Nursery & Pre-School

“Free the child’s potential and you will transform him into the world”

Maria Montessori

‘Outstanding & Excellent’

We pride ourselves in having a loving, caring and natural environment where children are celebrated as individuals. They explore all aspects of practical life and sensory learning and are introduced to the fundaments of language and numeracy through play and exploration. The Nursery is a home-from-home setting where children feel safe and are given a strong sense of security with garden areas used extensively to explore the natural world.

We work in complete partnership with parents and guardians, keeping you fully involved in your child’s learning and holding regular parent consultations. Our Nursery Manager leads the provision of the Early Years curriculum from the Baby to Toddler room and our Foundation Manager leads provision through our Foundation Pre-school class and into Reception.

We currently offer the full Early Years Funding scheme and in line with new regulations we will be extending to 15 free hours for Toddlers from April 2024, 15 Free Hours to children from 9 months from September 2024 and 30 Free Hours to all children from 9 months in September 2025.

Babies

Being a small setting we are able to closely follow the routines which babies have already established within their home. We have a strong ethos of working with parents as partners and strive to create strong relationships with both children and their families.

The Baby Room is a large natural space with a separate area for the younger and older babies, allowing for age specific furnishings and resources.

Toddlers

We believe a Nursery should create a space which allows children at this early age to begin to unlock their own potential as individuals.

The Toddler room offers an enriched curriculum which is built upon guidelines set out in the Early Years Foundation stage and is delivered through careful planning activities suitable for each child’s age and stage of development.

Foundation Pre-School

A nursery school climbing on a climbing frame at Whitehall Independent School

An infant school boy reading in a wooden teepee

Nursery child gardening with a spoon and flower pot

The Pre-School is located in the ground floor of the Coach House with direct access to the Hall for indoor play and access to their own garden/outside classroom for Woodland Working, music, art, sand and water play. As the children get ready for their transition into Reception, there is a classroom in the main building set up for extension activities for the older age group to access.

The class is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum extended with the addition of French, Music, Singing, Swimming and Sports. At this age, play based learning is a huge focus with activities ranging from messy play to gym and gardening, encouraging skills from all the areas of the curriculum in a fun environment.

We provide early opportunities for reading with daily phonics and motor skills for writing, such as threading and play dough. Staff work closely to carefully plan activities individual to each child to develop their skills. Regular trips, special days and events are offered as another learning aid and collaboration between the classes allows for extension and differentiation appropriate to the needs of each child.

Our School

Curriculum

Admissions

Inspection

“Children are extremely happy and secure in the caring and supportive environment. Dedicated staff form warm and caring relationships with children & the level of care is consistently high, ensuring that children benefit fully from the activities on offer.”

“Extremely effective care practices support children’s emotional security and the development of their character, so that they feel safe, happy and secure. Staff respond very well to individual children’s needs in a sensitive and caring manner.”

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Staff Team

Miss Amie Hammond CACHE: Head of Early Years & Pre-School Manager

Mrs Rebecca Brindley CACHE: Deputy Head of Early Years & Nursery Manager

Mrs Tracy Mayoh CACHE: Nursery Baby Leader & Early Years Practitioner

Miss Sacha Bartlett CACHE: Nursery Young Babies & Early Years Practitioner

Miss Milly Woolstenholmes CACHE Early Years Practitioner

Mrs Dawn Frans CACHE Early Years Practitioner

Miss Sophie Abbott CACHE Early Years Practitioner

Miss Hannah Glenny CACHE Early Years Practitioner

Miss Samantha Bennett CACHE Early Years Practitioner

Mrs Vicky Woolstenholmes Early Years Assistant

Miss Charly Woolstenholmes Early Years Assistant

Sessions & Fees

from January 2024

BABY & TODDLER ROOMS

All Year (50 weeks)

Full day (8.30 – 5.30) – £5.80 per hour

Half day (8.30 – 1.00/1.00 – 5.30) – £7.80 per hour

£4.00 per half hour Early session

School Term Time

Full day (8.30 – 5.30) – £6.60

Half day (8.30 – 1.00/1.00 – 5.30) – £8.60

£4.00 per half hour Early session

FOUNDATION PRE-SCHOOL

All Year (50 weeks)

Full day (8.30 – 5.30) – £5.80 per hour

Half day (8.30 – 1.00/1.00 – 5.30) – £7.80 per hour

£4.00 per half hour Early session

School Term Time

Full day (8.30 – 5.30) – £6.60 per hour

Half day (8.30 – 1.00/1.00 – 5.30) – £8.60 per hour

£4.00 per half hour Early session

Early Years Funding

15 Free Hours is 2 Full Days 08.30 – 4.00 (additional hours are charged at the hourly rate)

30 Free Hours is 3 Full Days and 1 Half Day of 08.30 – 12.00 (additional hours are charged at the hourly rate)

Children can be picked up at 12 or 4 to receive the free hours or stay until 1.00/5.30 and pay the additional hours.The Nursery & Pre-School run from 8.30am – 5.30pm (from 7.30am on request)

We accept all Childcare vouchers and offer the full Early Years Funding scheme of 15 or 30 Free Hours for Pre-School children. In line with new regulations we will be extending to 15 free hours for Toddlers from April 2024, 15 Free Hours to children from 9 months from September 2024 and 30 Free Hours to all children from 9 months in September 2025.

Nursery Information

We are open for 50 weeks of the year, closing for one week over Christmas and one week in August.

Children have the option of attending sessions throughout the year or during school term time only.

Our Baby Room caters for children from 6 months to 2 years, our Toddler room from 2 to 3 years and our Foundation Pre-school from 3 to 4 years.

Nursery fees will be invoiced monthly, one month in advance based on sessions booked. Additional sessions may be added at any time subject to availability and will be added to your next invoice.

A mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack will be provided and children should bring their own nappies and creams and a packed lunch or other food and drink with them for the day. A hot meal can be provided for lunch at an additional cost during school term time if required, please contact your Manager for further details.

Our heated swimming pool is open throughout the summer and Nursery children are offered one swimming lesson per week during this time.