary schools and generally admit children aged 2-5.

They run term-time and often open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children in England usually access preschools through universal childcare funding (where 3—and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early education per week).

Independent nursery school

This early years provision takes on children from age 3. They will follow the EYFS statutory framework and will be Ofsted registered. They are not local authority funded or run and charge for their services.

Reception and Foundation 1

You would be forgiven for not knowing the difference between Foundation 1 and Foundation 2 and which one is ‘reception’.

Foundation 1 is often what the preschool year is called (when children are 3 and 4 years old). Reception begins when they join the school, which is when they are 4 or 5 (this is known as Foundation 2).

SEND-specialist provision

A specialist setting with suitably trained staff and facilities to support children with SEND who may need additional support than currently provided in mainstream settings.

Sure Start Centres

Known as Flying Start in Wales and Best Start in Scotland, are government-funded and staffed centres that support children under five. Although the number of Sure Start Centres has diminished significantly, they offer health services, parenting support and childcare services to parents in the most disadvantaged areas.