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Nursery at Warwick Preparatory 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Forest School bear hunts and specialist music give The Squirrels Nursery a character beyond its compulsory morning sessions. Boys and girls join from the September following their third birthday, placing the nursery firmly in the year before Reception. It belongs to Warwick Preparatory School’s pre-prep department. In June 2025, there were three nursery classes for children aged three and four.
The early years provision was a particular strength at the ISI inspection of 17 to 19 June 2025. Staff training translated into carefully selected activities and children’s strong progress. That is a useful endorsement of the early years experience, rather than a separate nursery grade.
Play has a clear learning purpose. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children’s communication, early literacy, mathematical understanding and personal development. In June 2025, creative activities organised around topics helped children develop language and begin reading and writing; games introduced counting, shapes and solving problems. Adults adjusted the support and challenge to individual children.
Stories also reach beyond the classroom. In February 2026, nursery children took a bear hunt into Forest School; the following month, Jack and the Beanstalk led to discovering a beanstalk in the garden. These examples connect imaginative stories with outdoor exploration. The nursery has its own spacious accommodation, while the early years outdoor areas support children’s developing physical skills.
Music adds another setting to the day. Nursery children learn with specialist music teachers in the music school, which includes two music classrooms and a percussion studio. Singing games and percussion are part of the pre-prep approach, giving children ways to explore sound and participate together.
The nursery team aims to help each child become comfortable and confident through close individual attention. In June 2025, early years staff used assessment to spot children needing extra help. They also taught sharing, taking turns and listening, with clear routines that helped children develop independence. Familiar characters helped children find words for their feelings. All early years staff held paediatric first aid qualifications.
Food depends on the attendance pattern. A piece of fruit is included mid-morning, and children taking the lunch session have lunch included. Meals are cooked on site; vegetarian options and provision for special diets are available. Allergies. Ingredients and prepared foods cannot be guaranteed free from nuts or other allergens, so families need to take that qualification into account.
Protective Behaviours lessons take place in the nursery during the Spring Term, with their safety language used throughout school life. Inspection follow-up. In June 2025, school-wide actions included more consistent reviews of risks after trips and bringing pastoral records together. These were matters for the school to complete, rather than nursery-specific failings.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Treat Reception as a separate admissions step. Nursery families must confirm their child’s place by the first day of the preceding Summer Term; registration and deposit requirements apply at that point to families using only government-funded nursery hours.
Longer attendance is encouraged as preparation for the next stage. The school recommends adding lunch from the Spring Term for children initially attending mornings only. This extends the familiar nursery day; it should be considered separately from the Reception admissions process.
Five mornings are the minimum attendance pattern, running from 8.30am to 11.30am. Government entitlement covers up to five such mornings. Families can add chargeable lunch sessions, ending at 12.45pm, and afternoons from 12.45pm to 3.30pm. The maximum is five full days. Ask the school for current charges.
Free early supervision runs from 7.45am to 8.30am. Charged After School Care operates from 4pm, with collection options at 4.25pm or 5.45pm; the longer session includes a light tea. Uniform is compulsory, and families using only funded hours can receive pre-loved uniform if they require it. For enquiries or a personal tour, contact WPS-admissions@warwickschools.co.uk or 01926 491545. Private tours run Monday to Thursday, normally at 9.30am or 2pm.
Boys and girls can join from the September after their third birthday.
Yes. The minimum pattern is five mornings, from 8.30am to 11.30am. The school recommends extending attendance to include lunch as the year progresses.
Lunch is included for children attending the additional, chargeable lunch session. Mid-morning fruit is included too.
Treat it as a separate admissions step and confirm the place by the first day of the Summer Term before starting. Families using only government-funded nursery hours must meet the registration and deposit requirements at that point.
Free supervision is available from 7.45am to 8.30am. Charged After School Care runs from 4pm, with a short session ending at 4.25pm and a longer session ending at 5.45pm.
