Kent College Pembury: Forest Explorers Nursery

A mud kitchen, an orchard and a vegetable garden give Forest Explorers Nursery its outdoor character. This is Kent College Pembury’s own nursery, occupying a separate wing of the Prep School, with play space opening directly from its rooms. The setting makes indoor and outdoor exploration part of the same day.

Children join from the term in which they turn two. Younger children belong to Caterpillars; Butterflies is their final nursery year. Activities are organised around age and development, so the move between groups brings a change in emphasis as well as classmates. Children cannot remain in Nursery if they will turn five while attending.

Play connects the classroom with the woods. The Early Years Curriculum links learning indoors and outside, with Forest School alongside reading, craft, art and music. Den building and the mud kitchen give children practical reasons to experiment and work together.

A Caterpillars day might include sorting beads, counting, acting out Goldilocks and the Three Bears, or using the garden’s climbing equipment. Trampolining in the Sports Hall can precede lunch in the dining hall. Later, children might create stick people in the forest, before finishing with songs and a story. These are examples rather than a fixed timetable.

Butterflies retain that emphasis on play while adding structured work on recognising numbers and writing their names. Looking after belongings, getting dressed and handling cutlery are practised too. Preparation includes everyday independence.

Specialist teachers contribute Dance, Drama, Music, French and PE. Nursery children also have a weekly swimming lesson with Monson Swimming Club teachers. Drama and music form part of the weekly curriculum, with performances in the Countess of Wessex Theatre giving children a setting for sharing their work.

At the ISI inspection of 28 to 30 April 2026, early years children made good progress through activities shaped around their interests and individual support. Outdoor construction and making mud-and-dandelion cakes helped develop creativity and conversation; adults introduced harder challenges as children were ready.

Two settling-in sessions take place in the term before a child starts, offering time to meet staff and other children. Stay and Play provides another introduction. Nursery staff work alongside the specialist teaching team, keeping care and learning within the same provision.

In April 2026, early years parents received regular updates on their children’s development, and staff tracked progress to identify where extra help was needed. Adults guided children through everyday social habits, including turn-taking and thanking others. The early years environment underwent daily safety checks, and staff training included paediatric first aid.

Meals have their own place in the day. Caterpillars eat lunch in the dining hall. Breakfast Club includes fruit, yoghurt and hot food; children staying for Supper Club have a hot supper at 6.00pm. These arrangements matter when choosing how far to extend the nursery day.

Nursery admission at Kent College carries a guaranteed place in its Reception class. This is an explicit arrangement for Forest Explorers, rather than an assumption families need to make from sharing a school site.

Preparation is a separate part of nursery life. Children build friendships with Prep pupils and join assemblies, concerts and school activities. Butterflies also practise the personal and learning skills needed for the next stage. Familiar people and shared activities give that transition a practical foundation.

Term-time wraparound care spans 7.30am to 7.30pm. Breakfast Club starts at 7.30am for children aged three and above. Free after-school care ends at 5.00pm for Caterpillars and 5.30pm for Butterflies. Supper Club runs until 6.30pm, with an option to remain until 7.30pm; breakfast and supper clubs carry additional charges.

Universal Entitlement provides 15 funded hours each week for three- and four-year-olds, beginning in the term after the child’s third birthday. Lunch is charged separately. Ask the school for current charges when considering the full pattern of attendance.

Families can arrange visits throughout the year, including a Prep School tour or Nursery Stay and Play. Contact the Admissions team at admissions@kentcollege.kent.sch.uk or 01892 820218. Nursery applications use an application form; offers depend on space, and acceptance requires a deposit and signed contract.