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.

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Pre-Prep

Prep School

Admissions

What we’re up to

12 hours ago

Underscoring the immense value of school trips, inquisitive Year 4 ‘evacuees’ took a step back in time with a fascinating visit to wartime railway The Watercress Line to add a new dimension to their spring-term studies on the Second World War. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #SchoolTrips #LearningOutsideTheClassroom #VoyageOfDiscovery #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #CoeducationalSchoolsInHamsphire #CountrySchools #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

12 hours ago

Whisper it quietly but it looks like spring has finally sprung. The longer days, rising temperatures and welcome sunshine have sparked a growing frenzy; the colourful daffodils are standing proud, the trees are in bud and the beds are shaping up beautifully. And the beauty of having 175 glorious acres at our disposal means we are lucky enough to have more seasonal splendour than most year round, something our pupils will take full advantage of as they take their learning outside, be it pond dipping in science, calm reading in the trees during English, art classes among the daffodils or drama rehearsals on Chapel Field after the Easter break. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #OutdoorLearning #Spring #PrivateSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #TheGreatOutdoors

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1 days ago

Last Friday’s House Shout was truly incredible and we wanted to share a few more highlights from the event. It took great courage for the children to get up on stage and represent their House. What a talented bunch. #TogetherWeGrow #BeCourageous #PrepSchool #IndependentSchool #CoedIndependentSchool #TeamWork

430

2 days ago

We’ve had a brilliant start to our packed Easter holiday activities programme, with our energetic children really making a splash! After a busy morning getting creative in the art room, playing fun team games in the sports hall and zipping around the adventure playground, the children on our ever-popular multi-activities course cooled off with a welcome dip in the swimming pool. To see what else we’ve got coming up in the next few weeks, visit highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/school-plus/holiday-activity-clubs #TogetherWeGrow #SchoolHolidayActivities #EasterHolidayFun #PrepSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

4 days ago

What a way to finish the spring term with our House Shout. The passion for each house was clear to see as all the performers gave their all and the whole school community supported and joined in. As always it was a very close call, with Trafalgar taking the cup this year. Well done everyone! #prepschool #preprepschool #independentschool #togetherwegrow #teamwork #community

961

4 days ago

What an amazingly busy, inspirational and uplifting spring term we have had. This week alone we have doffed our caps to our latest cup winners, witnessed the joy of Nursery’s Easter parade, waved off our Year 4 evacuees who headed to the Watercress Line and seen battle joined by Agincourt, Trafalgar and Waterloo in the House General Knowledge Quiz and the House Shout competitions. What a brilliant way for the children to head into the holiday break. Happy Easter, everyone! #TogetherWeGrow #SchoolsInHampshire #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #HouseCompetitions #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

190

5 days ago

Displaying a broad knowledge of geography, history, maths, science, literature and sport, an impressive grasp of the world of art, the ability to think outside the box to tackle testing brain teasers and some amazing powers of observation, Agincourt today vanquished rivals Waterloo and Trafalgar to be crowned House General Knowledge Quiz champions for 2025. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #PrepSchoolHouseCompetitions #GeneralKnowledgeQuiz #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire

880

5 days ago

We’re incredibly proud of our strong pastoral provision, which focuses on the emotional, physical and spiritual wellness of not only our children but our adult staff members too. So it’s wonderful to see our Wellbeing Garden shaping up so well, with the onset of spring and warmer weather promoting growth of beautiful plants and greenery. Once complete, we will have a wonderful tranquil and calming space for the entire school community to enjoy. #TogetherWeGrow #PastoralCare #WellbeingGarden #GoodMentalHealth #CoeducationalPrepSchoolsInHampshire

200

7 days ago

The onset of spring and the warmer weather has given our pre-prep children the perfect opportunity to explore the amazing variety of flora and fauna that the vast Highfield and Brookham estate has to offer. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeExplore #TogetherWeLearn #OutdoorLearning #FloraAndFauna #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire

490

7 days ago

Our girls are so excited about the return of the cricket season after the Easter holidays that an impromptu series of friendly (yet competitive) matches broke out on the school pitches and the Astro during the lunch break. With that kind of commitment, we could be in for a very good season! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #PrepSchoolSport #Cricket #SchoolsInHampshire

140

1 weeks ago

The final Cushion Concert of the spring term featured a range of wonderful performances, including solo and duet vocals, piano and guitar solos and some highly entertaining LAMDA performances. Cushion Concerts provide a fantastic opportunity for pupils to perform in front of their parents in a relaxed and supportive setting, creating truly magical moments for everyone. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Liphook #CreativeLearning #Surrey #Hampshire

280

1 weeks ago

Eager pupils have lent a hand – or at least a bucket – to the fundraising efforts of five members of the school community ahead of next month’s London Landmarks Half-Marathon. Read the full story here ➡️ bit.ly/4iEWN59 #TogetherWeGrow #LondonLandmarksHalfMarathon #CharityRunners #CentenaryBursariesFund #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire

250

1 weeks ago

For their final get-together before the Easter holidays, and hot on the heels of the amazing efforts of the Year 5 and Year 6 pupils in their production of Pride Rocks, the children in the prep-prep Theatre Club today put on a wonderful performance of their own featuring singing, dancing and choreography to the uplifting soundtrack of The Circle of Life. Bravo, children! #TogetherWeGrow #TheCircleOfLife #PrePrepTheatreClub #PerformingArts #IndependentSchoolsInHampshire #CountryEducation

141

1 weeks ago

Hats off to our lovely Nursery children who got the final week of the spring term off to the best possible start today with a wonderful Easter bonnet parade in our fabulous woodland. #TogetherWeGrow #EasterBonnetParade #SchoolsInHampshire #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Nursery #PrePrepSchool #PrepSchool #IndependentSchool

480

2 weeks ago

Our Year 7 pupils have this week learned the importance of teamwork, togetherness and communication when it comes to playing competitive team sports. #TogetherWeGrow #Teamwork #TogetherWePlay #CoedBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Sport

530

2 weeks ago

What an amazing week we’ve had on the theatrical stage. Our Year 5 and Year 6 children have excelled themselves with no less than six extraordinary performances of Pride Rocks. Under the direction of Mrs Baird, our exceptional Head of Drama, the children recited their lines, danced and sang with immense pride, passion and expertise, supporting each other every step of the way as the powerful tale unfolded. Grateful thanks to Aldro for providing the zebra and giraffe heads and Cranleigh School for supplying the stunning masks. #TogetherWeGrow #PrideRocks #SchoolsInHampshire #PerformingArts

475

2 weeks ago

Having performed in front of their upper prep school peers today, our Year 5 and Year 6 children are now halfway through the six scheduled performances of their spectacular, atmospheric and dramatic stage show, Pride Rocks. And the general consensus so far? It’s been a roaring success! #TogetherWeGrow #StageShow #MusicalTheatre #PrideRocks #PrepSchoolTheatre #PerformingArts #CoeducationalSchoolsInHampshire

861

2 weeks ago

Bubbles, bears, biscuits and books were the order of the day for our Nursery children today. The excited children took full advantage of the warmer weather and blue skies to head outside and have fun with their friends at a wonderful teddy bears’ picnic; chasing bubbles, eating tasty bear-shaped snacks and listening to Mrs Horn read captivating stories out in the fresh air. #TogetherWeGrow #TeddyBearsPicnic #OutdoorLearning #Books #TheGreatOutdoors #SchoolsInHampshire

130

2 weeks ago

The girls’ football season continued apace today with the visit of our friends from St. Edmund’s School, Surrey. Our U13, U12, U11 and U10 girls were in fine form under mercifully sunny skies, demonstrating just how much they have improved in the past month. The girls will wrap up their season against Aldro on Saturday before turning their attention to cricket after the Easter holiday. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWePlay #PrepSchoolSport #GirlsFootball #GrassrootsFootball #SchoolsInHampshire

210

2 weeks ago

It’s always such a thrill for our pre-prep children to see the ducklings in their care head outside for a swim in the sun before they head off to their new homes. #TogetherWeGrow #AnimalMagic #DucklingsMakeASplash #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery

471

2 weeks ago

From crime scene investigation to the benefits of healthy eating and from fascinating trips to the Science Museum and Natural History Museum, London to a feast of forensics, our inquisitive children immersed themselves fully in British Science Week. #TogetherWeGrow #Science #CrimeSceneInvestigation #STEM #WeLoveScience #SchoolsInHampshire #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire

2 weeks ago

Year 7 have taken inspiration from the work of JMW Turner, who was best known for his expressive colouring and imaginative landscapes. Working on a theme of abstract seas and skies, the young artists covered repurposed canvases with scraps of paper to create texture before clever use of primary colours, complemented by whites for tone and black for shade, added real emotion to the children’s artwork. #TogetherWeGrow #CreativeArts #InspiredByFamousArtists #ExpressiveArtwork #SchoolsInHampshire

261

2 weeks ago

Experimental artists in Year 3 have been busy mixing primary colours in the art room today to produce secondary colours. The children discovered that mixing red, blue and yellow in pairs produced vibrant hues of orange, purple and green which they could use to add a real splash of colour to their clay faces. #TogetherWeGrow #Art #Creativity #Painting #SchoolsInHampshire

100

2 weeks ago

We were delighted today to welcome back professional photographers @gillmanandsoame to capture for posterity our prep school sports teams. #TogetherWeGrow #PrepSchoolSport #InTheFrame #SayCheese #SchoolsInHampshire #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire

960

3 weeks ago

Year 4 pupils today learnt some amazing facts about giant tortoises. As part of a weekly initiative where the children are encouraged to bring something unusual or interesting into class to spark healthy discussion and broaden their knowledge, George T brought in his sulcata tortoise. The children discovered that ten-year-old Boris, who is still only a baby, hails from north Africa, is a herbivore and could weigh up to 90lbs (40 kilos) when fully grown. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #SulcataTortoise #AnimalMagic #HealthyDiscussion #FascinatingFacts #SchoolsInHampshire

150

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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