Welcome to The Little Courtiers : Hampton Court House Pre-Prep School including Nursery and Reception classes
A Leading Private Nursery and Pre-Prep School in Hampton, Ages 2-5
A very warm welcome to The Little Courtiers section of our website. We are delighted that you are interested in our exceptional Nursery and Pre-Prep School, , designed specifically for children aged 2 to 5 years old. Nestled on the edge of Bushy Park, our bespoke Early Years programme provides a nurturing and inspiring environment where we take children on a journey of exploration and education.
At Hampton Court House School, we offer a unique and carefully blended approach, combining the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with the Forest School approach. This ensures that every child benefits from a well-balanced mix of indoor and outdoor learning fostering curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of discovery. The most wonderful part of our Nurswey and Pre-Prep School is that our curriculum is child-centred and tailored to each individual. This enables children to learn at their own pace, develop essential skills, and lay a strong foundation for future education.
Expert Leadership in Early Years Education
Heading our outstanding Nursery and Pre-Prep team in the Little Courtyard is Imogen, a highly experienced and passionate Primary school leader with over 20 years in education and more than seven years in senior leadership. Her background spans teaching across all primary phases, leading curriculum development, and driving whole-school improvement in areas such as reading, phonics, and assessment. Imogen has held key roles including Assistant Head for Teaching & Learning and Assistant Head for School Improvement, where she successfully raised standards and supported both staff and pupils to thrive. Her collaborative, child-focused approach ensures that every child receives the best possible start to their education. Imogen is also a trained writing moderator and has delivered high-impact CPD (Continuing Professional Development) to teachers and parents alike. She joined our team with a strong track record of creating happy, inclusive, and high-achieving learning environments with the highest standards of care. Imogen is supported by our exceptional, dedicated Nursery and Pre-Prep team who share her belief in nurturing a love of learning from the very beginning.
Our Nursery and Pre-Prep Classes
We welcome children from 2 years old into our Pre-Nursery class, where they embark on their early learning journey in a stimulating, play-based environment. Our Pre-Nursery class is a mixed-age setting for 2 and 3-year-olds, encouraging social learning and interaction as children are enabled to learn from each other. In this phase, we prioritise children’s wellbeing, communication, and physical development. As they grow, they transition into our Nursery class, where child-led exploration continues to be at the heart of learning, supported by expert teaching and enriching activities.
Throughout Nursery and Pre-Prep, children benefit from specialist lessons and a combined, bespoke EYFS curriculum which ensures exceptional preparation for their next stage of learning. Nursery is a play based, child-centred approach combined with a balance of adult-led interactions, focusing on exploration through play and finding children’s intrinsic motivation through their interests to nurture confidence, independence, and a love of learning. In our Nursery and Pre-Prep, literacy and numeracy are embedded into daily learning through engaging activities.
When children reach the academic year in which they turn five, they move into our Reception class, where they engage in a more structured yet holistic learning approach.Our Reception class follows an accelerated phonics and reading programme that builds early literacy skills and fosters a passion for books. In Mathematics, we use the White Rose curriculum, which introduces fundamental concepts through hands-on experiences and interactive games.
Our enriching school day
Our school day starts at 8:30 am and ends at 3:15 pm for all Nursery and Pre-Prep children, with optional wraparound care (before and after school provision) available from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm – details of which can be obtained from our Admissions team. We also offer a variety of enriching extracurricular activities, including French, Forest School, ballet, and music. From Nursery age, children also have the opportunity to take up additional musical instruments and join clubs, encouraging creativity and self-expression from the earliest years.
