Welcome to Nursery – An Exceptional Beginning
St Christopher’s is no ordinary Nursery. It’s a pre-school and headstart on your child’s education, delivered by committed, experienced professionals, intent on making learning irresistible. Your child will be part of the wider school, joining in on assemblies, learning Phonics, French, Art and Music with qualified specialist teachers and participating in beloved school traditions. Think annual pancake flipping race, cheered on by the older children.
A Transition Designed Around Your Child
Nothing sums up our commitment to your child better than our tailored transition programme on joining. It starts the term before they start Nursery with an initial parent meeting, followed by a month of twice weekly, pre-recorded online story sessions to watch with your child at home. Thereafter, a parent and child tour of the Nursery precedes short, weekly taster sessions which allow you to get to know fellow new parents over coffee whilst you wait.
Growing Up as Part of the School Family
Why do we invest in such an extensive transition? We want the belonging, trust and relationships to be in place before you start. It is important that your family feels part of ours, and that you feel confident entrusting your most precious little person to us. For that to happen, we must know each other well. Equally vital is that your child feels safe and loved from the outset. This comes from us already knowing how they work, what they like and the individual quirks that make all the difference.
Building Confident, Independent Learners
Two words encapsulate our approach – confidence and independence. We have high expectations and assume that your child ‘can’. Our child-sized kitchen allows your child to make their own snacks, butter their own toast, load the dishwasher, pour their own drinks and bake, all the while honing crucial fine motor skills. Your child will quickly learn our foolproof coat-donning technique and how to support a friend who is upset. They’ll join Reception quietly confident, having mastered the pencil grip and early phonics, as well as important life skills such as turn-taking, self-organisation and eating together at a table.
What Makes Our Nursery So Special?
- A warm, nurturing family environment where every child is truly known and valued.
- Expert Early Years specialists supporting curiosity, independence and confidence.
- An extensive transition programme to help children settle into nursery from day one supporting parents and children
- ‘Lid-Off’ philosophy that believes in every child’s limitless potential.
- Rich, purposeful play balanced with thoughtful teacher guidance.
- Specialist teaching in PE, Music, French, Art and Forest School from age 2¾.
- Vibrant outdoor spaces designed for exploration, movement and adventure.
- Daily hands-on cooking in our child-sized kitchen – from chopping and peeling to baking.
- Full integration into school life, helping children feel part of the school community.
- Seamless transition to Reception through our Pre-Reception programme.
- Strong partnership with parents, sharing special moments through Evidence Me.