What is the difference between a day care center and a nursery school?
A nursery school is a place outside the home where children from three to five years of age go to be instructed. Private nursery schools may be, but are not required to be, registered by the State Education Department. Please see http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nyc/nurse.html. Day care centers provide care for more than three hours a day per child and must be licensed by the Office of Children and Family Services under Social Services Law ยง390. For more information regarding day care, please see http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/becs/. Many traditional nursery schools have added day care components. This type of center would be considered a day care center and nursery school. Nursery schools and day care centers that have educational purposes require the consent of the Commissioner of Education.
