Monkton Combe School Nursery Review

Leaves, twigs and mud became painting materials at Monkton Combe’s nursery during the ISI inspection of 30 April to 2 May 2024. Conversation grew out of practical play: children explained what they had made, with adults helping them develop their language.

Children can join Monkton Prep from age two. The nursery belongs to the Prep School at North Road, Combe Down, rather than the senior school’s Church Lane site. At the April to May 2024 ISI inspection, the early years provision included two nursery classes. These are the school’s own nursery classes, within its wider early years provision.

Play and adult guidance work together here. In April to May 2024, early years activities suited children’s interests and developmental needs, and staff helped them explore their own ideas. In parent language, the emphasis was on learning through doing, talking and making choices, with adults extending what children could understand and express.

At that inspection, the woodland area gave that approach a physical setting. Nursery children described painting with natural materials in mud, turning an outdoor activity into practice in explaining ideas. Adults modelled conversation and vocabulary; children’s sentences were organised and clear for their age. Language learning had something concrete to build on.

Indoors and outdoors, children played and learned in spaces suited to their needs. Role play helped the youngest children practise counting to at least five, while games developed their ability to recognise quantities directly. Early reading and writing also benefited from frequent adult interaction and feedback. These activities connect play with the beginnings of literacy and number understanding.

In April to May 2024, children received attentive care and made good developmental progress. Adults helped them build friendships through kindness, sharing resources and playing together. Emotional expression also had practical opportunities: children could choose a drink at snack time and tell adults whether they felt happy or sad. Small choices helped build confidence.

Staffing covered early years supervision throughout the school day, and paediatric first aiders were available for these children. That connects everyday care with help when a child becomes hurt or unwell.

Prep learning support uses Individual Pupil Profiles, developed with parents, teachers and external specialists. Support can involve individual work or paired and group teaching, depending on the child’s needs. Nursery learning support sessions appear among the school’s charged extras, so families should include these in their assessment of current charges.

For new starters, the Nursery to Year 8 admissions pathway includes two taster sessions. A welcome pack follows in the term before entry; September starters are also invited to a summer welcome day to meet their teacher and classmates and spend time in their classroom. This provides familiarity before the start.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Confirm Reception application requirements and timings with the admissions team, and treat the place as a distinct decision rather than an automatic consequence of attending nursery.

Nursery and Kindergarten registration is completed by 8.30am, and the nursery school day finishes at 3.30pm. These are useful boundaries for planning the family’s working day.

Individual visits can be arranged through admissions@monkton.org.uk. Uniform is supplied online through SchoolBlazer.com, with second-hand buying and selling through Uniformis. Refer to the school for current nursery charges and any learning support extras.