Little Upton Nursery at Upton House School

Shaving foam, a mud kitchen and woodland den-building give Little Upton its character: practical exploration within a school setting. Upton House School’s nursery in Windsor takes children aged two to four, with Acorns for the younger group and Oaks for the older children. Nursery children also use facilities elsewhere in the school, giving their day room to expand beyond their own classrooms.

Holiday attendance is optional, with provision spanning up to 48 weeks annually. That makes Little Upton a practical possibility for families who need care beyond school terms, as well as those choosing shorter sessions.

Play and adult-guided activities share the timetable. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers children’s communication, relationships and wider learning; here, those foundations take concrete forms. Acorns children mix colours, measure rice and explore pretend play. Daily nursery rhymes introduce vocabulary, while circle time gives children a chance to discuss objects brought from home.

Physical activity uses the school hall, including tunnels, balance pods and climbing equipment. In Oaks, children plant seeds, make mud-kitchen creations and build castles. Forest School trips take exploration into woodland, with minibeast searches, dens and bread-toasting. The dance studio and music room add further settings for learning.

Early literacy in Oaks uses Jolly Phonic, with children bringing objects linked to a particular sound. Number work combines practical counting and comparison with songs. Weekly French lessons introduce greetings, numbers and colours through games and action chants; music and PE also have specialist teaching. These activities give children several ways to participate, through movement and conversation as well as making things.

In February 2025, ISI found that the early-years curriculum covered the required learning areas and supported good progress, including in language and communication. Learning goals need clearer links. Activities did not consistently connect to explicit outcomes, and strengthening that planning was a recommended next step. Families should weigh the breadth of activity alongside that specific teaching concern.

Food punctuates the day. Milk, fruit and bread form the morning snack at 10am; the kitchen prepares lunch on site for 11.45am, followed by an afternoon snack at 2.30pm. Term-time morning sessions include lunch. Holiday half-day bookings have a different arrangement: lunch is excluded from morning-only and afternoon-only sessions.

Before starting, registered children are invited for a taster session or day, depending on age, to meet classmates and staff. Once attending, Tapestry shares photographs and observations with parents. In February 2025, early-years staff also made time for informal conversations about development and wellbeing, and had suitable qualifications and supervision ratios.

The Upton Minds Team uses worry and colour monsters with early-years children, helping them express feelings. Daily routines and adult support also helped children manage emotions in February 2025. An Early Years SENDCo forms part of the staffing structure. Admissions require families to disclose additional needs and dietary requirements beforehand; reasonable adjustments are considered, although admission can be refused where specific needs cannot be supported.

Safeguarding arrangements included the early years in February 2025. Internet-filter testing and its recording had been inconsistent; this was corrected before the inspection ended, with consistent application of the guidance remaining a recommended action.

Upton House’s Reception year is called Transition. Children move from Oaks in the September after their fourth birthday, bringing experience of school facilities and contact with older pupils.

The admissions policy makes an important distinction for this independent school: written confirmation of a place allows a child to remain through Year 6. Continuation therefore rests on the confirmed school place, rather than nursery attendance alone. Registration itself does not secure an offer. Families accepting a place should read that continuing-place provision alongside their Parent Contract; the policy supports continuity rather than a fresh local-authority Reception application.

Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 12.20pm, afternoons from 12.20pm to 3.20pm, and full days from 8.30am to 3.20pm. Combinations are flexible, subject to a minimum of two sessions weekly. Early Birds starts at 7.45am, and Extended Day can continue to 6pm; these carry additional charges.

All three- and four-year-olds are entitled to up to 15 funded hours weekly during term time, for a maximum of 38 weeks annually. Working-parent funding depends on eligibility and an Eligibility Code. Upton offers funded hours in afternoon sessions, subject to government funding. Holiday funding applies only during selected weeks. Proof of age and a signed Parent Declaration are required, and the funding arrangement is reviewed termly. Outside visits and annual PTA subscriptions are additional costs. Contact the Finance Team for current charges.

Use the admissions enquiry form or telephone the Registrar on 01753 862610 to arrange a visit. Private tours generally take around an hour.