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Nursery at St Andrew's Prep
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Vegetable growing, Cheeky Chefs and a weekly Woodland Classroom visit give St Andrew's Prep Nursery a practical, outdoorsy character. Children join from nine months, with provision continuing to age four. This is the nursery within the independent school in Meads, Eastbourne.
At the December 2024 inspection, the nursery had three classes and catered for 64 children. ISI judged the registered early years provision good during its visit on 3 to 5 December 2024. That judgement applies specifically to the registered provision, giving parents a nursery-focused assessment of care and learning.
A morning combines play with a planned structure: stories and outdoor time sit alongside circle time and activities linked to a topic. Lunch follows at 11.45am, then the afternoon takes a similar shape until supper. Breakfast can begin at 8am. Meals take place in the nursery's own facilities, so eating is part of its familiar daily routine.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings learning together through play, conversation and practical activities. Activities reflect children's interests, with songs, rhymes and stories helping them develop language. Adults give brief instructions, demonstrate words and allow children time to respond. Water and flour trays, alongside paint, provide opportunities to investigate textures. Specialist activities add further variety: Music Maestros, Tiny Dancers and Gym Joeys join Forest Fun and Cheeky Chefs.
Outside, the Woodland Classroom has a pond and 1.5 acres devoted to wildlife. Weekly visits bring children into contact with seasonal changes, plants and mini beasts. Sorting leaves or making a teddy's woodland home turns the surroundings into material for learning. Climbing frames and slides also give children opportunities to practise balance and coordination.
Curriculum progression. In December 2024, some staff were uncertain about the sequence of skills children needed as they moved through the setting. More precise planning to build on existing knowledge was the recommended improvement. The activities are varied, but their sequence matters too.
Settling-in sessions help children begin nursery life. A key person provides a familiar adult who understands their interests and needs; in December 2024, this system was highly effective in supporting emotional wellbeing. Staff responded promptly when children were hungry, tired or unwell, and sought permission before personal care such as nappy changes.
Weekly observations and assessments are shared with families online, together with ideas for learning at home. Progress checks at age two give parents another opportunity to discuss development and targeted support. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive help shaped by specialist recommendations, with activities adapted to individual needs.
Food is cooked fresh on the school premises. December 2024 findings described organised mealtimes, attention to dietary requirements and close supervision as children learnt to use utensils. Growing vegetables and using them in cooking or baking connects food with hands-on learning.
Safeguarding was effective in December 2024. Staff undertook daily risk checks and termly fire drills. Paediatric first aid trained nursery staff can provide medical assistance, with further care available from the on-site Medical Centre and its three registered nurses. The centre operates from 8am to 6pm during term time.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. For this independent school, discuss the next stage directly with Admissions rather than assuming an automatic entitlement. Progression through the school is conditional on children meeting the relevant criteria, and the school retains discretion to refuse progression; parents are consulted if a concern arises.
Preparation also happens through everyday independence. Children practise collecting their drinks, wiping their faces and, as toilet training develops, using the toilet themselves. These small responsibilities help prepare them for Reception separately from the admissions decision.
Nursery hours are variable within an 8am to 6pm arrival-and-departure window. This gives families a useful outer limit when planning childcare. The nursery has its own term dates: the next term begins on 5 January 2027.
Contact Admissions on 01323 744820 or admissions@standrewsprep.co.uk, or complete an enquiry form. Visits can be arranged by appointment. Refer to the school for current nursery charges before committing to a place.
Children can start from nine months, and the nursery caters for children up to age four.
Specialist activities include Cheeky Chefs, Forest Fun, Gym Joeys, Music Maestros and Tiny Dancers. Children also visit the Woodland Classroom weekly.
Settling-in sessions are offered. The key-person system gives each child a familiar adult who understands their needs and interests.
Weekly observations and assessments are shared online, with suggestions for extending learning at home. Staff also complete progress checks at age two.
No. Progression is conditional on meeting the school's relevant criteria, and the school retains discretion over progression. Discuss the next stage with Admissions.
