For the youngest members of our school community, each day is a new adventure. Our priority is to ensure that their exciting learning journeys begin in a safe and secure environment. We nurture every child with individual attention and engage them with a curriculum full of activities designed to stimulate a lifelong desire to learn.
In Nursery, children explore learning across the entire range of imaginative, creative, social and academic curricula. The emphasis is on playing and having fun, and activities are directed both by staff and the children themselves. We embrace the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum but pride ourselves on adding so much more. Our fun-packed weekly programme of activities offers specialist teaching in a range of subjects including music, dance, drama, sport, cookery, French, computer skills, art and yoga.
Within spacious surroundings, the children can explore, discover, and learn. We have custom-built rooms leading to an outdoor classroom with a covered play-lawn and, at the edge of our 10-acre site, we have our very own Forest School.
Staff and parents work in partnership with close and open communication. Each child’s progress and development is carefully monitored and recorded in a’ Learning Journey’ book that parents access and contribute to throughout their child’s time at the setting. Class Dojo is the communication platform our team uses, which also gives parents lots of opportunities to keep up to date with their child’s experiences and achievements.
Thorpe Hall School is very much a family school with a strong family ethos. As the youngest members of that family, we embrace our role as builders of the solid foundations that will enable every child to thrive, succeed and make the most of every opportunity offered.
It is this important stage of learning and development that prepares children to take the next exciting step into full time school with confidence.
Our Pre-Nursery class is action-packed and full of opportunities to play and learn for children from two years old through to their third birthday. Pre-Nursery children benefit from creative and learning focused activities in small groups – all cared for in a bespoke manner with their individual needs met by our highly-skilled Early Years practitioners. Each and every day in our stimulating Pre-Nursery is filled with adventure, learning, fun and kindness.
Children celebrate their fourth birthday in the Nursery class. To ensure that all of our Nursery pupils flourish, our Key Group sizes are purposefully small. This means that all Nursery children are supported to achieve their Early Leaning Goals and thrive.
High staff-to-pupil ratios ensure that all of the children’s needs are met in a kind, and caring way.
We encourage families to consider sending their little ones to Nursery full-time, as by doing so they are securing an educational advantage that will last a lifetime. The minimum number of sessions attended rises as children get nearer to starting full time school so they are well prepared and feel confident making the transition.
Typically, there is a stronger academic focus in the mornings before lunch. After lunch the children enjoy more bespoke enrichment activities, and the regularly updated schedule may include Forest School, Beach School, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths), art, cooking, drama, dance and more. Throughout each day, the children are socialising with their friends and broadening their knowledge of relationships and the wider world.
The Reception Year is the final year of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the first year of statutory schooling.
Children progress easily from our Nursery into Reception here at Thorpe Hall School. Small classes, focused attention and large, bright and well-resourced classrooms and outdoor learning spaces provide the perfect environment in which to continue learning and growing.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum continues in Reception, and there is a balance of learning through play and adult-led tasks. Children benefit significantly from specialist facilities and specialist teaching in music, French, and PE subjects and participate fully in the rich and varied life of our Preparatory School.
“From the very first day, the staff at Thorpe Hall’s Nursey really embraced my child’s development and learning, and I felt fully included and involved in every aspect of his start to school life.”
"The transition into Reception and full time school couldn't have been easier. My son was really well prepared, he knew his new teacher and she knew him. He felt confident and excited about the move up into big school".
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