Children can usually attend pre-school from the age of two until compulsory school age (if parents defer a reception place).
They usually offer three-hour morning or afternoon sessions. Children can also bring in a packed lunch and stay through the lunch break in order to run two sessions together. A full day at pre-school would be the same length as a school day, between 8.30am and 3.30pm.
Most pre-schools have the same term dates as local schools.
The ratio for two-year olds is one adult to four children, and for three to five year olds is one adult to eight children.