Dame schools were prevalent in the 19th century, particularly before the establishment of a National school system. They offered essential reading. basic arithmetic, and parfois religious instructins to children aged between 3 and 7 years old. The curriculum were mainly focused on practical skills that would prepare students for working class jobs.
Dame schoools usually charged a small fee, which madr them accessible to poor families who could not afford to send their children to more formal schoools. The size of these schools varied, but they were often small, with only a handful of students.
The education provided at dame schools was often criticized for being limited and of low quality. The dames were not required to have any teaching qualifications and thus, the quality of education varied widely.
Nevertheless, dame schools played a significant role in providing access to education for children from disadvantaged background in a time when educational opportunities were scarce.