Terms like “daycare,” “nursery school,” and “preschool” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same. While both provide care and supervision for young children, it’s important to understand the key differences when selecting the right option for your child. In this blog post, we will explore the similarities and differences between nursery school and daycare, as well as what you can typically expect from each type of program.

Nursery School vs. Daycare: Terminology

Child care center means any home or facility, by whatever name known, which is maintained for the care, development, or supervision of six or more children under 13 years of age who attend for less than 24 hours a day.
– New Jersey’s Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C.3A:52)

According to state laws in NJ, both nursery school and daycares fall under the broader category of child care centers. However, different terminologies used to describe them indicate their different focus on education, age group, curriculum, and methodology, helping families understand what each program offers.

A nursery school, as its name suggests, refers to a schooling program for toddlers with a formal curriculum on early childhood education. In some regions, a nursery school may be considered as part of the preschool. It commonly serves younger children (around 2) compared to preschool programs, which generally accommodate children ages 3-5 as an introduction to kindergarten. The educational environment, likely led by highly-trained teachers, creates a dynamic and enriching environment that introduces children to a classroom setting and lays a foundation for building pre-academic skills.

Daycares, on the other hand, commonly focus on care and nurturing for a wider age range from infants to young teenagers. While some daycare centers incorporate learning activities, their primary purpose is to provide a safe space for children like babysitting rather than structured educational instruction. Caregivers ensure children’s well-being but are not necessarily required to engage them in developmental or academic activities.

Nursery School vs. Daycare: What are the Similarities?

Both nursery schools and daycare programs must be licensed by state regulators and are usually subject to the same laws and regulations for child care centers. These regulations cover aspects such as director qualifications, safety protocols, staff-to-child ratios, and recordkeeping requirements. You can find all licensed child care centers in New Jersey here.

Both preschools and daycares make safety a top concern, ensuring that children are well cared for while supporting their physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

Nursery School vs. Daycare: What are the Differences?

Understanding that child care programs have different goals and areas of focus, let’s examine some key differences between nursery school and daycare.

Educational Focus

As mentioned earlier, nursery schools tend to be more learning-oriented. Although daycares may provide opportunities for children to develop life skills through spontaneous, self-directed learning, nursery schools design stimulating learning experiences, such as group play and conflict resolutions, encouraging socio-emotional and intellectual growth under teachers’ guidance.

Moreover, nursery schools prepare children for the next stage of learning by introducing foundational skills in math, language, music, and art through engaging, play-based activities. Teachers in nursery schools are more likely to be well-trained in early childhood education. There should be a set educational curriculum such as International Baccalaureate (IB), Montessori, or Bank Street, with a framework focused on different learning outcomes.

For instance, the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Tessa International School’s nursery program offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework. It promotes play-based learning that fosters toddlers’ curiosity, creativity, and confidence, equipping them with the skills needed to thrive both now and in the future.

Little boy marvels as a volcano science activity

Nursery education paves the way for greater learning capabilities as early brain development brings rapid cognitive, emotional, and physical growth for a child.

Services

Nursery schools generally follow a daily schedule similar to that of a kindergarten classroom, helping children develop a sense of routine and reducing anxiety when transitioning to the next educational phase. Varied by school, options such as half day or full day programs, before and after school services, and summer programs may be available to accommodate working parents.

Daycares, by contrast, often offer more flexible services, including drop-in child care. Some daycares operate year-round, including during the summer and on weekends. However, the flexible hours and less structured environment can sometimes lead to inconsistent interactions among children and a lack of continuous staff supervision, which may unfavourably impact young children’s social development.

While some daycares are home-based, nursery schools are mostly center-based, accommodating a larger size of students with school facilities. Nursery schools also tend to have lower teacher-to-child ratios to allow for more personalized learning experiences.

Age Requirements

Nursery schools typically serve children starting around age 2, while daycare centers may enroll children from infancy up to school age. Some daycare centers use a mixed-age model, where children of different ages interact with one another. While this model can foster social development, it may also lead to conflicts or challenges in addressing each child’s developmental needs. In contrast, nursery schools provide more age-appropriate learning opportunities tailored to their specific curriculum and methodology.

Nursery Program at Tessa International School

At Tessa, our nursery program provides students as young as 20 months with a unique introduction to the school experience, initiating toddlers to a second language, fostering creativity through play-based activities, and laying the foundation for lifelong learning.

Unlike traditional daycare centers, our nursery program offers:

A Bilingual Program: When it comes to bilingualism, the earlier the better. The majority of instruction is conducted in the target language–Spanish, French, or Mandarin–helping students build strong language foundations.You can learn more about the benefits and suggestions of raising a bilingual child here.
A World-Class Education: Guided by the IB and the French, Spanish, and Chinese Curricula, our program provides a foundation for lifelong learning. Children are introduced to key concepts in literacy, math, the arts, and physical development. These early experiences are carefully designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and prepare them for deeper learning in the years ahead.
A Play-Based Curriculum: By balancing structured activities with free play, we encourage children to learn through exploration and discovery while having fun. Learn more about how we prioritizes happiness as a key pillar of the school mission here.