Children grow into happy and fulfilled individuals at Bedales Pre-prep, and this starts in the Nursery.

The Nursery at Bedales Pre-prep is set in a beautiful converted barn with light, airy spaces that allow for multi-purpose areas, role play and creative activities.

Set on staddles, the barn was built single-handedly by Edward Messingham - then a woodwork teacher at Bedales Prep School - in 1925. Intended as a space for craft work to be used by pupils at both Bedales Senior and Prep, the barn symbolised the school’s commitment to art and craft. Since 2006, it has been home to the Bedales Pre-prep Nursery.

Today, the barn overlooks the Bedales Pre-prep Orchard and has its own garden, which we use all year round. Outdoor learning is embedded in the Bedales culture and children have regular access to all the fabulous facilities that the Bedales estate has to offer, including regular trips to see the chickens, pigs and sheep!

Life at Bedales Pre-prep Nursery

The Nursery at Bedales Pre-prep runs from 8.30am until 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, in term time only. The morning session begins at 8.30am and finishes at 11.45am. The afternoon session begins at 12.45pm and finishes at 3.30pm. Children who attend both the morning and afternoon sessions eat lunch with staff in the dining hall at 11.45am.

Our Nursery teachers offer a nurturing environment designed to maximise wellbeing and personal development, with indoor and outdoor activities that allow the children to have multi-sensory first-hand experiences that make learning fun and exciting. The children also have weekly specialised sessions for languages, music and PE.

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Music lesson at Dunannie Nursery

Joining Bedales Pre-prep Nursery

Children join the Nursery from the age of three. For children to get the most out of their experience at Nursery, we recommend they attend for a minimum of four full days.

From the term after a child turns three, the 15 hours of free education funded by the government is only available in the afternoons for those children who attend Nursery in the morning. To be eligible for the full 15 hours, a child would need to be at the Nursery for at least four full days.

Information about Nursery fees is available on the Fees page.

Find out more

If you would like to know more about Bedales Pre-prep Nursery, please get in touch with our Admissions team to arrange a visit.

Email: admissions@bedales.org.uk
Phone: 01730 711558