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

2 days ago

One of the undoubted highlights of the festive season is the annual Christmas card competition, where the children demonstrate amazing levels of creativity and artistic talent. Art teachers Mrs Houghton and Mrs Pearson have a tough job every year picking the winners, and this year was no exception. It was multimedia heaven as the children produced eye-catching designs featuring Santa, snowmen, baubles, Christmas trees, snowy scenes, reindeer and wreaths using pastels, watercolours, charcoal and acrylics. Warmest congratulations to our five year-group winners Max B, Lola H, Florence S, Megan B and Cecilia J, and to Max and Cecilia who were named joint overall winners in a very tight contest. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

130

2 days ago

Are you looking for a new school? One which offers a progressive, skills-based curriculum and first-class teaching? Where the children’s health and wellbeing are paramount? We are hosting our first open morning of the new year on Saturday 11th January, from 10.30am-12.30pm. We’d love for you to meet our Head, Suzannah Cryer, members of our friendly and professional teaching team, and take a tour of the school and its exceptional facilities in the company of our engaging Year 8 children. To book a place, visit bit.ly/4fvyVym or click the link in our bio! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

200

3 days ago

With 21 of our boys and girls currently involved with the Hampshire cricket pathway initiative, we’re delighted to have been named among the top 50 prep and junior schools in the UK by @thecricketer Schools Guide for the sixth successive year. The latest endorsement follows a year in which we have secured two @iapsuk national age group titles. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

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3 days ago

Leading figures from six of the best prep and senior schools in the country will champion the benefits of a country education at a special event in February. Educating Outside London will focus on the advantages of a rural education as opposed to schooling in the capital. Marlborough College Radley College Downe House School Hanford School Dorset Ludgrove School #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

4 days ago

The children on our final cookery course of the year don’t need to worry about picking up any last-minute gifts for their friends and family – because they’ve made their own! Heavenly hot chocolate sticks, blissful biscotti biscuits and cracking Christmas chilli jelly were the order of the day, with the children taking great pride in packaging them all up beautifully in charming gift bags ready to take home. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

4 days ago

What a wonderful day of festive fun our Mini Marvels have had. After getting creative with Christmas crafts and taking a lovely dip in the swimming pool, the children decorated Santa, snowman and star-shaped biscuits that they had lovingly prepared earlier to set them up perfectly for some exciting days ahead. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

340

5 days ago

The phenomenal breadth and depth of talent we have in the school was there for all to see as Trafalgar secured bragging rights for the third successive year in the House Performing Arts competition. We were treated to a dazzling and magical display of dancing, singing, instrumental artistry, comedy and music to end the term in vine style, something which underlined not only the amazing level of dramatic and artistic tuition our children receive but also the confidence our young people have to stand up in front of their peers and perform to such a high level. Congratulations to joint overall winners Ollie Fanshawe (magic) and Nick Ai (piano) and all of our wonderful performers. Bravo! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #PerformingArts

440

5 days ago

Christmas has come early for our treasured Highreach charity, which provides week-long summer holidays for children with disabilities, as a brilliant £3,200 was raised at our recent winter wonderland. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Christmas #WinterWonderland

6 days ago

With excitement growing as Santa’s big day looms large, the children on our ever-popular cookery course have today been busy mixing, measuring, pouring and whisking; producing some amazing (and very tasty!) edible Christmas gifts such as this delightful shortbread, complete with a lovely hint of cinnamon! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Cookery

280

6 days ago

The art room was transformed into a veritable Christmas wonderland today, thanks to the lovely people from Feltybeecrafts. We couldn’t have wished for a better start to our busy festive holiday activities programme as the children turned their hands to the intricate techniques of needle felting, marbling and beading to produce amazing seasonal robins, snowflakes, candy canes, wreaths and flower pots which will undoubtedly take pride of place in their homes this Christmas. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #CreativeCrafting #ArtsAndCrafts

150

1 weeks ago

Wishing everyone in the Highfield and Brookham community a very happy, healthy and restful Christmas. We hope our little festive video puts a smile on your face.

170

1 weeks ago

This year’s Year 3 and 4 Christingle and Year 5 and 6 Carol Service were truly unforgettable. The addition of our incredible school orchestra elevated the experience, creating a beautiful atmosphere filled with festive music. #CarolService #SchoolOrchestra #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

241

1 weeks ago

Highfield and Brookham was a dazzling display of festive fashion for #ChristmasJumperDay! With a busy schedule of four carol services, two talent shows, and a Christmas lunch, we celebrated a day early. Our children are not ones to miss out on the opportunity to dress up and express themselves. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

790

1 weeks ago

As we race towards the end of term, Years 4-8 came together for one of the most anticipated events of the year – the House Performing Arts Competition. Our children truly outdid themselves, lighting up the stage with mountains of talent, bags of enthusiasm and sheer bravery. Every act was met with rapturous applause from our audience and judges. A huge well done to all our incredible performers for stepping into the spotlight and giving it their all. Bravo!

190

2 weeks ago

Proudly wearing their handmade Rudolph hats, Reception children dined in Christmas cheer today as they were treated to a festive meal by our ever-talented catering team. Laughter, music, and sharing a meal with friends are the perfect recipe for a Christmas lunch. #ChristmasLunch #Rudolph #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

460

2 weeks ago

Santa and his cheeky elf kindly took time out from their busy workshop to visit our Pre-Prep today. The delight on the children’s faces was something truly magical. They instantly decided it was definitely the real Father Christmas because he did not have any string on his beard. Nothing gets past our inquisitive children!

311

2 weeks ago

Performing on stage, no matter how big or small is a huge moment for our children. Year 2 did us proud today during their nativity performance. They truly embraced the opportunity to express themselves, performing with confidence and gusto. A huge round of applause to all the cast and crew for their incredible teamwork to pull off a truly festive performance and for sharing their talents with us. #Year2 #ChristmasNativity #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

540

2 weeks ago

Our pre-prep children have had another tour de force on the festive stage. This time it was the turn of enthusiastic Year 2 to act out A Midwife Crisis, a fabulous adaptation of the Christmas story. Not only did the children recite their lines beautifully, sing their hearts out, perform the actions in time and look the part in their wonderful costumes, but they did so with an immense amount of pride and smiles on their faces. Bravo, Year 2! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

250

2 weeks ago

Kings, queens, mummies, gods and goddesses were the order of the day as Year 4 learnt all about the life and times of the ancient Egyptians. The inquisitive children, dressed in their finest period costumes, got a close look at artefacts of the time, wrote in hieroglyphics, took part in Egyptian-themed games and quizzes and wrapped up a brilliant day with a look at mummification. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

440

2 weeks ago

A charity with a focus on social mobility has received a festive boost to the tune of £3,215. The money, which will swell the coffers of the Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund, was raised at a successful Christmas shopping evening at the end of the November. Albi&Mac Label Lady ROOST Little Fish, Sushi in the Sticks The Hawkley Inn Ellie and Bea Rum Barn Collecting Seashells Ziorva Jewellery The Blacksmiths Daughter Combe Cottage Pottery Thermomix UK and Ireland Tucca Swim Hogmoor Distillery Sublime Body & Mind Suzie at The Old Studio Silk Works London Craftiful Studio The Gay Farmer Noble and Stace Chocolatiers Nettle & Nutmeg Sublime Chocolate Curated Tube #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

2 weeks ago

Our Year 8 children penned and performed a series of short sketches today as part of a Theatre in Education initiative. While their skits, which were played out in front of a young audience of enthusiastic pre-prep children, were highly amusing, they also carried important messages warning of the dangers of bullying and stranger danger while extolling the virtue of good hygiene, kindness and friendship. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

110

2 weeks ago

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

550

2 weeks ago

The theatre was overflowing with joy and wonder today as Year 1 took to the stage to perform their festive play, The Sleepy Stargazer. The children confidently told the lovely tale of a little boy called Philip, who finds himself on an amazing journey to the heart of the Christmas story. Looking every inch the part in their brilliant costumes, they delivered their lines with verve and enthusiasm, took centre stage with smiles on their faces and brought the house down with their uplifting songs. Bravo, Year 1! #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

160

2 weeks ago

We’re delighted to announce that our Christmas shopping evening in November and last week’s celebratory ‘winter wonderland’ netted almost £6,500 for two school charities. The money raised, which included proceeds from raffling beautiful hampers crammed full of goodies donated by stallholders at the festive shopping event, will be split between the Centenary Bursaries Fund and Highreach Holidays. @albiandmac @roostuk1 @ziorva @happyhandspotterypainting @tuccaswim @silkworkslondon @label_lady @ellieandbeahants @rum_and_reggae @collectingseashellsltd @nettleandnutmeguk @tawny_owl_wood @hogmoordistillery @sublimepilatesandyoga @isimi_uk @combecottagepottery @sublimechocolates23 @the_blacksmiths_daughter @thehawkleyinn @littlefishsushiinthesticks @sublimepilatesandyoga @suzieattheoldstudio #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

392

3 weeks ago

Our children receive top-quality sports tuition from qualified coaches who have bags of experience playing competitive sport at national and regional level. Mr Grech, a player-coach at @haslemerehockey who is currently working toward his Level 2 England Hockey award, put our U10 girls through their paces ahead of matches against @cranleighprepschool today. And the drills, which this week focused on controlled passing and precise shooting, paid off with some impressive performances on the hockey pitch. #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

630

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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

New Year, new school?