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, gymnastics, 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 8.20am to 11.20am. 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 12.20pm or 3.20pm 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
8.20am Doors open
11.45am Lunch break

3.20pm School day ends
3.30pm 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 8.20am. 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 3.20pm. 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.

Request a prospectus

Book a visit

Pre-Prep

Prep School

Admissions

What we’re up to

18 hours ago

Join us at our annual drinks reception on Wednesday 5th February at Beaufort House for an evening of insightful discussions into the advantages of a country school education. Hear from experts from top prep and senior schools as they delve into the social, emotional and academic benefits of a country school education. Highfield and Brookham School Ludgrove School Hanford School Dorset Downe House School Radley College Marlborough College Talk Education RSVP➡bit.ly/46R0vC2

18 hours ago

Year 7 got a unique perspective on their artistic studies as they were challenged to draw a town in one-point perspective, a drawing technique that creates a sense of depth and space on a flat surface by using a single vanishing point. As their towns took shape using pencils and rulers, the children discovered that things appeared to get smaller as they got further away, converging towards a single vanishing point on the horizon. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm

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19 hours ago

Our drama provision continues to go from strength to strength, a fact underlined by another outstanding set of LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art) results. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm #Drama #PerformingArts

We’ve got an exciting line-up of clubs and courses to keep your children entertained over February half term. Limited spaces are available so do book your place today and guarantee a fun-filled half term! Book now https://bit.ly/3y4Ybfi

4 days ago

There is never a shortage of willing volunteers when it comes to making something tasty in the nursery kitchen. Today, the budding chefs – with a little help from the adults – turned their little hands to banana cake, mixing mashed ripe bananas, flour, sugar, eggs and oil before the mixture was put into the oven. And the result? A delicious breaktime snack! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm

610

$Tenacious Year 7 pupils have today had their grey matter put firmly to the test in maths after being challenged to simplify algebraic fractions using cancellation. Facing a series of tricky problems set by Mr Parkinson, our Head of Maths, the children demonstrated real aptitude for their subject as they worked in pairs to successfully unlock the answers by dividing the numerators and denominators of fractions by a common factor. Well done, Year 7, it looks like Mr Parkinson will have to raise the bar even higher next time! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm$

4 days ago

Tenacious Year 7 pupils have today had their grey matter put firmly to the test in maths after being challenged to simplify algebraic fractions using cancellation. Facing a series of tricky problems set by Mr Parkinson, our Head of Maths, the children demonstrated real aptitude for their subject as they worked in pairs to successfully unlock the answers by dividing the numerators and denominators of fractions by a common factor. Well done, Year 7, it looks like Mr Parkinson will have to raise the bar even higher next time! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm

5 days ago

There’s nothing like fresh air and the great outdoors to fuel vitality and imagination. But don’t take our word for it, ask our pre-prep children. Year 1 took to the woods this afternoon to build dens, whittle sticks, engineer marble runs – ingeniously using stones in the absence of real marbles – and role play an historic battle with all the action centred upon attacking and defending a prized ‘castle’ which looked suspiciously like a fallen tree. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm #Imagination #TheGreatOutdoors #ForestSchool

110

5 days ago

To demonstrate how curves play an important role in strengthening structures when it comes to design, Year 4 children took on the egg challenge during DT. The children tried with all their might to crush the egg while holding it firmly top and bottom. Their attempts proved in vain as they discovered that the curved shape redirects and disperses pressure, making it more resistant to external forces, something they will factor in while making their wartime Anderson shelters. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm

341

6 days ago

Wednesdays and Saturdays are traditionally our big days for external sports fixtures and today has been another wonderful advert for prep school sport. Welcoming our friends from Cranleigh Prep, Edgeborough School and Westbourne House School, competition on the rugby and hockey pitches and netball courts was fierce but fair, with matches played in an honorable and truly sporting manner to complement some amazing teamwork and outstanding individual skill. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm

120

6 days ago

One of the keys to success in any walk of life is effective teamwork and camaraderie, something our U13A team demonstrated in spades today during a fabulous afternoon of flowing rugby against our friends from @westbournehouseschool. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm #PrepSchoolSport #Rugby

881

7 days ago

We’ve got an exciting line-up of clubs and courses to keep your children entertained over February half term. Limited spaces are available so do book your place today and guarantee a fun-filled half term! Head to the link in our bio to book. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #feburaryhalfterm

7 days ago

Year 5 children took the opportunity to rest, relax and recharge this morning in The Beehive, our delightful wellbeing hub. The children made a beeline for the hub between lessons to catch up with friends over a game of cards, to play a game of chess, to do some mindful drawing, to chat, and simply sit quietly and enjoy some welcome down time. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm

140

7 days ago

Nothing epitomises the love, kindness and respect that underpins the school community than when our Head Girl drops in to the pre-prep playground… #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm

720

1 weeks ago

Young pre-prep performers have today been put through their paces during Theatre Club, a popular extra-curricular club run by Mrs Wilson, who has regularly trodden the boards in the West End. The children were challenged to work on their expressions, be it happy, excited, grumpy or worried, or to adopt interesting roles such as a rugby player or a firefighter, all the while working on the key element of balance as they held their dramatic poses. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm

1 weeks ago

Hot on the heels of our phenomenal springtime @lamdadrama success, we’ve secured another superb set of results, this time in the December exams. Thirty-one children secured an amazing 86% Distinction rate, with Max R and Clementine S gaining an incredible score of 96% for their Entry Level Verse and Prose exams while Iona D achieved 94% for her Grade 4 Acting exam. Under the expert guidance of professional coaches Mrs Baird, Miss Dungworth, Mrs Baxter-Eve and Mrs Wilson, children can take LAMDA from Year 5 to Year 8, but our children have the opportunity, via school plays and extra-curricular activities, to sing, dance and act in pre-prep. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm

430

1 weeks ago

2 weeks ago

Year 3 have today been treated to a tantalising glimpse into the fascinating world of the Ancient Mayans, the subject of their new history topic. Absorbed in a One Day Creative Education drama workshop rich in role play and imagination, the children learnt about the appearance of the Mayan people, the different elements that made up their society (such as queens, warriors and traders) and the role of the humble cocoa bean. With their appetite suitably whetted, the children can’t now wait to dig a little deeper. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm #AncientMaya

150

2 weeks ago

We’re delighted to welcome four new Australian gap-year students to school. Gen and Lucy join us from New South Wales, Hallie from Queensland and Harry from Victoria. And while the weather may be a tad colder than they’re used to, hopefully the warm welcome they receive from the Highfield and Brookham family will more than make up for it. Great to have you here, guys! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm #GapYearStudents

1470

2 weeks ago

One of the big benefits of having 175-acre grounds at our fingertips is that there is so much space in which to learn, to play, to reflect and to discover. We’re holding our first Open Morning of the new year on Saturday 11th January, so why not join us? You’ll see that we are a busy, vibrant, engaging and happy school and, wherever you go, you can never be sure what delights you will find next. To book a place, visit bit.ly/3QV031o #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #OpenMorning #CountryEducation

2 weeks ago

Our drama scholarship pupils have recorded pieces to camera to send to @charterhousesch as part of the application process. Under the expert eye of Mrs Baird, our dedicated Head of Drama, the children had to perform in the theatre for three minutes. They must now wait to see if their applications will progress to the next stage. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #SpringTerm #Scholarships

370

2 weeks ago

One of the big benefits of having 175-acre grounds at our fingertips is that there is so much space in which to learn, to play, to reflect and to discover. We’re holding our first Open Morning of the new year on Saturday 11th January, so why not join us? You’ll see that we are a busy, vibrant, engaging and happy school and, wherever you go, you can never be sure what delights you will find next! To book a place, simply click the link in our bio. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #OpenMorning

180

2 weeks ago

There was a real buzz around the Year 1 classrooms today as the children dug a little deeper into their special spring term topic. The inquisitive children have been asking the question ‘why are bees so brilliant?’ Today, they welcomed into school expert beekeeper Michelle Ernoult, who gave the children a fascinating insight into the lives of our crucial and busy pollinators. Armed with amazing facts, and having got a close look at a beehive and key equipment used by beekeepers, the children made beautiful beeswax candles and adopted a hive mentality while working together to produce colourful bee artwork. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Bees

160

2 weeks ago

We’ve had a fabulous first day back at school after the Christmas break and we simply can’t wait to see what excitement the new spring term brings. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

220

2 weeks ago

Mrs Hunter is our wonderful Head of Pre-Prep and the children simply love spending time with her – a feeling which is most definitely mutual! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

790

2 weeks ago

Is there an ideal time to move out of London? Is boarding still relevant in today’s world? Can we futureproof our children? How important are fresh air and muddy knees when it comes to schooling? These key questions will be addressed at a special event in London by leading figures from six top country prep and senior schools. Educating Outside London will be held at Beaufort House, Chelsea, on Wednesday 5th February, from 6.30pm-8.30pm. To book a place, visit bit.ly/3WvzMJ1. Hanford School Dorset Downe House School Radley College Marlborough College #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #EducatingOutsideLondon

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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