in the united kingdom, a primary school usually comprises a nursery and the first seven years of a child's full-time learning. in australia and the united states, primary school begins with kindergarten. it lasts for six years, usually until the fifth or sixth grade. in the u.s., "elementary school" is a more common term for public primary schools. "primary school" is often used in private or independent schools. (in private or independent schools the government does not give the schools money.)