Is nursery better for children than a Nanny?

Kelly

7 years ago

Oxford University Study suggests that a nursery is better for children’s development than a nanny

A recent study has found that sending children to a nursery has a significant effect on children’s development compared to being cared for by a nanny. A study of 6,000 children aged two to seven has shown that sending children to a childcare provider such as s nursery school, playgroup or a child minder has a significant effect on children’s language and socio emotional development. The benefits shown were regardless of the child’s family background.

The study also showed that the care and education that childminders provided two-year-olds had a positive effect on their language and their behaviour at the age of three. As well as childminders having a positive effect group based settings such as nurseries and playgroups were also shown to be having a significant positive effect.

The study also showed that toddlers benefited from spending up to 35hours per week in a nursery or with a childminder if children began spending more than 35 hours it began to have a negative effect on their development.

The Study of Early Education and Development is funded by the Department For Education. The research carried out is said to be the biggest longitudinal study of early education. The National Centre for Social Research conducted the research in collaboration with the University of Oxford, Action for Children and Frontier Economics.