Pre-School Nursery

The Early Years Matter.

At Lady Barn, our Pre-School is a warm, joyful environment where children feel safe and encouraged to grow.

Learning through play is at the heart of Pre-School life. As children explore and imagine, they build friendships, grow in confidence and begin to develop the foundations for Reception and beyond.

Small enough for every child to be truly known. Big enough to offer rich opportunities from the very start.

A Warm and Purposeful Start

Pre-School at Lady Barn feels exactly as early childhood should: laughter, storytelling, role-play and outdoor adventure, alongside calm routines, gentle encouragement and plenty of time to explore.

Children are supported to grow at their own pace within an environment that feels nurturing yet purposeful. Every day blends curiosity with structure in a way that feels natural and reassuring.

A Team That Truly Knows Your Child

Every child in Pre-School has a designated Key Person — a fully qualified Form Teacher — who holds the main responsibility for children in their class and builds a close, consistent relationship with each family.

Strong Foundations, Gently Built

While play remains central, our teaching is thoughtful and intentional.

Through stories, conversation, practical activities and guided exploration, children begin to:

· Develop confident communication and language skills

· Build early phonics awareness — the foundations of reading

· Explore numbers, pattern and problem-solving

· Grow in independence, focus and resilience

Nothing is rushed. Everything is age appropriate. We believe preparation for their next steps should feel positive, not pressured.

Confidence Comes First

Before children are ready to learn, they need to feel secure. Secure enough to speak up, try something new, make friends and persevere when something feels tricky.

Emotional well-being sits at the heart of Pre-School life. When children feel safe, valued and understood, learning follows naturally.

Part of the Wider School Community

Joining Lady Barn at age three means belonging from the very beginning - with access to specialist teaching, shared school experiences and a smooth, confident transition into Reception.

Each Nursery child is also reserved a place for Reception. There is no need to reapply.

Early Years Funding at Lady Barn

Many families are pleasantly surprised to find that, once funding and Tax-Free Childcare are considered, Lady Barn may be more accessible than they first expected - with the added benefit of a school-led environment and a seamless pathway into Reception.

We’re pleased to accept government-funded hours within our Pre-School, available from the term after your child turns 3 until the end of the term in which they turn 5.

We also accept Tax-Free Childcare payments. Full details of eligibility can be found on the Government’s website: www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

Our team will be happy to talk through your circumstances and explain how funding and Tax-Free Childcare can be used at Lady Barn.