If It Were Not Exceptional, We Wouldn’t Have Chosen It: Institutional Habitus of Two Nursery Schools

Using the concept of institutional habitus, the article analyses the distinctive everyday practices in two nursery schools (privately-funded Forest nursery and publicly-funded Estate nursery). Based on data from interviews and from direct observations it explores how the habitus of both nurseries is constituted; focusing on social context of each nursery, its organizational structure, shared values and interpersonal and community relationships. Those aspects are discussed with theories of parental attitudes and styles and its consequences for social reproduction as addressed in the works of Bourdieu, Lareau, and Reay. The analysis shows that parents are hoping for similar outcomes (e.g. self-reliance) however they believe in different paths leading to those goals. Additionally, through looking at the habitually framed difference in the perceptions of discipline and social control exercised through institutional rules we illustrated how the exclusivity of private institution is constructed. We concluded, it is not just the required fee, but also the adequate level of cultural capital needed to understand the sophisticated code of rules that are framed by freedom and as voluntary. The analysis of such subtle processes is important for understanding educational inequalities and reinforcing social cohesion through education.