Little Oaks Nursery at Oratory Preparatory School

Play and discovery have a 65-acre school campus as their backdrop at Little Oaks. This is Oratory Preparatory School’s nursery provision in Goring Heath, taking children from two years old to school age within an independent Catholic school.

Three classes organise the early years before Reception: Nursery for two-year-olds, Kindergarten for three-year-olds and Pre-Reception for four-year-olds. That gives families a clear picture of the stages their child will move through, rather than one undifferentiated nursery group.

Learning centres on play and practical exploration, with language, physical movement and social interaction developed together. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework: for parents, the relevant picture is children building communication and independence through activities, conversation and relationships.

In February 2025, early-years teaching combined carefully chosen resources with activities indoors and outside. Adults developed vocabulary through stories and conversations, giving children words to explain their ideas. Topic work had named opening and closing stages, sparkling start and phenomenal finish. During an all about me topic, children made recordings of their storytelling to share with parents. Learning became something families could hear and discuss at home.

Outdoor equipment also served a learning purpose. In February 2025, children tackled an obstacle course, working out how to move around the equipment while remaining physically active. Pretend shops introduced coins and money through role-play. These are concrete examples of early learning joining movement, thinking and everyday experience.

A nursery familiarisation visit lasts at least an hour after registration; Kindergarten children have a taster lasting around three hours. These introductions give children some experience of the setting before joining.

Daily handovers and Tapestry app updates keep parents connected to nursery life. Sessions include food, snacks and specialist activities, bringing those elements into the booked day rather than leaving families to organise them separately.

In February 2025, adults in the early years responded attentively to children’s needs and supported friendships through play and meals. Sharing and taking turns were taught in ordinary interactions. Supervision used suitable staffing ratios, and early-years staff received paediatric first aid training. For families, care and social learning sit alongside the activities themselves.

Attending Little Oaks does not guarantee a Reception place. Ask the admissions team to confirm the steps required for a Reception place. Treat the next school place as a separate decision from choosing nursery care.

Two session lengths are offered Monday to Friday: School Day runs from 8:15am to 3:30pm, while Full Day extends from 7:30am to 6pm. Families can choose term-time-only or all-year-round care. The minimum commitment is two days for two-year-olds and three days for children aged three or four.

Bank holidays, staff training days, Christmas week and the final week of the Trinity summer holidays are closure periods. Those exceptions matter when planning holiday childcare.

Eligible three- and four-year-olds can receive government funding for up to 15 hours weekly. Tax-Free Childcare and childcare vouchers are accepted. Lunch and snacks attract separate charges when excluded from a session; additional childcare exceeding ten minutes, including late collection, is charged as a full hour. Ask the school for current charges. Enquiries and visit arrangements go through admissions@oratoryprep.co.uk, and personal tours can be booked.