Our Pre-School at St Thomas à Becket offers a nurturing, high-quality early years experience for children from the term after their third birthday. Children join our established Skylark class, learning alongside Reception and Year One pupils in a warm, inclusive environment that gives them a confident start to school life.

This is a teacher‑led nursery, led by Mrs Jackson, supported by Mrs Ward and Mrs Priddin, both Level 3 qualified practitioners. Mrs Ward is the key worker for all nursery children, building strong relationships with families and supporting each child’s individual development.

Our learning environment

Pre-School children are based within the Skylark classroom and outdoor learning area, both of which are spacious, well‑resourced and exceed the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Being part of a mixed‑age class allows children to benefit from positive role models, develop strong social skills and feel fully part of the school community, while still receiving age‑appropriate teaching and support.

Our experienced staff carefully plan learning so that Nursery, Reception and Year One children all access teaching and continuous provision matched to their stage of development. This approach supports early language development, independence, creativity and confident learning behaviours.

Parents receive access to Tapestry, giving a window into their child’s learning journey and enabling close partnership between home and school.

Daily routines

Pre-School children enjoy a well‑structured day with plenty of opportunity for play, exploration and discovery.

• Healthy snacks are provided each morning and afternoon.
• Children have a dedicated lunchtime, creating a calm and supportive experience.
• A hot school meal is available at an additional cost, or children may bring a packed lunch.

Children are encouraged to wear comfortable, active clothing suitable for play‑based learning. A school jumper may also be worn if desired.

Sessions and pricing

We offer flexible, term‑time provision to suit family needs:

• Morning session: 8:45am – 11:45am (3 hours) – £19.50
• Afternoon session: 12:15pm – 3:15pm (3 hours) – £19.50
• All‑day session: 8:45am – 3:15pm (6½ hours) – £42.25
• Additional hourly rate: £6.50

Payments are invoiced in advance. Sessions are non‑refundable, and we ask for four weeks’ notice if you wish to cancel your child’s place (not required when moving on to full‑time school).

Funding

Eligible children can access government‑funded early education hours, which can be used flexibly across sessions. Our office team is happy to support parents with eligibility checks and funding arrangements.

What families need to provide

Parents and carers are asked to supply individual consumables such as nappies, wipes and sun cream. Everything else your child needs for learning and play is provided as part of our provision.

Working in partnership

We place great value on strong relationships with families and pride ourselves on creating a welcoming, supportive start to education. If you would like to find out more about our Pre-School or discuss a place for your child, please contact Miss Stobbart or Mrs Jackson—we would be delighted to hear from you.