Greenwood Nursery & Early Years

Give your child a head start at Yarrells

At Yarrells, our youngest children start their learning in Greenwood, our eco-friendly Early Years Centre, tucked into a safe and snug corner of our woodland site. 

Nursery children benefit from all the wonderful facilities and opportunities at Yarrells:

• secure garden and safe play area
• highly qualified, specialist and dedicated staff
• dynamic and extensive curriculum 
• a beautiful estate with the main school housed in a Georgian mansion and modern classroom blocks
• extensive grounds including sports fields, play areas, woods, gardens and outdoor education areas
• covered, heated swimming pool and netball/tennis courts
• hot meals and all snacks prepared by our excellent catering team
• gym and performance hall

Children in the Early Years are at the heart of our school community and benefit from being immersed in our enriching environment. All classes are taught by specialist Early Years practitioners and we use the EYFS areas of learning as the basis for an over-arching and dynamic curriculum. From the tender age of 2 ½, children also enjoy specialist teaching in art, cookery, gymnastics and outdoor sport and on top of all that, our pre-school classes have dance, French and swimming taught by specialist practitioners. Our pupils learn through a wide variety of play and creative activities and are encouraged to develop self-assurance, independence, resilience and collaborative skills. We offer a seamless transition through our Nursery to Reception and beyond in a stimulating environment which builds the foundations of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Our Nursery children are fully integrated into school life at Yarrells and enjoy whole school as well as class assemblies. The children in Squirrels (Pre-Reception) and Reception classes are assigned a ‘buddy’ from the senior school. Buddy time is always a cherished occasion whereby the children play, share books and enjoy building supportive relationships with each other.

Little Nutkins (Age 2)

In a cosy part of Greenwood the Little Nutkins enjoy hands on learning and are fully supported by our exceptional practitioners. They love learning inside and outside, enjoying our beautiful school grounds. 

Nutkins (Age 2½+)

The children in Nutkins are immersed in Nursery life and begin to enjoy independent learning alongside the older children. They take part in dance and music as well as outdoor PE and ‘Wild Woods’ with specialised teachers.

Squirrels (Age 3+)

The foundations for learning are always being developed and enhanced. In our Squirrels class there is additional specialised teaching in French and swimming. The children are continually moving forward in their learning journey and are ‘school ready’ for a smooth and successful move to Reception.

Reception (Age 4+)

Building on the foundations laid in Nursery, the children continue to follow the Early Years curriculum, establishing secure skills in literacy and numeracy that will form the basis for their ongoing education. In addition to the extensive curriculum already offered to our youngest pupils, the children in Reception upwards have a weekly tennis lesson with our full time specialist tennis coach. 

Option 1:

Full time Monday to Friday 8.30am – 3.30pm

Option 2: Selected timetable.

Morning sessions: 8.30am – 1.00pm (Morning sessions include lunch)

Afternoon sessions: 1.00pm – 3.30pm

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