Little Downsend Leatherhead

13 Epsom Road, Leatherhead KT22 8ST
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9.3 40 Reviews
  • Little Downsend Leatherhead, Leatherhead
Little Downsend Leatherhead is a wonderful setting for children from the ages of 2 to 7, combining a warm and caring environment with an innovative, playful and vibrant approach to learning.

At Little Downsend Leatherhead, and all the Little Downsend Schools, there is an equal focus on ensuring children are happy, settled and cared for, whilst creating the very best foundation for mastering early learning skills. Class sizes are deliberately small so children benefit from personalised learning programmes and the chance to embrace every subject with curiosity and adventure.

Specialist Teaching is a key part of a Downsend education, with even the littlest benefitting from weekly lessons in French, dance, technology, Forest School, music and games. From Reception, all children visit the main school to make use of the 25m pool, and from 2022 will be able to stage performances in the 200 seat auditorium as part of the main school's £5m Creative Arts Centre development.

Teaching staff are all qualified teachers and are dedicated to ensuring that every Downsend child feels part of the family, is supported to achieve their very best, and is presented with the very best opportunities, whatever their age. Children achieve excellent academic results, far exceeding National and Surrey averages in every area.

All children in Nursery are supported to use technology appropriately, working with iPads and the very best ed-tech apps to support their learning. Little Downsend has joined the Microsoft Showcase Schools Programme and is currently following the Incubator Pathway.

Little Downsend Leatherhead offers flexible options, monthly payments and a pay-as-you-go holiday club.
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Funding & Fees

First Steps (Age 2) and Rising Reception (Age 3):
A full day runs from: 07:45 – 16:00 at a cost of £97.91.
Extended Day runs from: 16:00 – 18:00 at a daily cost of £20.
Little Downsend offers different rates depending on how many half days per week your child will be with us.
Little Downsend offers a 'pay as you go' holiday club.

Please note, that we provide monthly payment options for our nursery year groups.

Contact Little Downsend Leatherhead to get a personalised quote.

Contact Little Downsend Leatherhead to get a personalised quote.

Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Laura Fisher (Head of Little Downsend)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 50

Total Places for Children

  • 70

Age Range

  • from 2 years 0 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00

When Closed

  • Holiday club offered

Little Downsend Leatherhead Reviews (40)

9.3

Little Downsend Leatherhead has a Review Score of 9.3 (9.339) out of 10, based on 10 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Little Downsend Leatherhead has 40 reviews.

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Review from C G (Mother of Child) published on 13 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Really satisfied with the nursery , the teachers, staff and the learning methods
I am happy with the way the connection with the kids and care about them . I would like to pay more attention at kids drinking more water and encourage them to drink more . Also, can push them on eating the food more ,
either encouraging or offering other alternatives. The menu stand has to be changed accordingly and give the parents the opportunity to know the food option the offer to the kids .
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Review from R W (Mother of Child) published on 12 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Excellent care. The nursery is more like a little school than a nursery setting (my children have been in a typical chain nursery setting previously) they have both come on tremendously academically which will leave them very well prepared for school.


They also focus on other useful practical life

skills before school starts like zipping up coats, toileting etc.


There is excellent structure, and the teaching methods seem to create good academic outcomes.


This is not an easy going play group type of environment. There is a strong focus on literacy , reading, writing and maths in core school hours (core hours are 9-3). This amount of structure and focus will suit some kids more than others, especially at the little age of 2.


Overall absolutely excellent. I would not send my child anywhere else!


My only worry is once my child came home with a burn and neither my child or the school could explain where it had come from. The school didn't follow up.

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Review from S C (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have absolutely loved our nursery experience at Little Downsend. Both of our daughters have spent their pre school years there and we have nothing but positive memories. The level of care and kindness is second to none, and the quality of teaching is fantastic. The staff really get to know each child,
and take the time to work with them individually. It's the best possible environment you could hope for!
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Review from N H (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The nursery has been great at shaping my daughter into a confident and happy little girl. They continue to push her to excel in a nurturing and welcoming environment. All the staff are friendly and caring and know each of the children's individual needs and support them all well.
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Review from E G (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are thrilled with the nursery provision for our 2 year old. She's happy and thriving in a supportive and fun environment. The staff are thoughtful and kind and hugely caring. Our child settled remarkably quickly and loves going to school every day. We would highly recommend Little Downsend Nursery.
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Review from Rio J (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Little Downsend Leatherhead provided a truly exceptional transition for our little girl when we decided to switch from a childminder to a more structured nursery setting. We were blown away by the attentiveness and nurturing nature of the teachers, and very quickly our little girl began to flourish
in her new setting. We've now been with the nursery for 1.5 years, and would love nothing more than to stay on for Reception. Sadly it's not financially viable for us, but we feel great knowing we've given her such an excellent intro to what 'big school' will be like. They've really set her up for success, and have gone to great lengths to make learning engaging through clever, intentional play that means she hasn't even cottoned onto the fact that she's learning important stuff. Our funniest and most impressive highlight so far was when our little girl got down from the dinner table and whispered in my ear that 'Wassily Kandinsky is a famous artist' - I'll remember that one for a long time!
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Review from Ianthe H (Mother of Child) published on 2 April 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Friendly and supportive staff I find the school adaptable to the child's needs. Diverse educational offering with exposure to PE, forest school, languages, mathematics phonics etc from an early age. Very understanding and flexible with extended hours if needed at a fairly short notice. The school itself
presents well with all the children in a comfortable uniform.
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Review from Alanna H (Mother of Child) published on 2 April 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Outstanding nursery. I genuinely don't think I could find better care for my 2 year old son. The level of thought going into the tasks and activities is inspiring. The care the children receive is excellent, the grounds are lovely and the resources are new and high quality. I'd recommend this nursery
to anyone.
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Review from M W (Mother of Child) published on 4 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I could not be happier with Little Downsend Leatherhead. Having moved countries and my little one starting nursery for the first time, it was a daunting experience for all. However, everyone at the school made us feel welcome from the very first meet and my little one is thriving. I knew when he ran
in and jumped on his teacher in the second week, he felt safe, loved, and cared for. He now cries when there is no school on the weekend (which is a nice problem to have). I am forever grateful.
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Review from Francesca F (Mother of Child) published on 4 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been so pleased with the progress our son has made at Little Downsend. He has been so happy to go to school and is able to talk confidently about all of the fun learning activities that he has taken part in. The communication from class teachers on the app has been wonderful- we see so many
photos of him and receive personalised comments about his progress at school too. The staff are all very caring and informative and always respond to any worries you may have about your child. My son absolutely loves the playground equipment and forest school sessions too. I'm so impressed with how my son's communication skills and have developed. Not to mention his love for reading based on the great book focus they have each week in first steps. A huge thank you to all of the teachers for their incredible efforts.
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Review from A L (Mother of Child) published on 14 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Little Downsend is a fantastic educational setting. We are delighted with the nursery for our daughter - the staff go above and beyond to look after, develop and engage the children. The level of feedback we receive as parents is also outstanding.
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Review from Paul R (Father of Child) published on 14 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We feel that our child has been really well cared for by the teaching staff and management at Downsend.
He really looks forward to going to preschool each morning, and they have developed his confidence, independence and communication skills immeasurably. Activities are well organised, from phonics,
maths, French, storytime, songs and clubs.
We receive regular, in-depth feedback, and staff are happy to meet and discuss progress and find solutions to issues.
Downsend staff have gone above and beyond to enhance our child's experience and ensure his well-being, and I can't recommend them highly enough.
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Review from H K (Mother of Child) published on 14 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Little Downsend is nothing short of incredible - couldn't be happier with the decision we made to send our daughter there. The staff are so welcoming and nurturing; our daughter's drop-offs have been actually fun since the moment she started. The learning opportunities and curriculum are impressive
with music, cooking and forest school. Little Downsend is fantastic with communication and support, meaning as a parent, there is a seamlessness between home and school. Also, I want to mention their diligence in safeguarding; it has impressed and comforted us since day one. We are very proud to be a part of such a special school community and truly feel we are giving our child the best start in life by her going there.
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Review from K B (Mother of Child) published on 25 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fabulous pre-prep (nursery) with outstanding staff who work very hard for each child.
Top-notch facilities, teaching and extra-curricular activities, my 3 year old loves the French classes in particular.
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Review from N R (Mother of Child) published on 30 January 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All of the staff nurture every child to achieve their best by supporting play led by the children and small group activities. The constant use of the outdoor space in all weathers was great to see, as well as the continuous encouragement to be active by all staff. The setting has fantastic resources
for children. My daughter thrived at Little Downsend Leatherhead.
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Review from A G (Mother of Child) published on 21 November 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All the staff are really kind and loving, we feel very comfortable leaving our most precious boy at Little Downsend. He has settled in very well, and he is even happy and motivated to go to nursery every day. He loves his uniform and we noticed all the learnings our son already has in just 3 months.
He names animals, and colours, and sings new songs and his vocabulary has significantly increased since he joined Downsend. We are really proud of little Downsend and happy with its service in all aspects.
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Review from Nicola D (Mother of Child) published on 17 November 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I can not thank the manager and her team enough for the most incredible turnaround of our little boy who had horrendous separation anxiety in any form of childcare before we began in first steps! From the introduction to the current day, he only cries when he's not going to school, and leaves me at
the door without a care in the world excited for his day. The facilities are excellent, and his confidence, words and learning are amazing. The opportunities offered for him to experience are great. We receive lots of communication and updates on his learning and well-being and have been so impressed with all aspects. Thank you all for everything first steps Leatherhead.
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Review from Lisa S (Mother of Child) published on 16 November 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter absolutely adores this nursery and is thriving. Best decision we made for her by far and she's coming on leaps and bounds every day. The staff are absolutely fantastic as are the facilities. I can't fault the nursery so far. We are very pleased.
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Review from E M (Mother of Child) published on 16 November 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Little Downsend Leatherhead is a wonderful nursery. Our child has settled in very quickly. The staff and communication to parents is fantastic, you get a real sense of what your child is doing and learning. They also offer a wide variety of activities including forest school, ballet, French, cooking
and rugby tots. I couldn't recommend them more highly.
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Review from Alice (Mother of Child) published on 23 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been delighted with Little Downsend since our son started in October 2020. He has been made to feel so welcome and settled really well. We have already booked him in for an extra morning since he is enjoying it so much. Thanks to all the First Steps staff for settling him in well!
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Current Review Score: 9.3 (9.339)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.3 (9.339) out of 10 for Little Downsend Leatherhead is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 10 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.5 out of 5 from 10 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.875 for Little Downsend Leatherhead is calculated as follows: ( (107 Excellents x 5) + (11 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 120 Ratings = 4.875
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 4.464 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Little Downsend Leatherhead is based on 10 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 = 3.75
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 70 number of registered child places is 14. 10 Positive Reviews ÷ 14 = 0.714
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (7)

Meet the Team (1)

Laura

Laura Fisher

Job Title: Head of Little Downsend Joined: 2026

Appointed as Head of Little Downsend in 2026, Laura has a strong background in Early Years, SEN and school leadership. She brings with her a deep-rooted belief in nurturing creativity, curiosity and confidence in every child. Her experience spans leadership roles across independent prep schools, and she is passionate about inspiring a lifelong love of learning through creativity, exploration, play and personalised teaching.


Laura is committed to helping every child thrive and to supporting families in these most important early years of education. She believes in leading by example, continually deepening her knowledge and understanding of education in today’s fast-evolving landscape, where adaptability and innovation are essential.


Laura looks forward to working in partnership with staff, families, and the wider school community to nurture creativity, champion high standards, and continue building a dynamic and inclusive learning culture where every child is supported to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.

Frequently Asked Questions about Little Downsend Leatherhead

What is the Age Range of Children that Little Downsend Leatherhead accepts?

Little Downsend Leatherhead accepts Children aged from 2 years 0 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Little Downsend Leatherhead Open?

Little Downsend Leatherhead is open: Monday 07:30-18:00, Tuesday 07:30-18:00, Wednesday 07:30-18:00, Thursday 07:30-18:00, Friday 07:30-18:00.

How many Children does Little Downsend Leatherhead have capacity for?

Little Downsend Leatherhead has capacity for a total of 70 Children.

How far is Little Downsend Leatherhead to the centre of Leatherhead?

0.4 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Little Downsend Leatherhead to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Little Downsend Leatherhead has an Enhanced Service - more info.