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Nursery at Lorenden 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A classroom and garden children help prepare, specialist lessons and Thursday visits to the Jubilee Centre give Lorenden’s nursery a distinct shape. This is provision for three and four year olds within Lorenden Preparatory School in Painters Forstal, near Faversham. Each session has a maximum of sixteen children, with two full-time staff. The nursery describes its character as calm and caring, with independence and friendships among its aims.
Children belong to the school from the start. Nursery pupils have Year 5 buddies, with opportunities to play and take part in activities together. That gives them familiar older faces beyond their own classroom.
Choice has a practical role here. Children select resources from shelves and help teachers get the garden ready, making decisions about their surroundings rather than simply following an adult’s instructions. The classroom and large garden provide separate spaces to explore; the wider early-years outdoor area is reserved for Nursery and Reception. School fields and the Lorenden Trustlands are also used regularly.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning with children’s social, emotional and physical development. Adult-guided activities sit alongside opportunities children initiate themselves, with their interests shaping both. Early-years literacy includes phonics, daily reading and writing that begins with making marks. Maths uses the mastery method, alongside encouragement to think mathematically. These give purposeful teaching a place within exploration.
Music, French and PE bring specialist teachers into the nursery week. Forest School takes place weekly with trained staff, while Thursdays include a visit to the Jubilee Centre in Faversham. Nursery children also sing in the Pre-Prep choir. The week therefore extends beyond the classroom and garden, through outdoor learning, music and visits.
For children staying all day, lunch is at 12:20pm, followed by playtime. Afternoon learning begins at 1:15pm and includes a short break. The early-years day finishes at 3:15pm.
Two full-time nursery staff are described by the school as highly qualified and experienced. Parents can talk with the team at the beginning and end of the day, while Tapestry provides photographs and learning updates between those conversations. Written reports arrive twice a year. Together, these give families both everyday glimpses and a longer view of their child’s development.
Lunch is shared with teachers and Pre-Prep children in the school hall. Alternatives to the main course are offered, dietary requirements are catered for, and parents can discuss dietary needs with the housekeeping team. Fruit and salads accompany lunchtime provision; morning-break snacks are available too. Eating together makes meals part of the social day, with teachers encouraging children to try unfamiliar foods.
At the ISI material change inspection on 11 January 2024, early-years supervision arrangements included attention to the required staffing ratios. This is a dated finding about supervision, rather than a nursery quality grade.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Confirm the arrangements for moving into Reception directly with the school. Siblings receive priority when places are allocated; nursery participation should not be treated as an offer of a future place. Reception entry is in September following the child’s fourth birthday.
Preparation for a longer day is a separate matter. For part-time children, Lorenden recommends increasing sessions during the year, with full-time attendance in the summer term helping prepare those able to do so for full-time education in September. The shared Nursery and Reception outdoor environment provides familiarity, rather than an admissions advantage.
Morning Only runs from 8:30am to noon; Morning with Lunch finishes at 1pm. A Full day ends at 3:15pm. Early Birds covers 8am to 8:30am, and After School Care runs from 3:30pm to 6pm; both incur an extra charge. Children taking after-school care remain with their class teacher until 3:30pm.
Free Early Education funding covers 15 hours from the term following a child’s third birthday, and Lorenden claims it for families. A late claim can cover remaining weeks when a three year old joins mid-term. Funded hours can be used across the nursery sessions, but families can claim up to 35 weeks at Lorenden rather than the full 38-week annual entitlement. School fees include lunches, stationery, books and non-residential outings. Contact the school for current charges.
Visits and enrolment enquiries go to office@lorenden.org or 01795 590030. School uniform can be ordered through Simmonds; Friends of Lorenden also runs a second-hand uniform shop.
Lorenden’s nursery is for three and four year olds, with a maximum of sixteen children in each session.
Yes. Morning Only runs from 8:30am to noon, while Morning with Lunch runs from 8:30am to 1pm.
Children explore the nursery garden and the shared early-years outdoor area. They also use the school fields and Lorenden Trustlands regularly and have weekly Forest School sessions.
The team shares information at the beginning and end of the day, uses Tapestry for photographs and updates, and provides written reports twice a year.
No. Confirm the arrangements for moving into Reception directly with the school. Siblings receive priority when places are allocated.
