The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Chesham Preparatory School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Shelter-building, fruit trees and two resident guinea pigs give Chesham Prep’s nursery a character of its own. Structured play leads the learning, with early reading, number work, writing and computing woven into it. This is the nursery within the independent school’s Pre-Prep department in Orchard Leigh, where the school’s age range starts at three.
A nursery teacher works alongside three assistants. That team structure matters for young children balancing group activities with the attention they need individually. In December 2024, early-years children received effective care and learning support through high staffing levels.
Indoor play and outdoor exploration share the day. Classroom role-play areas and educational toys give children ways to act out ideas; dedicated nursery bathrooms keep everyday care close by. Outside, ride-on cars, an outdoor kitchen and musical play equipment make the Early Years playground a place for movement, pretend cooking and experimenting with sound. Guinea pigs Toffee and Humbug add another point of interest.
Forest School brings a different kind of activity. Children collaborate on shelters, explore through sensory experiences and tend fruit trees, linking talk and practical tasks with the changing seasons. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the early-years framework: here, its learning takes practical form through play, conversation and first steps with letters and numbers.
Specialist teaching adds variety. Nursery children have music lessons twice each week, while French and Spanish in the early years use dancing, songs and tactile activities. PE also has a weekly place in the timetable. Nursery trips include Wendover Woods and Willows Farm, extending experiences beyond the school grounds.
In December 2024, early-years language development was good, supported by staff training in phonics and early reading. Children were confident with adults and showed kindness towards each other. These findings connect the practical activity with communication and social development.
Parents can speak briefly with teachers at either end of the day and contact them by email. Regular information about early-years children’s progress was shared with families in December 2024. The Learning Support Department works with families and teaching staff to address barriers to learning, giving parents a route into discussions about additional needs.
Accent Catering Services Ltd supplies meals, with food prepared from scratch each day on site. Nursery snacks arrive in classrooms during both morning and afternoon, accompanied by milk or water. Menus identify allergens, many special diets can be accommodated, and the school operates a nut-free policy. Dedicated bathroom facilities support everyday care; all early-years staff held current paediatric first-aid qualifications in December 2024.
Attendance oversight. The December 2024 ISI inspection identified failures in attendance guidance and monitoring that affected leadership, welfare and safeguarding standards; recruitment-record errors were corrected during that visit. The ISI monitoring inspection on 7 July 2025 confirmed that all standards considered were met, with a senior attendance champion tracking attendance and supporting families. This provides the necessary context alongside the positive early-years care findings.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Confirm Reception progression and any application requirements directly with admissions. Prospective families register online, and registration itself does not secure a place.
For prospective Nursery and Reception entrants, the school arranges a play-based assessment lasting 1.5 hours in the nursery after registration. This offers a chance to become familiar with staff and surroundings. It is an admissions experience, rather than evidence of priority for existing nursery children.
Morning attendance runs from 8.30am to 12.30pm; a full day finishes at 3.30pm. Families must book at least three mornings or two full days. Nursery children can also use wraparound care between 7.30am and 6pm, with Little Owls covering 3.30pm to 4pm and Late Club continuing afterwards.
Funding and extras. The school accepts 15 weekly hours through Universal Funding or Eligible Working Parent Entitlement, with funded sessions running from 8.30am to 11.30am. Lunch, additional hours and optional trips are billed separately. The funded morning therefore ends before the morning nursery session does; discuss the booking and current charges with admissions.
Holiday Club operates from 8.30am to 4.30pm during school holidays, excluding bank holidays and the Christmas closure. Families can book an individual tour or contact admissions@cheshamprep.co.uk. School buses serve Reception upwards, so nursery families need their own travel arrangements.
Mornings run from 8.30am to 12.30pm and full days from 8.30am to 3.30pm. Minimum attendance is three mornings or two full days.
Yes. Nursery children are eligible for care between 7.30am and 6pm. Little Owls runs from 3.30pm to 4pm, followed by Late Club until 6pm.
The school accepts 15 hours per week of Universal Funding or Eligible Working Parent Entitlement. Funded mornings run from 8.30am to 11.30am; lunch, additional hours and optional trips are charged separately.
No. Confirm Reception progression and any application requirements directly with admissions. Registration puts prospective children on the entry list but does not guarantee a place.
Children use the Early Years playground and Forest School Area. Activities include building shelters and tending fruit trees, alongside ride-on cars, an outdoor kitchen and musical play.
