Children grow into happy and fulfilled individuals at Dunannie and this starts in the Nursery.
Dunannie Nursery 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 transported to Bedales from Aldershot and built single-handedly by Edward Messingham, then a woodwork teacher at Dunhurst, in 1925. Intended as a space for craft work to be used by pupils at both Bedales and Dunhurst, the barn symbolised the school’s commitment to art and craft.
Today, the barn overlooks Dunannie’s 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 Dunannie Nursery
Dunannie Nursery runs from 8.30am until 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. 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.
Joining Dunannie Nursery
Children usually join Dunannie Nursery in September of the year they turn four. For children to get the most out of their experience at Dunannie Nursery, we recommend they attend for a minimum of three morning sessions a week in the Autumn term, four sessions a week in the Spring term, and four or five morning sessions and preferably full days in the Summer term.
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 Dunannie Nursery fees is available here.
Find out more
If you would like to know more about Dunannie Nursery, please get in touch with our Admissions team to arrange a visit.
Email: admissions@bedales.org.uk
Phone: 01730 711558