Little Vic Nursery at The Old Vicarage School

Forest School in Ham Woods gives Little Vic a character of its own. This is The Old Vicarage School’s preschool for girls who have passed their third birthday, on a separate site a short walk from the main building on Richmond Hill. It has its own setting within the wider school.

At the ISI inspection of 19 to 21 March 2024, Nursery had 13 children on roll. That is an attendance figure for that visit, rather than a capacity. The same inspection found that nursery children felt secure, developed confidence and made steady progress through teaching planned around their needs.

Little Vic organises learning around seven areas, following the shape of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In parent language, that brings together talking and listening, relationships and managing feelings, movement, early reading and writing, number, discovering the world and creative expression. Learning to manage oneself sits alongside learning to count.

French begins in Little Vic. Science is taught by the class teacher through Understanding the World, placing early investigation within the nursery curriculum rather than treating it as a separate specialist subject. These give children different ways to communicate and explore.

Outdoor learning extends to Forest School in Ham Woods, beside Richmond Park. In March 2024, early-years children also visited local gardens, with these experiences helping them become more independent and confident. Resources indoors and outdoors supported nursery learning across the curriculum. The secure outdoor learning space had suitable adult supervision, allowing exploration within clear boundaries.

At the ISI inspection of 19 to 21 March 2024, a nursery dental role-play area followed a dentist’s visit, connecting pretend play with looking after teeth. Visits from doctors and dentists also introduced children to people whose work involves helping others. Familiar care routines become material for learning.

Settling happens gradually. Across the first two weeks, days become longer in stages, giving girls time to become familiar with the routine. A class teacher and teaching assistant support children in Little Vic, providing familiar adults as attendance builds.

Food is included in the school’s fee structure: lunch and a morning snack come with the fees. The catering service cooks on site using seasonal ingredients; mid-morning snacks are fruit or something baked. Books, most equipment and daytime educational visits are included too, reducing the number of separate everyday items families must organise.

Additional needs. The admissions policy makes support conditional on what the Learning Support Department can reasonably provide. Families must disclose known needs during registration or before accepting a conditional offer. If reasonable adjustments and appropriate strategies cannot meet a child’s needs, an offer may be withdrawn. Discussing individual requirements early therefore matters.

Little Vic attendance confers Reception priority under the admissions policy reviewed in November 2025. The policy also provides for girls to transfer automatically at the academic year’s end. This is the school’s own progression arrangement, rather than a local-authority application route.

Attendance alone should not be read as an unconditional guarantee: admission remains at the head’s discretion. Separately, girls are expected to attend the complete preschool day during the summer term preceding Reception. That changes the attendance commitment for families choosing mornings earlier on.

Three attendance patterns are offered: five full days, five mornings, or five mornings with afternoon attendance on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The summer-term requirement before Reception should be factored into choosing a pattern.

Universal early education funding covers 15 hours for three- and four-year-olds; the school also participates in the additional 15-hour scheme for eligible families. Optional activities and music lessons are charged separately. Ask the school for current charges and how funding applies to the chosen attendance pattern.

Readiness for entry. Girls must be out of nappies and able to toilet and wash and dry their hands independently. The entry expectations also cover expressing basic needs verbally, responding to instructions and playing with other children. These requirements matter when deciding when to start.

Private nursery tours run daily at 9.15am, with a preferred date requested through the Little Vic booking form. Registration goes through the school’s Registrar, using the completed form and a copy of the child’s birth certificate.