Together we learn

Our Nursery

For many children, attending Nursery is the first time they spend significant time away from home. For that reason it is vital that the setting they attend makes them feel happy, secure and valued. Furthermore it is such an important time for your child to develop learning characteristics that will set them up for their educational journey ahead. It is where it all begins and a time of limitless exploration and growth. These early years are fundamental to embed learning habits and develop confidence.

We are an independent Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School in Liphook, situated in 175 acres of stunning grounds in the South Downs National Park on the borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex. Our vision is to teach children to collaborate, to be resourceful and to take charge of their own learning and to provide a welcoming environment in which to do so. We plan a curriculum that cultivates good habits and attitudes that will enable your child to become an eager and courageous learner. As your child progresses through the Nursery years, they will develop into a tenacious, imaginative and logical child who is self-aware, collaborative and inquisitive. The foundations of all of these traits are put in place from the moment your child walks through the Nursery door for the very first time. Above all, we aim to make your child’s time in Nursery a joyous experience. During their time with us their imagination will grow, their thoughts will become more complex and their understanding of the world around will unfold. The aim of our Nursery is to instil a love of learning that will set them up for the rest of their life.

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Core Education

Our Nursery timetable is predominantly led by the children’s interests and is made up of mainly child-led learning time as well as forest school. Our expert Nursery Practitioners curate a wide range of activities for your child to engage with to help them develop prime development areas:

Communication and language
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design

At Highfield and Brookham, we pride ourselves on our impressive breadth of curriculum, supplying your child with plenty of new skills to discover. Alongside your child’s core education, they will be taught by our specialist subject teachers in swimming, PE, ballet, music and Spanish.

Child-initiated

Here at Highfield and Brookham, we have a real passion for and belief in child-initiated learning based on extensive research on how young children learn best. Your child will make decisions about what they want to do, where they want to do it, and what resources they will need. Crucially, the teachers participate as play partners identifying learning opportunities and skilfully responding to the children rather than leading the activities. This is all made possible because of our high staff-to-child ratios. It’s only when your child starts to apply independently what they have learnt that we know they have truly understood and engaged with what they have been taught.

We love the nursery and could not be happier that we chose it for our children.

Outdoor Learning

There is a plethora of evidence in support of outdoor learning and at Highfield and Brookham we see the proof of this every single day. Each of our Nursery rooms has direct access to our wonderful Nursery garden, which is fully equipped with a giant sandpit, mud kitchen and vegetable patch. Your child’s imagination will know no bounds as they explore and discover wonderful new things inside and out. Come rain or shine your child will be able to decide to go outdoors whenever they like, and we know that the lure of splashing in puddles or making mud pies means that children want to go outside whatever the weather. This is why waterproofs and wellington boots are staples in the Nursery wardrobe. One of the most popular activities in the garden is growing vegetables. Your child will plant, water and care for a variety of vegetables in the Nursery garden and, best of all, they will also get to harvest the produce and cook it in their very own kitchen.

With 175 acres of beautiful grounds, outdoor learning at Highfield and Brookham really has no limits. Your child will relish their time in their dedicated space at forest school, which is just a stone’s throw from their classroom door. Here they are free to explore and roam in our wondrous woodland as they hunt for the most magical minibeasts, build the most extravagant dens and craft the most elaborate leaf crowns. We want to engender a love of wildlife and respect for the natural environment in your child.

Free Flow

Your child will enjoy the freedom of free flow across all three of our Nursery rooms for a large proportion of the day. This is where all the children come together and are given the independence to explore their environment. During this time the younger children learn from their older peers, enhancing their language development and communication. Simultaneously, the older children learn valuable skills such as empathy as they take on the position of role models for their younger classmates. This combination of dedicated and shared space is a key factor in your child’s personal, emotional and educational growth.

Open-ended Resources

Our Nursery is purposefully equipped with an exciting variety of open-ended resources for your child to discover. The classrooms are carefully kitted out with blocks, loose parts and modelling resources. A toy fire engine is always a fire engine, but a pile of bricks could be an aeroplane carrying an important guest, a rocket on the hunt for life on mars or even an underground tunnel leading to an undiscovered land. The only limitation is your child’s imagination.

Food

We take food very seriously at Highfield and Brookham and your child will quickly find out why. We hire a fantastic Catering Team who keep your child’s energy at the optimum level so they can fully engage with everything that Nursery has to offer. At 10am your child will enjoy a morning snack on the carpet with their friends. This usually consists of fruit or a slice of our delicious homemade, reduced-sugar banana loaf.

Lunchbreak for our Nursery children is at 11.45am. The Tiny Bears, our very youngest children, enjoy lunch in their room, The Den, before settling down for a much-needed lunchtime nap. Our Little Bears and Big Bears don their gingham smocks and head across the courtyard to the main dining hall. Your child’s lunch is freshly prepared on site by our in-house chefs. Children are served at the table and always have the option to ask for more if they want it.

Mid-afternoon, children gather back on the carpet with the other Nursery children to enjoy a well-earned rest and snack. Cheese and crackers, sandwiches or breadsticks and humous are usually on offer to see them through to tea time.

Rooms

There are three specialist rooms in our Nursery – The Den, Woodlands and Meadows. The Den is home to our youngest cohort, Tiny Bears. This dedicated area, designed especially for our youngest children, allows your child to undertake age-appropriate activities which help them to develop independence, imagination and communication at a pace that is just right for them. Importantly, there is a dedicated space for your child to have their valuable daytime nap if they need it to ensure they are rejuvenated and ready for their afternoon adventures.

At the age of three, and when they are developmentally ready, your child will move up to either Meadows or Woodlands. Both rooms have a managed mix of our Little Bears and Big Bears so they can grow and learn together.

Logistics

Our Nursery is open for 35 weeks of the year. We welcome children from the age of two when they attend for a minimum of two mornings per week. As your child progresses into their final Nursery year, they will attend a minimum of three mornings per week, with lunch. This extended week helps with their readiness for the transition to Reception.

The morning sessions in Nursery run from 8.15am to 11.30am. You can choose for your child to stay for lunch, which the children take in our main dining hall at 11.45am. Collection is after lunch is at 1.00pm or 3.15pm if your child is staying for the full day.

Your child may attend on any days of the week where we have availability, and in any combination of morning, morning with lunch and full day sessions, up to full time, five days a week.

The Nursery Week

7.30am Breakfast club (Optional £)
8am Before-school care
8.15am Doors open
11.45am Lunch break

3.15pm School day ends
3.15pm After-school care (Optional £)
4.30pm Picnic tea and play (Optional £)
6.30pm Last pick up

Drop off

The doors to our Nursery are open for children at 8.15am. We know and completely understand that mornings can be busy for many families, with parents juggling school drop off, work and other commitments. It’s important that your child’s start to the day is calm and stress free to set them up for a successful say of learning. That’s why we offer an earlier 8am drop off option for those families who need it, at no extra charge.

Many of our families make use of our breakfast club, which opens for our Nursery children at 7.30am. Breakfast Club takes place in the main dining hall and your child will be spoilt for choice for what to have for breakfast. There is always a hot option such as beans on toast as well cereal, porridge, yoghurt, toast and fresh fruit. A truly hearty breakfast to kickstart them for their busy day in Nursery.

After School

The Nursery day draws to a close at 3.15pm. We have excellent after-school care provision that covers you if you need a later pick up.

As part of the after-school care programme, your child will have a fantastic choice of games and activities at their disposal. After-school care runs until 4.30pm.

For those families who need a later collection time we offer our ‘picnic tea and play’ session. A high tea will be served at 5pm with a selection of sandwiches, crudités, fromage frais and fruit on offer. Your child will be looked after until 6.30pm if required.

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Pre-Prep

Prep School

Admissions

What we’re up to

14 hours ago

Is there a better way to finish a busy and exciting week than storytime with your favourite teacher? #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #Reading

420

16 hours ago

Our Year 7 tennis players made a superb start to the new season with an impressive 9-3 win over our battling visitors from Amesbury School. Next week it’s the turn of the Year 6 boys, also against Amesbury, as summer sports take centre stage. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #Tennis #BackOnCourt

120

2 days ago

Steely focus, camaraderie, sportsmanship and a dazzling array of forehand and backhand winners were the order of the day as our tennis players got their matchplay season under way with an entertaining series of matches against our friends from @amesburyschool today. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #Tennis #BackOnCourt

650

2 days ago

Classic show tune Edelweiss, from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s hit 1959 musical The Sound of Music, was one of the beautiful songs being practised today by our harmonious junior choir ahead of their upcoming spring concert. Judging by the latest rehearsal, it promises to be a wonderful concert! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #Music #SpringConcert

130

3 days ago

All of our pitches have been alive with the sound of leather on willow, shouts of joy and encouragement, warm applause and appeals for wickets today as our happy children ushered in the new cricket season in fine style. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

210

3 days ago

We’ve had the most fantastic start to the new cricket season… #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #NewCricketSeason

1150

4 days ago

Having been proudly named a finalist in prestigious national pastoral awards last year, we are hoping that our brilliant wellbeing hub – The Beehive – will help us go one better this time around. bit.ly/3UasjNs #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #Pastoral

150

4 days ago

Our green-fingered prep school children are beginning to see the fruit of their enrichment lesson labours. Their broad beans are coming along nicely, with potatoes, onions, asparagus and lavender not far behind. Once harvested, the vegetables will be used in school meals. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #VegetablePatch #Gardening

500

5 days ago

We pride ourselves on our strong pastoral provision and our children understand the importance of having good friends to lean on. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm

270

5 days ago

To mark EarthDay.org, our pre-prep and prep school children have been considering the harm plastic pollution causes to nature and the impact fashion has on the environment. The children looked at the life cycle of plastic water bottles, including the raw materials used in the manufacturing process and how they are made, packaged and distributed, and what happens to them once they have been used. Our young eco warriors also dug deep to discover how many dyeing and finishing processes involved in producing the clothes we wear rely on toxic chemicals that not only harm workers but leach out into rivers and ground water systems; degrading the land, compromising drinking water and killing fish. The children were then tasked with designing T-shirts to raise awareness of the importance of being environmentally friendly. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm

1 weeks ago

Our science labs are the perfect place for pupils to learn about scientific method and gain skills in critical thinking, deductive reasoning, problem-solving, and communication. And whether its physics, biology or chemistry, our dedicated science teachers are there to help, nurture and encourage every step of the way. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #Science #STEM

391

1 weeks ago

Tensions were running high today as a Year 6 classroom was hastily turned into a courtroom to determine who was responsible for the untimely deaths of tragic Shakespearian lovers Romeo and Juliet. Lawyers, suspects and the rapt gallery gave or heard evidence before the judges decided what, if any, justice needed to be meted out to the Montague and Capulet families. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #Shakespeare #RomeoAndJuliet

150

1 weeks ago

The scientists of tomorrow have been getting to grips with mechanics and circuits during their enrichment session today. The Year 7 children worked together in small groups to produce functional models and robots, learning more about each working element such as solar panels as they delved deeper into their science, technology, engineering and maths project. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #STEM #Science #Robotics

170

1 weeks ago

Did you know that as well as having the chance to play golf during weekly enrichment lessons and during after-school club sessions, our children also host competitive matches against visiting schools? #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #Golf

460

1 weeks ago

After a busy morning crammed full of exciting learning, creativity and adventure in the fresh air at forest school, there’s nothing our happy prep school children love more than relaxing with a tasty al fresco snack and sharing special moments with their friends before heading back to the classroom! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #OutdoorLearning #ForestSchool

170

1 weeks ago

Our happy children of all ages simply adore the outdoor learning provision that our beautiful 175-acre grounds offer. There is just so much wonderful green space in which to learn, create, play and discover! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm #ForestSchool #OutdoorLearning

470

2 weeks ago

If you didn’t get the primary school place you were hoping for today, then why not come along to our next Open Morning and discover why it is such an exciting time to join Highfield and Brookham? Book your place today bit.ly/49tyG49

2 weeks ago

Friends reunited. It’s wonderful to welcome back our happy, energetic and enthusiastic children for what promises to be a busy and fun-packed summer term! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm

992

2 weeks ago

Our coaches are gearing up for the upcoming cricket season with refreshed skills and innovative training drills. Led by Head Coach Mr Dunn, we’re focusing on top-notch fielding – because at prep school level, great fielding can make all the difference in clinching victory!

210

2 weeks ago

The sun is shining and our skilled grounds, maintenance, cleaning and catering teams have been hard at work inside and out to ensure that everything is just so as we prepare to welcome back our children tomorrow for the start of what promises to be a busy, fun and exciting summer term. We can’t wait! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SummerTerm

1090

2 weeks ago

We’re looking forward to welcoming prospective families at our next Open Morning on Saturday 27th April. Have you booked your place? Come and discover why it’s such an exciting time to join Highfield and Brookham? To reserve your place, visit bit.ly/49tyG49

2 weeks ago

Our popular bushcraft course closed the door to the forest today, but not before a thorough tidy up to ensure they ‘left no trace.’ And of course, no bushcraft experience would ever be complete without some marshmallow toasting! The children have so enjoyed this course, making memories, learning skills and cherishing nature. We know they’ll be back for more next holiday. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #HolidayActivityCourses #BushcraftAdventure #NatureExploration #LeaveNoTrace #BushcraftFun

390

2 weeks ago

Our busy schedule of holiday courses continues and today, amongst others, is our brilliant Musical Theatre workshop. This course, run by our very own Susannah Wilson, helps children develop their performance skills as they think about stage presence, voice and expression. As the children channelled their inner Matilda, we think it’s safe to say that talent is abound!

110

2 weeks ago

Archery and fencing were just two of the sports on offer in our multi sports holiday course run by the fantastic team at @jcsportsonline. The course offers a wonderful opportunity for children to try their hand at different sports, try something new and perfect existing skills and most importantly have a lot of fun! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #HolidayActivityCourses

370

3 weeks ago

Considering schools? Why not come along to our next Open Morning on Saturday 27th April to discover just why it’s such an exciting time to join Highfield and Brookham? To reserve your place, visit our website or message us. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #OpenMorning

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Together we learn

Nursery

Our Nursery

Core Education

Child-initiated

Outdoor Learning

Free Flow

Open-ended Resources

Food

Rooms

Logistics

Drop off

After School

Pre-Prep

Prep School

Admissions

What we’re up to

view all news

view all news