Little Ed's Nursery at St. Edmund's School

A mud kitchen, a Bug Hotel and woodland Dinosaur Hunts give Little Ed's a clear outdoor character. This is St. Edmund's own nursery in Hindhead, Surrey, taking children aged 2 to 5 within the school's 40 acre grounds. Covered decking extends the space for play beyond the rooms themselves.

At the October 2024 ISI inspection, the early years department included two Nursery classes. Its provision met children's needs well, with staff understanding both how young children learn and their social and emotional development. The nursery combines its own play spaces with access to specialist teaching elsewhere in the school.

Children's choices help shape learning here. Little Ed's uses a child-led approach, with exploration and play providing starting points for learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) organises learning across seven areas; communication and language received close attention in October 2024. Staff worked with children individually and in small groups, adjusting support to their needs. Children made good progress.

Indoors, construction spaces and role play sit alongside book corners, maths resources and areas for early writing and drawing. Natural loose parts give children materials to arrange and explore. Outside, the Early Years Garden includes sensory play, building and mark-making, with the mud kitchen and Bug Hotel adding practical ways to investigate. Learning Outside the Classroom takes children into the grounds for Flower Fairy quests and Dinosaur Hunts.

Specialist teachers lead French, Music and Sport sessions each week. Nursery children also use the Drama studio, DT workshop and ICT suite, extending activities beyond their own rooms. Pyjama Drama visits on Fridays, while Bach to Baby brings classical concerts each term. Wednesday mornings include visits to Huntington House in Grayshott: stories, games, singing and dancing introduce children to older members of their community.

Each child has a key worker who spends time with them daily, giving families a consistent relationship within the team. Parents can talk with staff around sessions; parent evenings take place every other term. Online Learning Journeys allow staff and families to exchange information about development, keeping home involved in nursery life.

The team includes a Nursery Manager and Head of EYFS. All nursery staff hold at least a level 3 early years qualification and a paediatric first aid certificate, with ongoing professional training. In October 2024, early years children learnt to express feelings, cooperate and take turns. Academic support extends to Nursery, with individual and group support and links to Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists.

Food punctuates the day. Snacks include fresh fruit, crackers, rice cakes and bread sticks, accompanied by milk or water; drinking water remains accessible throughout the day. Lunch is freshly cooked and eaten together in the main building's panelled dining room. Vegetarian and non-dairy choices are provided, and the Head of Catering can accommodate discussed dietary requirements. Recipes use no added salt and little sugar.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Contact the school's admissions team to confirm the steps required for your child's Reception entry. Reception entry involves an individual visit with the Head of EYFS and an informal suitability assessment; an offer then requires acceptance under the school's terms and conditions.

Familiarisation is a separate benefit. Registered children are invited for a morning in the older Nursery class and another in Reception before Michaelmas entry. Online Learning Journeys continue into Reception, carrying information about children's development forward. These arrangements support continuity, rather than securing admission.

Morning sessions run from 8.15 am to 12.30 pm, with afternoons from 12.30 pm to 3.15 pm; together they make a full day. After-school and supper clubs allow children to stay until 6.15 pm, with alternative collection times. Nursery operates in term time, while holiday club runs from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm, extending overall provision to 46 weeks annually.

For enquiries, email admissions@saintedmunds.co.uk. Private visits can be booked. Contact the school for current nursery charges; the Bursary Department handles questions about the Free Entitlement Scheme, Childcare Vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare.