New Nursery Offerings from September 2026
We are delighted to share that from September 2026, our Nursery Department will be offering longer pre-school days, along with extended wraparound and holiday care options. Children will also be able to join the Nursery from the school year in which they turn 3, allowing our youngest learners to start at 2 years old benefitting from a full academic year in our Hedgehogs class.
This decision has been made in response to feedback and demand from our current and prospective parents who value the current educational offering and are also looking for extended childcare commitments during term-time and the school holidays.
These new options will allow families to access extended pre-school days, as well as wraparound and holiday provision to better support family needs. All wraparound and holiday care provision will be led by our own lovely Nursery staff, who the children already know well, within the familiar Nursery environment. The earlier starting age for our Hedgehog class will allow children more time to settle, build confidence, and adjust to Nursery life, ahead of their pre-school year in our Rabbit and Squirrel classes.
We pride ourselves on being a Nursery School delivering an educational curriculum and very much part of the wider school community. The ability to access some extra hours and wraparound care will provide greater flexibility and allow families to plan ahead.
Please see below the new Nursery options available.
FAQs
What will the longer school day involve?
Due to demand in recent years for longer school days, this has allowed us to extend the curriculum to include the afternoons. The children benefit from specialist teaching in Music, PE, Drama, French, Forest School and Computing by teachers from across the school. The children being in for a full day allows them to access all this learning, as well as subjects such as Science, Cookery and Yoga. It is a lovely busy day of learning, supported by plenty of play based activities. The children get a hot lunchtime meal, which they eat supported by their teachers. This routine ensures children are prepared for their move to Reception, supporting a seamless transition.
How is Early Years Funding affected?
Children are eligible for the universal 15 hours a week funding, providing they are 3 years old on the first day of term. This means that children starting earlier at age 2 may not get funding for up to three terms.
Can my child take part in extended care on a more ad hoc basis?
Children who are enrolled in the core hours option will be able to attend after school care and school holiday care, subject to availability. As we are now running our holiday and wraparound care in-house, spaces are limited due to staffing. Therefore, to ensure a guaranteed spot for the extended care, you need to opt into the appropriate package to suit your desired hours. However, if there are additional spaces available, we will offer these to other children in the Nursery.
How does food provision work?
Children in our Nursery enjoy a range of healthy and varied snacks and meals throughout the day to encourage trying new tastes and textures and encourage healthy eating. This includes a healthy snack such as fruit/crackers and milk in their morning break, followed by a hot cooked lunch which they eat with support of their teachers and another healthy afternoon snack for those who stay on for the longer days.
We recently made the change to hot lunches for the Nursery children, following a similar menu to the children in our Junior Department. This has been a huge success with the children ensuring they get a hot nutritious meal with a varied menu. You can view the current Nursery Lunch Menus here.
Please note, during half-term and school holiday breaks, children will be required to bring their own, nut free, packed lunches as the school kitchen is closed.
Will all children start Hedgehogs Class at the age of 2?
Although children will be able to start the academic year (September – August) in which they turn 3, King’s House Nursery is committed to working with families to ensure an appropriate starting point to suit your child. There are many factors which may impact this such as the timing of your child’s birthday, a family’s personal circumstances and classroom availability. Please ensure you discuss any concerns with Jane O’Brien, our Head of Nursery to work out a starting point which is best for you.
Will my child be able to have a nap?
We are creating a safe, calm sleeping area within the Nursery for the younger children who may need a nap if they’re staying for a full Nursery day. This will be based securely on-site in a safe and quiet environment, allowing children to rest during the day while being carefully monitored by our Nursery staff.
