At what ages does preschool education usually take place before primary school begins?

Preschool education encompasses the earliest phases of childhood, beginning in infancy and continuing until a child enters primary school.1

Because institutional arrangements and educational systems vary significantly by country, the specific ages for preschool education are not uniform. Generally, this period concludes when a child enters primary school at approximately five, six, or seven years of age.1

Within this timeframe, preschool is often divided into two phases:
* Infancy: Centers for the care of infants, such as day nurseries or crèches, typically serve children from about three months to three years of age.1
* Early Childhood: The second phase often involves institutions like nursery schools, maternal schools (école maternelle), or kindergarten. These programs generally serve children between the ages of three and six, though specific age ranges—such as three to four, four to five, or four to six—depend on the local educational structure.1