Nursery

Our Approach to Early Learning

At Orchard House, our unique Learning Orchard curriculum helps your child reach their academic potential, but we go well beyond that. We inspire, motivate, nurture and care, so your child has every opportunity to grow and prosper in an engaging, supportive learning environment, with the quality time and attention they need each day to build confidence and self-esteem. 

We follow the statutory EYFS framework, which shapes our programme around seven areas of learning: 

• Three Prime Areas. Communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development.  

• Four Specific Areas. Literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design. 

Children also benefit from many aspects of the Montessori curriculum and philosophy. Each day begins with Montessori apparatus and specialist Early Years resources to build basic skills in language, physical development, creativity, literacy and mathematics. Alongside this, children have topic-based lessons throughout the week including PE, music, computing, Eurhythmics and French, taught by specialist staff and teachers, plus phonics lessons in ability groups several times a week. 

Our aims and values of Excellence, Honesty and Kindness underpin daily life in Nursery, from treating each child as an individual to fostering a friendly, welcoming environment where courtesy, respect and teamwork are valued from the very start. 

The Nursery Day & Facilities at Rupert Road

Our spacious, innovative Early Years centre provides a safe, dynamic home for our Nursery and Reception classes, with generous classrooms, access to the Pre-Prep library at Priory House just down the road, and on-site outdoor play areas. 

Nursery children benefit from free flow between the indoor classroom and outdoor provision, with the timetable becoming gradually more structured each term as they prepare for Reception. We encourage exploratory play outdoors throughout the day, and children have access to our outdoor areas each morning and afternoon, weather permitting. We place real value on outdoor learning as a crucial part of how young children develop. 

Settling In & the Move to Reception

We understand that starting nursery is a big step for children and parents alike, so we build settling in into our process from the outset. Before the summer term, our Head of EYFS and Head of Nursery contact each child’s previous nursery to discuss their transition. All new EYFS children are then invited into school for a Tea Party, giving them the chance to meet their new teacher and peers before they start. Parents may also book a curriculum talk and see how Orchard House School builds potential. 

We monitor children’s progress through ongoing observation and online assessments. These assessments, known as EYFS profiles, are built from our accumulated observations and in-depth knowledge of your child, and parents are invited to contribute too. Parents also meet their child’s key teacher each autumn and spring term, and receive a full school report at the end of the summer term. 

Because Nursery is our main entry point, offers come with a guaranteed pathway into Reception the following September. Parents can also choose to defer a Nursery offer to Reception entry, subject to availability, and children joining Reception are invited to a moving up day at the end of the summer term to prepare for September. Our admissions team give priority to siblings of current pupils and to children joining us from other Dukes Education nurseries. 

Fees

We charge our fees so your child can have the best preparatory experience possible and receive a truly personal education. With your generosity, we have been able to provide better facilities and opportunities for our pupils, such as the new Early Years Rupert Road location.

As such, we believe in transparency so you can know exactly how much you will have to pay for your child to attend. Before we go through the Nursery fees, please know there is a non-refundable £100 registration fee, plus a £3000 acceptance deposit that is payable upon your child’s approved admission. This is refunded to you when your child leaves the school (Please refer to our school’s Terms and Conditions)
 

School fees are charged per term, with three terms per year. All our nursery fees are VAT-exempt, so what you see here is what you get.  

Sibling Discount

We offer a 10% Sibling Discount, automatically deducted from the termly invoice, to encourage families to choose to join us. You must be fully fee-paying to be eligible. For families with two or more children attending the school, a 5% discount applies to the tuition fees of the third child and subsequent children. 

Financial Support

15-hour free childcare is available thanks to government funding. If you are a working parent of a child aged 3-4, you may be eligible for an additional 15 hours of funding, which we will deduct from your termly fee. 

Monthly payment schemes are also available. For more details, please contact the Finance Team: fees@orchardhs.org.uk. 

Accreditation & Inspection

As part of an independent school, Orchard House Nursery is regulated under the statutory EYFS framework and inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Our Early Years provision was named a particular strength in the school’s most recent ISI inspection: 

“Children in the early years thrive due to a well-structured curriculum and stimulating environment, which balances academic and social development. Adults model language effectively and support children’s social and emotional growth. Children learn to co-operate, take turns and explore new ideas with increasing confidence. They are well prepared for the next stage of education.” 

All our Early Years staff attend regular training days and INSET sessions, and every staff member is trained in Paediatric First Aid, with Designated Safeguarding Leads overseeing welfare across the setting.