Little Corgis Pre-School at Queen's College, London

Play comes first at Little Corgis, with a practical choice between funded mornings and a longer school day. This is Queen's College Preparatory School's pre-school for girls, with entry after their third birthday. Its home is the prep school at 61 Portland Place, rather than the College's Harley Street site.

The provision centres on learning through play, with educational resources and activities included in the privately funded offer. For families, the defining choice is how much of the day to use: mornings alone, or mornings combined with paid afternoon provision.

A morning runs from 8.30am to 11.30am. The afternoon extends to 3.20pm, so a full day spans 8.30am to 3.20pm. The full-day pattern covers Monday to Friday during term time. That makes this a school-calendar arrangement, with afternoon provision extending the funded morning rather than replacing it.

An early-years leader oversees the team, whose approach uses play as the route into learning. The practical emphasis is on exploration and planned activities. Stay & Play sessions give families an introduction to that approach through themed play and stories, while children become familiar with Little Corgis before joining.

The wider prep school's physical spaces include a dining room, a hall and a gym. Its garden is a five-minute walk away and provides space for outdoor exercise and games. That off-site location is a useful distinction for parents considering a central London setting: the garden is separate from the school building.

Little Corgis has a class teacher and a teaching assistant within the prep school's staffing structure. Stay & Play offers joining children a chance to get to know the setting, and parents can meet the Early Years team while their daughters explore the learning spaces. Familiarisation can begin before the first school day.

Food needs its own place in the family budget. Lunch and the morning snack attract additional charges; an afternoon snack is included in privately funded sessions. Across QCPS, meals are served in the dining room, with fruit offered at each meal and staff helping girls make food choices.

QCPS operates a nut-free policy. Families with allergies or other dietary needs should contact the School Nurse before joining, or when a requirement develops. The prep school's learning-support arrangements also include individual learning plans developed with parents and staff, using a cycle of assessment, planning, support and review.

Progression has a condition. The school's admissions FAQs provide for automatic progression from Little Corgis into Reception, except where another pathway is considered better for the child. Families should understand that exception alongside the automatic progression arrangement. It is not an unconditional guarantee.

The published Reception admissions process includes online registration and a meeting with the Co-Heads, with offers made throughout the year. Families should confirm with Admissions how that process applies to their daughter's progression from Little Corgis.

The funding model provides 15 universal funded hours each week. Families can use those hours alone or add privately funded sessions. Breakfast Club begins at 7.30am and Twilight after-school care runs until 6.00pm; both are charged extras. Contact the school for current charges.

To arrange a personalised visit to Little Corgis, email admissions@qcps.org.uk. Stay & Play is another route to meeting the team and introducing your daughter to the setting before applying.