Our days are structured to focus on our academic skills and specialist teaching in the mornings, complemented by a full and varied weekly programme of afternoon enrichment activities. These include drama, swimming, cooking, music and movement, sports and artistic activities. Outdoor learning also plays a key role, and we are outside in all weathers making use of our large site, forest area, and our coastal location.
Once a week, all children in the Upper Nursery enjoy swimming lessons as part of our standard provision. If your child attends on the relevant day, they will be automatically included.
These fun sessions, led by specialist teachers at a neighbouring sports centre, will help your child build confidence in the water, improve their strength and flexibility, and lay the groundwork for this essential life-saving skill. A small charge applies.
Children visit our music rooms, professional dance studio and theatre regularly. They also enjoy specialist lessons with our music teachers who introduces them to wide variety of instruments. All Nursery children have opportunities to perform, and they are also included in events and celebrations as part of our wider Preparatory School calendar. Whether singing festive songs in our Theatre, or taking part in a Carnival procession with their Prep School peers, they have plenty of chances to build their confidence and get used to taking the lime light.
From age 4, pupils can take advantage of our LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) sessions and private music tuition, available through school. Pupils are supported in working towards exams and grades. Additional charges apply.
While other settings may offer outdoor learning, Thorpe Hall School has an established Forest School ethos, and every Forest School session is led by a fully qualified Forest School Practitioner. The woodland on the edge of our 10 acre site provides an exciting outdoor classroom throughout the year. The concept of Forest Schooling first began in Scandinavia and is designed to encourage and inspire children through positive outdoor experiences when guided by our trained and qualified Forest School Teacher.
We were the first independent school in Essex to achieve Beach School status. This allows us to make the best possible use of the coastline, with all its unique learning resources, right on our doorstep.
Beach School is a relatively new concept and a natural extension to our Forest School initiatives. The child-led learning ethos of both programmes will help build your child’s self-esteem and self-confidence as they undertake tasks such as shelter building using natural resources, or uncovering plants and wildlife on our nearby beaches.
Through our forest school and beach school initiatives we aim to develop:
"They have such a busy week in Nursery. One afternoon they'll be building a camp and making hot chocolate together in the woods, and the next they'll be learning French, dancing or doing some Yoga! I'm amazed at all the things they get up to!"
If you’d like to know more about our Nursery provision, please click the below and complete our quick enquiry form
Small class sizes and spacious facilities 
ISA National Award for Excellence & Innovation in Early Years 
Accredited Forest School 
Accredited Beach School 
Specialist Teaching in Music, French, PE