The Nest Nursery Class to Launch in September 2025

Due to increasing demand for places in our younger year groups, we are pleased to be launching a new nursery class, “The Nest”, from September 2025. This decision follows the recent inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)*, in which our Early Years provision was highlighted as a ‘significant strength’, in an overall very positive report.

Currently accepting children from the age of four into our Pre-Prep school, the launch of The Nest will enable us to extend our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision to three year olds, meaning that children can access the EYFS curriculum and our nurturing Pre-Prep learning environment in their nursery year, whilst also benefiting from the school’s extensive facilities.

Throughout their year in The Nest, children will enjoy classroom-based curriculum learning including phonics and early mathematics taught by our highly qualified teachers, as well as outdoor Forest School sessions and weekly swimming lessons, all balanced with plentiful child-initiated play.

Commenting on the launch of The Nest, John Maguire, College Head said, “We are delighted to be extending our Pre-Prep school to include a nursery class from September 2025. In the recent inspection of the College, the ISI recognised the impact of our Early Years provision and noted that ‘Children thrive in a nurturing environment where they develop problem solving skills beyond the norm for their years’ and that ‘rapid progress is made in the early years’. This therefore seems the right time to expand the College to meet the demand of discerning parents who are seeking an education for their three year old children.”

Also commenting on the launch, Jo Wallace, Head of Pre-Prep said, “Recognised in the Muddy Stiletto’s Best Schools Awards 2024, our ‘Write from the Start’ project, which involved a full redesign of our EYFS curriculum, was highly commended in the Best Experiential Leaning category. We are confident therefore that this is the perfect time to be launching The Nest and developing a holistic, three to 18 education at the College, so one family can be together, on campus, for the whole of their educational journey.”

The Nest nursery class opens in September 2025 for three year old children, who will be turning four by the end of August in 2026. It will operate between 8.10am and 3.00pm, Monday to Friday during term time, offering full days, as well as morning sessions. Limited Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) places will be available, up to a maximum of 15 hours a week.

Applications for The Nest are now open for September 2025 entry. Further details about the nursery class, the admissions process and fees can be found here.

Our Whole College Open Event is taking place on Saturday 21 September and will provide an opportunity to view our Pre-Prep facilities, and to hear from our Head of Pre-Prep about the opening of The Nest. Attendance for the event can be registered in advance, here.

*ISI inspection, April 2024