Together we explore

Our Pre-Prep

Childhood is a time for fun and discovery through a wealth of learning opportunities. Our Pre-Prep is a special and unique place. Our aim is to give children the best possible start to their educational pathway, where friendships are made, individual academic excellence is achieved and happy memories are created. 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. Children in our Pre-Prep develop their social, emotional and cognitive skills through play-based activities. Every day your child will have to opportunity to apply what they have learnt in the classroom to activities in their shared areas or out in our fabulous 175-acre grounds. These hands-on opportunities give your child’s learning meaning and a grounding in the real world.

Our Pre-Prep children visit forest school several times a week. It provides a stimulating and engaging environment that encourages exploration, creativity and curiosity. Through being outdoors your child will develop an appreciation for the environment. They will learn to understand the significant impact they can have on sustainability for themselves and future generations by learning about environmental issues and taking meaningful actions to reduce their carbon footprint. We are fortunate to have two libraries at school and one is reserved for exclusive use by our Pre-Prep children. It has been carefully curated to instil a love of books and reading in all our children and to help your child to discover the magic that books bring, inspiring them in every topic from expeditions and exercise to Fairtrade and faraway places. Storytime and our robust phonics programme will help your child to develop crucial skills such as communication and comprehension.

Alongside the core curriculum, in the Pre-Prep your child will enjoy weekly swimming lessons in additional to their games and PE lessons. They will develop a positive attitude toward exercise and will grow to understand that a healthy body means a healthy mind, helping your child gain insight on how they learn best. A Pre-Prep education is one to be cherished. It is a time to develop the foundations for a love of learning where challenges are seen as positive experiences and every activity is approached with a smile, laughter and a can-do attitude.

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Seeing the pre-prep children jump into wellies and waterproof trousers in record time and charge out to break was fabulous.

Lessons

Our Pre-Prep timetable has been meticulously curated to ensure we get the best out of your child throughout the day. Your child will benefit from being taught maths and English every morning by their highly-qualified class teacher. They then embark on a day full of incredible lessons, including music, games, PE, Spanish and swimming which are all delivered by subject specialist teachers. Lessons are either taught as a single lesson of half an hour or to allow, your child to really get stuck in, some lessons are scheduled as a double one-hour lesson.

The timetable also ensures the Pre-Prep children can make the most of our incredible facilities as well as our amazing teachers. The acres of woodland just a stone’s throw from their classroom door is home to your child’s forest school lessons. Our on-site, 25-metre indoor swimming pool, which is heated by a renewal energy source in the shape of our woodchip biomass boiler, is where your child will learn to swim. For their music lessons, your child will head over to our purpose-built Music School to be surrounded by musical inspiration and every instrument they could possibly dream of – everything from African drums to a grand piano. Our Art Studio is where our Pre-Prep and Prep school children delve into painting, pottery and collage, allowing your child to share their creative vision with their older peers. The sports hall, astro and endless fields and pitches will give your child the space to breathe, stretch their physical muscles and discover their sporting prowess.

Food

Great children need great food which is why we hire a fantastic team of chefs, bakers and cooks to keep your child well fuelled throughout the day. Morning break is at 10am, the same time as our Prep school children. Your child will enjoy a carbohydrate-based snack to provide them with a slow release of energy to power them through their morning lessons.

Lunch break for our Pre-Prep children is at 11.45am when your child will enjoy a good run around outside as well as a nutritious meal before returning to lessons at 1pm. Your child’s lunch is freshly prepared on site by our in-house Catering Team. We offer a wide choice of dishes to ensure we cater for all tastes. There are always hot and cold options, with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and salads. Vegetarians, vegans and those with special dietary requirements are well catered for.

Our seasonal menus operate on a three-week rotation and aim to educate your child about healthy choices and responsible eating.

Logistics

The Pre-Prep week

7.30am Breakfast club (Optional £)

8am Before school care

8.15am Gates open

8.30am Registration

10.30am Morning break

11.40am Lunch break

3.30pm School day ends

3.30pm After school clubs (optional)

4.30pm Clubs end

4.30pm Picnic tea and play (optional £)

6.30pm Last pick up

Drop off

The doors to our pre-prep swing open for children at 8.15am ready for your child to start their day promptly at 8.30am. 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 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 their active day ahead.

After school

The school day finishes at 3.30pm but your child’s time with us does not have to stop there. There is a plethora of after-school clubs for your child to choose from. But not before they have had a snack for a well-earned energy boost to see them through the next hour of excitement. There are four categories of clubs: academic, skill development, artistic and physical and we encourage your child to try to choose one club from each group to give themselves the opportunity to explore new interests. Many of our clubs are run by our teachers who are passionate about a certain sport, subject or hobby and are free of charge. We also invite external professionals to run clubs such as Karate, modern dance or cookery, which do incur additional costs.

If there isn’t a club that takes your child’s fancy but you need your child to be looked after, they can join our after school care which runs until 4.30pm. We know life is exceptionally busy for all families which is why, in addition to our after school provision, we also offer picnic tea and play. In this popular session your child will be served a high tea which they will enjoy as a picnic with their friends. There will be lots of games and activities on offer for your child until 6.30pm.

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What we’re up to…

A brilliant win for our U10 girls’ hockey team yesterday at Westbourne House School . The result was a reflection of their growing confidence, teamwork and dedication on the pitch. With every match, they’re not just refining tactics, they’re building resilience and a love for the game. Well done, girls! #TogetherWeGrow #Teamwork #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Lovely to see our Reception out in Forest School today, practising their firelighting skills and enjoying the freedom to roam, discover and share their woodland finds with their friends. A perfect mix of learning, adventure and teamwork. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeExplore #Listening #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Lead by Year 4 teacher Rebecca Lane, our Wellbeing and Listening Walk around the school grounds gives Year 3 and 4 a chance to talk, share, or simply enjoy the wellbeing boost of being outdoors. #TogetherWeGrow #TakeTimeToNotice #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Our Year 8 stepped into the wonders of physics this week, building their very own pinhole cameras from cardboard tubes, tracing paper, foil and tape. They were amazed by what they were able to achieve with these simple materials, and even more so, the impressive result. #TogetherWeGrow #Teamwork #Science #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Magic is in the air! Year 5 drama rehearsals for Aladdin are in full swing, and the excitement is contagious. The children are bringing the vibrant characters to life with so much energy, joy and imagination. If today’s rehearsal is anything to go by, we’re in for a truly show-stopping performance this November. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeShine #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Our First XI Football team faced @cranford_sch in the first round of the @isfafootball U13 Bowl. Playing with great spirit and teamwork the boys gave a fantastic performance, winning 6-0 taking them through to the next round. Huge well done. #TogetherWeGrow #Football #Teamwork #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Science comes alive in Year 1. The children explored and compared the properties of materials through touch and observation, learning to describe everything from soft and stretchy to opaque and transparent. With hands-on activities and curious minds, they turned sensory exploration into exciting discovery! #TogetherWeGrow #ProblemSolving #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

It may be the first day of autumn, but the sunshine had our Nursery children out enjoying their beautiful new outdoor learning space. It’s a joy to see this area come to life, as the children explore, imagine and build confidence through play, developing key gross motor skills along the way. #TogetherWeGrow #LearnOutdoors #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Our Year 8s returned from their trip to the Belgium battlefields yesterday and today we received this wonderful email: “As one of the guides on the recent battlefields trip with Year 8, I wanted to contact you on behalf of myself and my colleague, to say what a pleasure it was to spend time with your staff and students. All your students were unfailingly polite, cheerful and fully engaged with the tour and represented the school in a positive light throughout. I’d also like to express our appreciation of the staff team and especially Mrs van den Berg. It was clear that all of them not only had the best interests of the students in mind at all times but were in turn liked and respected by them. I would be grateful if you could pass on our appreciation to all concerned and our best wishes for their futures. If what we saw is a measure of their potential, those futures are bright indeed.” #HighfieldAndBrookham #Year8Trip #BattlefieldsTour #WWIHistory #ProudSchool #LestWeForget @legerholidays

We’re delighted to announce that we have achieved the Skills Builder Gold Award – a significant accomplishment that places us amongst a select group of schools and colleges. This award reflects our commitment to our Essential Skills programme and forward-thinking education, ensuring we equip our children with the key skills needed for future success and the workplace of tomorrow. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Year 3 had a fantastic time bringing The Diary of a Stone Age Boy to life. Through imaginative role play and creative pictograms, the children retold the story in a fun and memorable way. What a brilliant way to explore storytelling – interactive, engaging and full of learning. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Big energy in the Chapel today. The Chapel Choir had their vestment fittings as they prepare for this month’s Harvest Festival service – and they’re looking (and sounding) incredible. We can’t wait to see them perform. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeSing #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Year 4 swapped the classroom for steam trains and suitcases as they journeyed back to the 1940s for a day in the life of an evacuee! With wide eyes and gas mask boxes in hand, they explored the nostalgic The Watercress Line, a heritage railway full of vintage charm, bringing their World War II topic to life. #TogetherWeGrow #LearnOutdoors #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Year 8 are immersed in the landscapes of history on their trip to Belgium this week. They’re deepening their understanding of WW1 through powerful, real-world connections on this incredible, rewarding and truly memorable experience. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Exploring their topic ‘Life in an Oak Tree’, Year 2 took their learning outside. Lying under a beautiful oak in our grounds they explored the mini ecosystem it supports, from bugs to birds, and thought about what would happen if the tree disappeared. Outdoor learning at its best, hands-on, eye-opening and full of wonder. #TogetherWeLearn #LearnOutdoors #Listening #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

We were thrilled to host the recent HAGS (Highfield Association Golf Society) tournament at Liphook Golf Club for a fantastic morning of golf, laughter and reconnection, with Old Highfieldians. Congratulations to the day’s winner and all those that took part and a heartfelt thanks to HAGS for their generous donation to Highreach Holidays. A truly special day that celebrates the strength and spirit of the Highfield and Brookham community. #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Year 3 had a fantastic trip to Butser Ancient Farm this week. They stepped back in time to experience life as it would have been in the Stone Age, Iron Age and Roman times. From exploring ancient homes to trying out traditional crafts, the children brought learning to life in the most hands-on way. A brilliant day of learning and discovery. #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

We’re delighted to be featured in the Tatler Schools Guide 2026. A huge thank you to @tatlerschools for recognising what makes us unique – a truly independent school, proudly owned by the same family for over a century. Want to discover why we’re such an amazing place for your child’s education? Join us at our Open Morning on Saturday 27th September. Head to our bio to book your place. #TatlerSchoolsGuide #IndependentEducation #OpenMorning

In Year 8, our pupils embark on an exciting challenge – the Independent Project Qualification. Last week’s introduction session was full of curiosity and enthusiasm, with pupils eagerly exploring big ideas through Socratic-style questions and sharing thoughtful reflections of their own. Their first homework? To jot down five passions or areas of interest that could spark the beginnings of their very own project. And what better way to get started than with their brand-new Highfield and Brookham notebooks – the perfect place to capture ideas, inspiration and the journey ahead. We can’t wait to see where their creativity takes them! #TogetherWeLearn #TogetherWeAchieve #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdIndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Join us for our first Open Morning of the academic year on Saturday 27th September. Take a tour of the school and grounds with our pupils, meet our Head, Suzannah Cryer, and chat with our inspiring teachers. To book your place, head to the link in our bio – we look forward to welcoming you. #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

What a difference a day makes! The sun was shining, and the children certainly made the most of it. It’s always such a joy to see them running around outside, reconnecting with friends and catching up after the summer holidays. #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

We’ve had a brilliant start to the new school year; it’s been wonderful to welcome the children back and see them settle straight into school life. All the chatter and excitement has brought the school back to life. #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

It’s been wonderful to welcome the children back today and see all those excited faces as they embark on the new academic year with enthusiasm and a flourish. #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Everything’s set and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back. It’s been a busy summer preparing the classrooms, grounds and pitches, ready for the school community to return. We’re thrilled with the refurbishment of the Year 4 classrooms, and the children will be too. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Undeterred by yesterday’s downpour, our sports coaches threw themselves into sports INSET training with passion and determination – across hockey, netball and football, the latter led brilliantly by the team at @littlefootystarsuk Their enthusiasm is a powerful reminder of how ready they are to inspire and energise the children back on the pitches this week. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

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