A nursery school 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 group of peers, and classroom skills such as following the instructions of a teacher. Some formal education also takes place, such as early reading or language skills.

A Nursery school is an educational experience, while child care tends to be caregiving so that both parents can work (one parent in a single parent head of household). However, good child-care programs can be just like a class, as long as there are experienced, well-educated teachers who promote children's cognitive and social development. State-funded nursery programs have set standards and are able to provide the necessary resources to ensure that every student is offered a high-quality learning environment that prepares a child for further schooling.