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.

Request a prospectus

Book a visit

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

6 hours ago

Bushcraft skills in action at our holiday club, confidence, teamwork and a little bit of campfire magic in the woods #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #holidayclubs #SchoolHolidays #Bushcraft #OutdoorLearning

7 hours ago

There’s nothing quite like the moment a spark becomes a flame! At our Bushcraft Holiday Club, the children have been learning how to safely build and light the campfire. Activities like this really help develop confidence, teamwork and a real sense of achievement along the way. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #holidayclubs #SchoolHolidays #Bushcraft #OutdoorLearning

1 days ago

With the excitement of the @themasters in the air, the young golfers on our Easter holiday golf camp have been stepping onto our course with plenty of enthusiasm of their own. The fantastic team from @liphookgc is delivering this fun and engaging course for children from beginner to intermediate level with activities tailored to each child’s individual ability and learning style. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #holidayclubs #SchoolHolidays #golf

240

1 days ago

With the excitement of the Masters Tournament in the air, there’s been no shortage of enthusiasm from the young golfers enjoying our Easter holiday camp. Delivered by the fantastic team from Liphook Golf Club, the course provides a fun and engaging experience for children from beginner to intermediate level and it’s wonderful to see their confidence grow as they prefect their swings. Who knows, we may have a future Masters champion in our midst! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #holidayclubs #SchoolHolidays #golf

2 days ago

Our Easter Multi-Activities Holiday Club at Highfield and Brookham is all about moments like these, sunshine and fresh air, friendships and imagination and the time and space to play and learn. With every day bringing a new adventure, from woodland explorations to creative crafts, there’s always something for everyone to enjoy. If you’re thinking ahead to May half term, do head to our website to book here ➡️ https://highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/holiday-clubs/

2 days ago

Every day is packed full on our Easter Multi-Activities Holiday Club whether that is a high-energy adventure like our zip wire to creative activities, team games or outdoor exploration. Led by our fantastic in-house team, it’s the perfect place for children to build confidence, try new things and most importantly, have a lot of fun. No two days are the same, so there really is something for everyone. If you are thinking ahead to May half term, do head to our website to book via the link in our bio. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #holidayclubs #SchoolHolidays

170

5 days ago

New baby and toddler swim classes! Starting next term, we’re welcoming little swimmers aged 6–24 months. These are gentle, fun sessions with qualified coaches and are perfect for building water confidence at your child’s own pace, whether it’s their first splash or not! Join us for a lovely positive experience for you and your child. And please do share with any friends and family with little ones. Book now ➡️ https://highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/school-plus/swim-school/

6 days ago

From sharpening football skills to diving into dodgeball, basketball and more, it’s been fantastic to see the children getting stuck in, trying new sports and building confidence along the way at our Super Sports club this Easter. With expert coaching, brilliant energy and access to our fantastic facilities, every child has the chance to develop their skills, learn new techniques and, most importantly, have fun. Keep an eye out for upcoming dates, we’d love to see them join us! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #holidayclubs #sports #SchoolHolidays

191

1 weeks ago

From den building and woodland games to nature crafts and balancing on the slack lines, the children have been fully immersed in the magic of the outdoors at our Nature Days holiday club. It’s been fantastic to see the children explore, create and play together in our beautiful woodland setting under the expert eye of the team at Corylus Collective. If your child would like to join us at a future Nature Days Clubs or another one of our fabulous clubs, do keep an eye out for upcoming dates on our website, we’d love to welcome them. Head to➡️https://highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/holiday-clubs/

1 weeks ago

Last term our Chapel Choir tour embarked on an exceptional musical journey to Vienna. The trip brought together performance, culture and unforgettable experiences. We’re proud to share reflections from parents on a truly inspiring trip. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #choralmusic #chapelchoir

210

1 weeks ago

We are delighted that we have achieved the Woodland Trust Silver Award for Outstanding Environmental Commitment. Head to the link in our bio to read the full story. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex @woodlandtrust

250

1 weeks ago

We are delighted that we have achieved the Woodland Trust Silver Award for Outstanding Environmental Commitment. Read the full story below:

2 weeks ago

Wishing everyone in the Highfield and Brookham community a very happy Easter. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #easter

330

2 weeks ago

290

2 weeks ago

This Easter Sunday, we’re looking back on a special moment from our recent choir tour in Vienna. This is our Chapel Choir singing O Be Joyful by Toby Young in St Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #choralmusic #chapelchoir #vienna #ststephanscathedral

561

2 weeks ago

This Easter Sunday, we’re looking back on a special moment from our recent choir tour in Vienna. This is our Chapel Choir singing O Be Joyful by Toby Young in St Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna. We wish everyone a very Happy Easter. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #choralmusic #chapelchoir #vienna #ststephanscathedral

181

2 weeks ago

Wishing everyone a very happy Easter weekend. We hope you enjoy the beautiful sound of our Chapel Choir singing Thy Word is a Lamp to my Feet by Colin Mawby in St Peter’s Church, Vienna as part of their recent tour. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #choralmusic #chapelchoir #vienna #stpetersvienna

833

2 weeks ago

Wishing everyone a very happy Easter weekend. We hope you enjoy the beautiful sound of our Chapel Choir signing in St Peter’s Church, Vienna as part of their recent tour. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #choralmusic #chapelchoir #vienna #stpetersvienna

190

2 weeks ago

We are looking for a talented, hands-on Digital Content Creator to help tell the story of our thriving school community. This exciting role is all about capturing the moments that matter, sharing school life with current families and inspiring new ones to join our community. Working closely with the Director of Marketing and Admissions, you’ll play a key role in supporting admissions and raising the profile of the school through engaging digital content. Whether you’re an aspiring marketer at the start of your career or an experienced content creator seeking a role with purpose and variety, we’d love to hear from you. Head to our website via the link in our bio to download the full job description. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #jobs #digitalcontentcreator

220

2 weeks ago

We are looking for a talented, hands-on Digital Content Creator to help tell the story of our thriving school community. This exciting role is all about capturing the moments that matter, sharing school life with current families and inspiring new ones to join our community. Working closely with the Director of Marketing and Admissions, you’ll play a key role in supporting admissions and raising the profile of the school through engaging digital content. Whether you’re an aspiring marketer at the start of your career or an experienced content creator seeking a role with purpose and variety, we’d love to hear from you. 👉 Download the full job description to find out more highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/about/careers/

2 weeks ago

There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked hot cross buns to brighten a spring day. In Cookery Club, the children have been busy mixing, kneading and shaping their dough, learning about traditional Easter baking along the way. It’s a wonderful hands-on way to explore new skills, build confidence and discover the science behind cooking. Even more special, it’s been a relaxed and happy holiday club, full of laughter, teamwork and friendships. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #holidayclubs #EasterBaking #CookeryClub #SchoolHolidays

111

2 weeks ago

Our Cookery Club has been filled with the scent of freshly baked hot cross buns today as pupils rolled up their sleeves and got hands-on with this much-loved Easter tradition. From measuring and mixing to kneading the dough, every step is a chance to build confidence, creativity and a little bit of culinary science too! Most importantly, it’s been a joyful day of laughter, friendships and holiday fun. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #holidayclubs #EasterBaking #CookeryClub #SchoolHolidays

120

2 weeks ago

There’s hands-on creativity in action at our Easter Crafts club led by @feltybee_crafts as the children explore the beautiful art of wet felting and transform wool into some wonderfully tactile creations. A lovely, calm, creative way to unwind and learn a new skill this holiday. There’s a few places left on some great clubs this Easter, head to the link in our bio to find out more. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #eastercrafts #holidayclubs 3 d

260

2 weeks ago

After a busy term, there’s real magic in the simple things, time to play, explore and unwind. Our Multi-Activities Holiday Club is just one of the many enriching holiday clubs we offer at Highfield and Brookham, designed to keep children active, engaged and smiling all holiday long. We still have one or two places left on some of our clubs this Easter, take a look here ➡️ highfieldandbrookham.co.uk/holiday-clubs/ #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #holidayclubs

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Return to Main Menu

Return to Main Menu

Return to Main Menu

Return to Main Menu

Return to Main Menu

Return to Main Menu

Return to Main Menu

Return to Main Menu

Return to Main Menu

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