Windlesham School Nursery Review

Storytelling, climbing and letters to the Three Bears give Owlets, Windlesham’s nursery, a practical, playful identity. It belongs to the independent school at 190 Dyke Road in Brighton. The January 2025 admissions policy allowed nursery entry in the term of a child’s third birthday.

There is an important change for families considering it now: the school announced its transition to Brighton College Prep Hove from September 2026. Admissions enquiries now go to that school’s team. The nursery routines described below belong to Windlesham’s dated curriculum plans and handbook, rather than a promise about the new operation.

The Spring 2026 Owlets plan connected early learning with stories and journeys. Children made marks through letters to the Three Bears, retold tales using puppets and explored maps. This gives early writing and conversation a purpose children can understand. A storytelling workshop and Fairytale Day supplied starting points for imaginative play.

Across the seven learning areas of the early years foundation stage (EYFS), the emphasis was on language, relationships, movement and exploring the world, alongside early number and literacy. The same plan included recognising quantities, comparing objects and investigating melting ice. French and Music each had a weekly session, adding songs, stories and sounds to the classroom work.

Physical learning had concrete equipment behind it: a slide, climbing apparatus, bikes, scooters and trikes featured in the Spring 2026 plan. Children also practised balance and hopping in PE. These activities connect movement with learning to manage space and equipment.

ISI’s inspection on 10 to 12 March 2026 found that practical early years activities developed vocabulary and mathematical understanding effectively. Children discussed animal homes while making collages, with number lines supporting their counting. Older science prefects also visited the nursery to demonstrate magnetism, bringing an element of the wider school into its day.

A nursery teacher who also coordinates early years works alongside a nursery manager. In March 2026, required staffing ratios were met, and early years staff held paediatric first aid qualifications. Children cooperated patiently over shared collage materials. Supervision covered early years, although responses to developing playground situations were inconsistent across the staff team. That is a useful point to explore when discussing outdoor routines.

Settling began with familiarisation: the January 2025 policy described an hour-long nursery taster, followed by a summer classroom visit for September entrants. The Autumn 2025 nursery plan also worked on separating confidently from a main carer and establishing familiar play routines. These provide practical steps towards a child managing the classroom independently.

Food has its own attention. Meals are prepared in the school kitchen, while the nursery food questionnaire asks about allergies, difficult textures and previous choking. The September 2024 handbook described lunch in the dining hall and a morning snack. It also paired nursery children with Year 4 buddies and provided parents with Thursday emails through The Week Ahead.

For additional needs, the nursery can access Brighton & Hove Inclusion Support Service (BHISS). Additional support costs. The SEND policy allows requests for parent-funded additional adult support where reasonable adjustments and provision have not secured expected progress, or where a child’s difficulties inhibit other pupils’ expected progress. Support is for an agreed number of hours per week. Discuss these conditions with the school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Ask the current admissions team to confirm the process for moving from nursery to Reception. For this independent school, the current admissions contact is prephoveadmissions@brightoncollege.net.

The January 2025 Windlesham policy gave siblings preference when a year group was oversubscribed. This is sibling preference, not an entitlement created by attending the nursery. Its summer teacher and classroom visits offered familiarisation for September entrants, a practical transition step separate from admission.

The September 2024 handbook set nursery drop-off from 8:10am, with parents or carers accompanying children to class, and collection outside the classroom at 3:30pm. Its chargeable WindleFun care required booking at the beginning of each term. These dated arrangements help families understand the former day’s shape.

The nursery uniform list included gold Owlets tops, a creative-work smock and trainers. Ask the school for current charges. The 2026–27 term calendar places autumn half-term between 19 and 30 October 2026, which matters when planning childcare around school holidays.