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Nursery at Elmhurst 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Free play, a Garden Classroom and specialist lessons give Elmhurst’s pre-Reception nursery a day with several different gears. Little Elms welcomes girls and boys from three, within Elmhurst School in South Croydon. The wider Little Elmhurst nursery offer starts at six months and continues to school age; the pre-Reception provision serves three- and four-year-olds.
At the ISI inspection of 18 to 20 June 2024, the nursery had 12 children, and the early-years provision included a recently added room and substantial outdoor space where children explored safely and confidently. That figure describes the group then, rather than a capacity or an available-place count. The useful distinction for parents is between the wider childcare offer and the pre-Reception learning day described here.
Indoor and outdoor free play typically begins the day. Each child has a tray for a bag and coat, making looking after personal belongings part of the routine. Phonics, speaking and early writing follow, with work adjusted to individual needs. Some children join school phonics lessons when appropriate.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines early learning with personal and physical development. Here, that takes practical forms: art and maths, topic activities, the Garden Classroom and targeted group work sit within continuous provision, meaning activities children can return to alongside adult guidance. Specialist teaching adds drama, music, French and PE. Forest School and Into The Woods bring outdoor learning into the nursery timetable, while storytelling and recall help children revisit their experiences.
In June 2024, children in the early years progressed well, expressed ideas through labels for their models and worked together on construction. Building an alien’s house involved testing how to keep it balanced. These are concrete examples of language and problem-solving developing through play. Pre-Reception children also practised independent play at Forest School after learning the boundaries.
A pre-Reception teacher leads Little Elms. The nursery leader’s qualifications include level 3 CACHE childcare training and a level 4 qualification gained through the Open University in 2018. Parents receive feedback each day, and workshops help them support learning at home. This gives families regular contact alongside the child’s classroom experiences.
For prospective Little Elms children, a 30-minute taster introduces the setting and its routines. Staff observe how children respond to activities and other children; an informal assessment may also help establish their needs. This is an introduction before an offer, rather than a description of the settling programme after joining.
The nursery timetable includes lunch. In June 2024, early-years children received support for social, personal and physical development, with specialist teaching helping movement and dexterity. Medicine procedures explicitly included early-years children, making care routines part of the provision alongside learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Elmhurst publishes school registration paperwork covering Reception. Existing nursery families should confirm the progression process directly with admissions.
Classroom familiarity is a different matter. In June 2024, nursery children spent time in the Reception room, and the two groups used matching marking symbols. These arrangements supported transition by making the next classroom and its routines more familiar. They should not be read as an admissions advantage.
The nursery offer for academic year 2025/26 ran Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, across 51 weeks. Its booking structure counted a half day as one session and required at least six sessions until the pre-Reception year, when increased attendance was recommended. Booked sessions were non-refundable. Use these dated arrangements as a starting point when discussing a booking.
For that same academic year, the funding offer covered 15 or 30 government-funded hours for children aged nine months to four years. Funding could be spread across the year; extras were excluded, and a consumables charge applied per funded day. Ask the school for current charges before committing.
Enquiries go to admissions@elmhurstschool.net or 020 8688 0661. Families can also use the online enquiry form to request a tour. Private visits, Open Days and Stay and Play sessions provide ways to meet the team and explore the provision.
The wider Little Elmhurst offer starts at six months and continues to school age. Little Elms pre-Reception welcomes girls and boys from three and serves three- and four-year-olds.
The day typically begins with indoor and outdoor free play. Phonics, early writing and speaking activities sit alongside art, maths, the Garden Classroom, specialist lessons and outdoor learning.
The 2025/26 nursery offer listed Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks. A half day counted as one session, with a minimum of six sessions until the pre-Reception year, when more attendance was recommended.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee Reception admission. Elmhurst publishes school registration paperwork covering Reception; existing nursery families should confirm the progression process directly with admissions.
Yes. Elmhurst offers private visits, Open Days and Stay and Play sessions. Contact admissions@elmhurstschool.net, call 020 8688 0661 or use the online enquiry form.
