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Nursery at The Hawthorns 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A boat-shaped building, a Secret Garden and woodland adventures give The Hawthorns Nursery a distinctive setting for early childhood. Children aged six months to four years attend on the school site in Bletchingley. Discoverers, Explorers and Adventurers occupy the purpose-built Little Thorns; Pioneers and Ark Pre-School share the boat-shaped building. The surroundings change as children grow.
Families can choose term-time attendance or provision across 50 weeks. New nursery places became available from September 2026, adding a practical reason to consider this school nursery alongside its physical setting.
Play changes shape with age. Discoverers explore through touch, movement, vision and music, with outdoor time each day and room to crawl. Explorers choose between construction, messy play, creative activities and a nursery gym. Staff extend their choices into learning, giving toddlers opportunities to practise communication and independence.
For Adventurers, topics include animals and people who help us, combining activities initiated by adults with play directed by children. The Woodland Classroom brings a mud kitchen, an obstacle course and crafts using natural materials into the day. Across the nursery, the school's 35 acres support sound walks and bug hunts; specialist sessions in Forest School, PE, Dance and Music take place during term time.
Pioneers use Makaton signs alongside spoken language and practise scissors, pencil grip and mark-making. Ark Pre-School introduces greater structure through teacher-led activities, weekly French and work on shapes, phonics and numbers. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects these experiences to children's development: learning to communicate, move, think and play with others, rather than simply preparing for formal lessons.
The February 2024 ISI inspection found good progress among the early-years children it evaluated, supported by staff expertise and indoor and outdoor learning spaces; the separately Ofsted-registered under-two provision was excluded from that evaluation. That distinction matters when considering the youngest age groups.
Settling begins with a parent accompanying their child for a session lasting up to an hour. The key person learns about familiar routines, favourite stories and comforters. Around four further short sessions, lasting one to two hours, gradually extend time apart; if a child needs more help, staff and parents develop a further plan.
Daily conversations with the key person sit alongside smartphone updates about nappies, meals and naps. Photos, videos and a learning journal help families follow both care routines and developmental next steps.
Meals are prepared on site, with different diets catered for. Pioneers and Ark Pre-School eat lunch in the Pendell Court Dining Rooms, making shared meals part of their growing independence. Staff also support potty training and encourage handwashing.
Support needs. The school can support some mild learning difficulties through its Learning Support Department, but lacks staffing resources for moderate or severe learning difficulties. Specialist support can involve additional charges. Families should weigh these limits alongside their child's needs.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families should confirm their Reception registration and offer arrangements directly with the school: Reception offers depend on availability and admissions requirements, with places allocated in registration order. Nursery attendance itself is not a Reception priority criterion. This is a direct school application route.
Familiarity is a separate benefit. Ark Pre-School sits beside the Reception classrooms, and children encounter the older group around the grounds. That makes the next stage less unfamiliar; it does not secure admission.
Full Day runs from 8.00am to 6.00pm; School Day finishes at 4.15pm. Morning Session ends at 1.00pm, when Afternoon Session begins. Early Birds covers 7.15am to 8.00am. The minimum is four sessions weekly, with each Full Day or School Day counting as two.
Funding covers up to fifteen hours weekly for up to 38 weeks annually, only for three- and four-year-olds, starting the term after their third birthday. Contact the school for current charges. Year-round attendance includes scheduled closures, so check the closure calendar when planning childcare.
Individual nursery visits can be booked online or through admissions@hawthorns.com, on 01883 743048 ext 2019. These include meeting the nursery manager and seeing the classes, helping families assess the rooms and daily activities before registering.
Children can attend from six months to four years, progressing through Discoverers, Explorers, Adventurers, Pioneers and Ark Pre-School.
Yes. Families choose term-time provision or 50 weeks of attendance when registering. At least four sessions each week are required; Full Day and School Day each count as two.
A parent joins the first session, lasting up to an hour. Around four further sessions of one to two hours gradually increase time apart, with an additional plan if needed.
Up to fifteen hours per week for up to 38 weeks a year are offered only to three- and four-year-olds, from the term after their third birthday.
No. Confirm your child's Reception registration and offer arrangements directly with the school. Places depend on availability and admissions requirements and are offered in registration order; nursery attendance itself does not confer Reception priority.
