A nursery school or preschool is a school for the education of very young children (generally five years of age and younger). These schools range from schools which seek to teach young children to schools which only provide childcare with little educational benefits. Schools which focus on education generally teach early social skills including interpersonal interaction, being a part of a peer group, and classroom skills such as following the instructions of a teacher. Some formal education also takes place, such as early reading or language skills. Some nursery schools have adopted specialized methods of teaching, such as Montessori method, High Scope, Reggio and various other pedagogy.

In the United States most preschool advocates support the National Association for the Education of Young Children's NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practices.

External links

* Preschool Resources For Early Childhood Education Teachers

* Preschool Science

* Early Childhood and Parenting Collaborative

* Home Page for Montessori Schools

* Home Page for High Scope

* Home Page for Information on Reggio Emilia

* Preschools Accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children