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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What we’re up to

What a fun-filled week it has been on our Multi-Activities holiday camp! The children have enjoyed so many different activities we’re not sure they’ll want to go home! And if you’re looking for things for your children to do over the holidays, we still have some spaces on some great courses. Head to bit.ly/4nIoo8r to find out more. #TogetherWeExplore #SchoolHolidayClub #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep

As our fearless Year 7 adventurers wrap up their unforgettable journey, we celebrate everything they’ve achieved. From braving new challenges and stepping outside their comfort zones, to forging friendships and spending a night alone on Survival Island — they’ve grown, thrived and risen to the occasion. They return in September not just as Year 8s — but as more confident, capable and connected young people. #AdventureComplete #SurvivalIsland #FutureYear8 #TogetherWeGrow #IndependentSchool #PrivateSchool #BoardingSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

The show may take centre stage, but it’s the teamwork and camaraderie behind the scenes that make our productions truly special. We just love these pics of our amazing Year 8s supporting each other every step of the way in their magical production of Grease. #Grease #SchoolShow #BehindTheScenes #Year8 #Teamwork #SchoolProduction #BackstageMagic #IndependentSchool #TogetherWeGrow #TogtherWeEncourage

Grateful for shelter on #SurvivalIsland. #HighlandAdventure #Year7Trip #OutdoorLife #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #TogetherWeDiscover #indpendentschool #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex

Congratulations to all our summer term cup winners! #TogetherWeAchieve #TogetherWeThrive #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Send snacks… they may be stuck forever! #RockSolidFriendships being made on the Year 7 trip to the Scottish Highlands… #HighlandAdventure #Year7Trip #Friendship #OutdoorLife #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #TogetherWeDiscover #indpendentschool #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex

Our Year 7s are enjoying the wild beauty of the Scottish Highlands — making memories, building confidence and forging friendships that will last a lifetime. #HighlandsAdventure #Year7Trip #FriendshipGoals #OutdoorLife #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeLearn #TogetherWeDiscover #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Surrey #WestSussex

While most of our children are kicking off their summer holidays, our adventurous Year 7s headed off on an unforgettable journey to the stunning Highlands of Scotland. They’ll be taking part in a whole host of exciting activities — including a night on their own on Survival Island. We can’t wait to hear all about their epic adventure. #TogetherWeAdventure #TogetherWeThrive #IndependentSchool #SchoolTrip #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Our Year 8 leavers brought the house down with a colourful, comical and downright charming version of hit musical Grease to sign off their time at Highfield and Brookham. And the magical performance, directed by the brilliant Mrs Baird, Head of Drama, was captured for posterity by Simon Drake Photography. #TogetherWeCare #TogetherWeThrive #IndependentSchool #PerformingArts #SchoolDrama #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Just like at Rydell High, school is almost out for our Year 8 leavers. Luckily, @andreakozak.photography captured these wonderful pictures of their spectacular performance of hit musical Grease before they head off for the summer break and onto the next stage of their educational voyage of discovery. #TogetherWeCare #TogetherWeThrive #IndependentSchool #PerformingArts #SchoolDrama #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

We’re delighted to announce that Highfield and Brookham has been shortlisted for Independent School of the Year for Student Wellbeing. Such fantastic news and we are particularly thrilled to be shortlisted in this category as keeping our children safe and ensuring they are happy at school is our biggest priority. The winners will be announced in October. #TogetherWeCare #TogetherWeThrive #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #isotyawards

Pre-prep children today rounded off a busy year of music making with a wonderful informal concert to proud parents. The young pupils demonstrated just how much they have grown since September, both in terms of technical ability with their instruments and the confidence to play or perform in front of an audience. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWePerform #SchoolMusicConcert #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Hot on the heels of breaking a school record en route to winning the senior girls’ high jump title on sports day, Olivia T has now been crowned national champion. Olivia secured a personal best leap of 1.51m to clinch gold at the National Prep Schools’ Athletics Championship finals at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. Warmest congratulations to all of our pupils who qualified for yesterday’s national finals in the West Midlands. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #TogetherWeStrive #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #Athletics

On Saturday, we are looking forward to welcoming guest speaker Carol Murraine to prizegiving. Carol is the chief executive and designated safeguarding lead of the London-based @eastsideyoungleaders, which aims to create leaders of character and purpose for tomorrow’s world, drawn from those most in need in grassroots communities. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeInspire #InfluentialSpeaker #PrivateSchool #Prizegiving #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Teamwork, leadership, resilience and confidence building were the order of the day as Year 4 tackled an array of adventurous activities during their exciting three-day residential at the inspirational Mill on the Brue Outdoor Activity Centre in Somerset. Tunnelling, the Crate Stack, rafting, the Leap of Faith, the Great Wall and the High Ropes saw young leaders emerge as the children worked together to overcome both tricky challenges and, on occasion, their fears. And the result? Year 4 passed the test with flying colours! #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeOvercome #TogetherWeLead #OutdoorLearning #EssentialSkills #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #PrivateSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

The school year may be drawing to a close but there’s no stopping the children’s beloved gardens, which have really blossomed with the spring rain and warm summer sunshine. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeFlourish #GreenFingeredPupils #NoGrowingPains #Environment #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire

Three school records, including one which had stood for two decades, were broken on Sports Day at Highfield and Brookham this year. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCompete #SportsDay #RecordBreakers #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

The stage is almost set… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWePerform #TogetherWeSoar #SchoolPlay #GreaseIsTheWord #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchool #Nursery #PrePrepSchool #PrepSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

With Wimbledon fortnight getting under way on Monday, how appropriate that our green-fingered Nursery children should harvest their very own succulent crop of tasty strawberries fresh from their garden. Now, I wonder where they left the cream… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeEncourage #TogetherWeThrive #IndependentSchool #BoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex #FruitGrowers #InTheGarden

The handiwork of pupils on our extra-curricular Airfix Club has gone on show as part of an annual exhibition. Led by Mr Baker, the club enables boys and girls to get creative with model kits, improving coordination, dexterity, patience and the ability to remain calm while working with small, fiddly parts. The modellers had their work scrutinised by their peers before the model of Year 8 pupil Alex S was adjudged to be the best of an excellent bunch. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeCreate #ScaleModelling #Creativity #EssentialSkills #CountryBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #IndependentSchool #Nursery #PrePrepSchool #PrepSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Kenneth Grahame’s children’s classic The Wind in the Willows has been brought to life in fabulous style today by our talented Year 3 children. The charming tale of Mole, Ratty, Toad, Badger and friends enchanted the watching parents as the children put on a real tour de force with their boundless energy and enthusiasm. Fittingly for Year 3, the tale celebrates nature, friendship, loyalty and adventure, and the children did director Mrs Statham truly proud with their whole-hearted performances. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeEncourage #PerformingArts #SchoolPlay #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #PrePrepSchool #Nursery #PrivateSchool

Despite the end of the school year looming large there is still so much to play for, not least on the cricket pitches where House matches have today been in full swing. Will Agincourt, Trafalgar or Waterloo prevail? We’ll find out next week when the results are unveiled… #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeSupport #TogetherWeCompete #HouseCricket #CoEdBoardingSchoolsInHampshire #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

Nearly 30 years after attending as a pupil, one of our proud alumni returns as a parent. He shares cherished memories from his time at the school and reflects on why he and his wife chose to entrust the same school with their children’s education. #TogetherWeGrow #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #IndependentSchool #CoEdSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

A scheme which helps less privileged children access private education has been boosted to the tune of £26,000 thanks to a fundraising ball. #TogetherWeGrow #TogetherWeAchieve #Nursery #PrePrep #Prep #IndependentSchool #CoEdSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

An unforgettable evening for the audience and performers alike. What a talented bunch – incredible memories to treasure. Big shout-out for Highfest 2025! #TogetherWePerform #TogetherWeInspire #TogetherWeSupport #Prep #CoEdSchool #IndependentSchool #Liphook #Hampshire #Surrey #WestSussex

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