Little Downsend Leatherhead Nursery Review

Tweezers, spaghetti and pretend veterinary work give this nursery its character: learning starts with things children can handle, move and imagine. Little Downsend Leatherhead takes children aged two to four, with First Steps for two-year-olds and Rising Reception from three. The nursery sits within the independent school at 13 Epsom Road, Leatherhead.

At the ISI inspection of 13 to 15 January 2026, the nursery comprised six classes. Early years children made good progress, supported by planned activities and adults trained to develop their confidence. That gives the practical, playful curriculum a useful foundation.

Early Birds begins at 07:45 with colouring and play, before children head to classrooms at 08:30. Morning learning combines outdoor activity with classroom play; lunch and playtime follow at 12:10, with afternoon play-based learning starting at 13:30. The school day finishes at 15:30. It is a day organised around play, with clear changes of activity.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides seven areas of learning and development. Here, that means working on language, number, movement and relationships through practical experiences. First Steps children collect gems with tweezers and shift spaghetti using chopsticks, exercising the small hand movements they will later need for writing. Blocks and loose parts make shape and number tangible.

Rising Reception adds phonics and spoken sound blending. Write Dance uses movement to prepare children for making letter shapes, while Talk 4 Writing develops their understanding of stories. Message Centres and pretend play give marks and words a purpose: communicating an idea. Mathematics follows the concrete, pictorial and abstract approach, moving from objects to pictures and then numerals.

Specialist sessions each week include music, French, Forest School, sport and dance. The forest area adds a physical setting for outdoor learning. In January 2026, nursery children played vets and made clay animals to treat; early years activities also included trikes, obstacle courses and construction with planks. These give children reasons to talk, solve problems and practise coordination. The January 2026 inspection also identified a need for greater opportunities in art and design across the school, a relevant qualification to the creative offer.

Settling begins with a short visit so children can try the environment. Once a place is confirmed, settling-in sessions are arranged before the first day. This gives the change of routine its own preparation time.

Early years adults teach kindness, cooperation and turn-taking through play and carefully chosen stories. In January 2026, required staffing ratios were maintained and nursery children remained within an adult’s sight or hearing. Staff training supported communication with young children and the development of their confidence, linking supervision with everyday emotional support.

Lunch is included for children attending all day. Extended Day includes tea, so the longer booking also covers an additional meal.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families need to apply separately for Reception through the normal route and meet the relevant deadline; familiarity with the school should not be treated as a secured place.

Preparation for that next stage happens through learning: sound blending, story work and opportunities to communicate through marks and letters. These build skills for the next classroom rather than an admissions advantage.

Full-day attendance covers 07:45 to 16:00, including time before and after the core school day. Extended Day runs from 16:00 to 18:00 and costs extra. Rising Reception requires at least four half days each week, equivalent to two days. Additional half days and Extended Day can be requested with one day’s notice, subject to staffing.

Funding includes the universal 15-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds, plus provision for eligible two-year-olds receiving certain benefits and eligible working families with children from nine months. Leatherhead’s nursery age range starts at two. Admissions and Finance teams help arrange funding; contact the school for current charges.

Downsend Early Years + provides separately charged holiday childcare, booked through Cognita Connect. For enquiries, email admissions@downsend.co.uk; personal tours can also be booked. These routes let families discuss a place and see the nursery’s practical spaces before deciding.