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Nursery at ACS Hillingdon International 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
An outdoor classroom with wooden benches and direct access to outdoor play give ACS Hillingdon’s Pre-Kindergarten a practical setting for discovery. This is the school’s nursery provision within its Lower School, with Pre-Kindergarten listed for ages 3–5. Its classrooms occupy the purpose-built Pavilions facility, alongside spaces for art and performing arts. A full-time teacher and a full-time teaching assistant staff the class.
Entry is tied to readiness for a school day. ACS considers applications to start at the beginning of, or during, the term a child turns four, subject to admission and available places; a three-year-old must manage a full day and be toilet trained. Those starting on this basis repeat Pre-Kindergarten the following academic year.
Questions and exploration shape the international, enquiry-based curriculum. UK Birth to Five Matters is among its reference frameworks. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the emphasis is on developing children’s learning alongside their social skills, health and care. Plans for three-year-olds allow activities to be adjusted to their developmental stage and individual needs, rather than expecting everyone to tackle an identical task.
Pavilions gives this approach a physical home. Children have outdoor space directly beside their classrooms, while the art and performing arts studios host weekly specialist sessions. The outdoor classroom adds another place to learn beyond the indoor room. These spaces make creative work and outdoor exploration part of the learning setting.
Forest School is offered from age four, an important distinction for younger entrants. Sessions encourage children to choose activities and reflect on what they make and discover. Digital learning also forms part of the Lower School approach: supervised classroom iPads stay at school, and Seesaw shares learning with families. Screens sit alongside practical experiences rather than defining the day.
Each early-years child has a key person. In September 2025, children settled readily, with adults guiding friendships, cooperation and respectful behaviour. Praise, adult examples and explanations help children manage feelings; responses to difficult behaviour take account of possible pastoral worries. Early-years staff have paediatric first-aid training, with arrangements for medication and children who become unwell.
Care for younger children deserves attention. The March 2025 ISI inspection did not recommend approval of the proposed younger age range because planning for sleep, toileting and intimate hygiene needed fuller consideration. At the September 2025 material-change inspection, ISI recommended approval, with sleep arrangements for three-year-olds and plans for changing space in place; attendance-policy details and missing agency-check entries were corrected during that visit.
Lunch can be brought from home or purchased at school. Adults supervise early-years eating and consider developmental needs when food is prepared and served. For multilingual children, early-years English learning uses immersion while allowing children to communicate through the languages they already know. ACS considers mild to moderate learning needs subject to admission requirements and available spaces. It cannot support severe behavioural, emotional or learning difficulties, and reports learning support at capacity in most grades. Discuss Pre-K support availability with Admissions.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Confirm ACS continuing-enrolment arrangements with Admissions. If seeking Reception elsewhere, check that school’s application process. ACS uses international grade names, including Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, so its class sequence should be distinguished from the Reception admissions process at another school.
The Lower School day runs from 8:30am to 3:25pm, finishing at 2:45pm on Wednesdays. This is a full-day commitment for young entrants. The academic year runs from August to June, with tuition billed by semester. Classroom materials and learning resources are included; meals are optional, and transport carries a separate charge. Contact the school for current charges.
Door-to-door transport is available from Pre-K within the school’s busing catchment area, subject to availability and bus access. A parent or guardian must meet younger children after their journey home; the driver is usually the only adult aboard. Families can register interest through the admissions enquiry form or book a Personal Tour with the Admissions Team.
The fee schedule lists ages 3–5. ACS considers applications to start at the beginning of, or during, the term a child turns four, subject to admission and available places. A three-year-old must be toilet trained and able to manage a full school day. Children starting on this basis repeat Pre-Kindergarten the following academic year.
The Lower School finishes at 3:25pm, with an earlier 2:45pm finish on Wednesdays. The start time is 8:30am.
Yes. Children can bring lunch from home or purchase food at school. Early-years children are supervised while eating.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Confirm continuing-enrolment arrangements with ACS Admissions, or check the application process at any other school you are considering.
Yes. Personal Tours can be booked with the Admissions Team, and the enquiry form registers interest without obliging families to apply.
