Little Downsend Leatherhead

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!

I have two children who attend (one has moved up to Junior School) and my experience has been positive in every respect. In particular, I noticed that my children's behaviour improved and that they became more courteous. They also seemed to enjoy their time at school more compared to where they were before. They also have an excellent kids club that works throughout most of the holidays.

Our youngest child is currently in Year 1 have been at Little Downsend Leatherhead since she was two. We cannot fault the quality of education that she has received, and every morning she looks forward to spending another day there. All the teachers and assistants that we have experience with are superb, and couldn't be happier! We would have no hesitation in recommending anyone sending their child/children there.

I have three children, one is in Rising Reception, one in Year One, and my eldest has just moved from Little Downsend to the Downsend Leatherhead Main site as she is now in year 2. All of my children are very different and all are thriving and most of all they are so happy. They all really enjoy going to school. So as a parent you really couldn’t ask for more.

The staff at Little Downsend Leatherhead have managed the COVID situation really well. My son has thrived in the past 3 years at the school. The facilities are great with lots of outdoor space and forest school. There are good links for moving to junior school. The classes are small and the teachers fantastic. All the extra activities make this school great like swimming, dance, French, football club etc.

My children settled well into the nursery and are very happy to attend. The children enjoy the activities available. There is good communication between the school and parents. They have managed well in the current difficult situation.

I’ve had two children attend Little Downsend (one still does) and it’s been the most supportive and nurturing environment. Our daughter started as soon as she turned two and I never worried about leaving her, as she settled in immediately thanks to the amazing staff. She’s now the eldest at the school and is a confident young lady who has a love of learning. The staff are all so approachable and they really do go above and beyond. We’ve been extremely happy here and will be sad when our time comes to an end.

Our son joined Little Downsend Leatherhead in September 2020. He was made to feel extremely welcome and has been very happy there from the outset. The progress he has made in a short space of time is fantastic. The teachers are approachable, very caring and dedicated to what they do. We couldn’t recommend highly enough. We also have a daughter at Downsend in the Junior School which is equally as good.

Our daughter moved here three months ago from a local nursery and to say she adores it is an understatement. As a two-and-a-half-year-old, she ran in on day one waving and each day, we are amazed at how happy she comes home, full of the joys of her day. The staff throughout the school are wonderful, warm and welcoming at all levels and the updates we receive really do let us in on the school day. Nothing is too much trouble and we don’t know how they manage to fit it all in. The lessons are varied and fun, including French, music, cookery, stage stars, forest school and the after school club of ballet has our daughter entranced. She has already started to try and read and sound out letters and she is saying the odd French word from the songs and stories they’ve had in French. She has come on leaps and bounds in the few months she has been there. I’m only sad we hadn’t discovered the school for our older child. This place is outstanding; nurturing in its care and philosophy.

Little Downsend is the most nurturing, exciting and welcoming environment. The enthusiasm and care from the staff mirrors the enthusiasm and excitement the kids have towards their learning environment. Everyone at the school cares about every child and they couldn’t do more to help. My daughter is loving her time here and can’t wait to learn more with her friends and move through the school. 10/10 from our family.

The staff at Little Downsend Leatherhead managed the "new normal" very well. With this they enabled my son to have a very diverse and joyful school experience. The small class size is a plus in itself, the teachers / teacher's assistant and all the other staff generate a very positive environment for the children. Next to excellent teaching in a great environment (creative class rooms, wonderful outdoor areas behind the school) all the extra activities make this school very special: various sports (multisports and football club, swimming lessons at the pool at the Downsend Main Site), dance sessions, Forest School just to name a few. They are also on top of introducing digital learning tools into the classroom, e.g. digital whiteboard, online learning tools.

We cannot praise Little Downsend Leatherhead enough, it’s such a supporting and nurturing environment for the children. Our eldest has loved his time in both the nursery and the pre school. He currently attends Reception and goes into school every day with a smile. The curriculum is varied and engaging from nursery through to year 1 with both classroom-based and outdoor learning. All the teachers and staff know the children so well and genuinely care about their welfare. More recently, the COVID management has been incredibly good and thorough. It is a wonderful nursery/school.

My son loves it here, very pleased with the level of care and teaching. Holiday club also very good.

My son has thrived emotionally and academically at Downsend Pre-Prep Leatherhead. All staff members are wonderfully warm and kind to the children. I love that each teacher and teaching assistant knows my son well, and how he is greeted by name at the door every morning. I have always felt happy leaving my son at Downsend knowing he is in great hands.

I have had two children at the pre-prep and the school has done a wonderful job of preparing them for the lower school. We have been very happy with the curriculum and club activities that are offered, and feel that the warm, family atmosphere has helped them to thrive. Going to school is fun for them and they are always happy to attend.

Thank you.

I love this school, they offer a great level of flexibility for parents just wanting to give their kids a taste of school life and stimulate their learning, through to the working parent who needs full time care. My child loves the school and teachers. He has made some wonderful friends and chats constantly about the activities they’ve been doing.

Our daughter joined the Leatherhead Lodge in January 2016 in First Steps and is now in Rising Reception. She has progressed in leaps and bounds at Downsend, and is coming along amazingly with her numeracy and literacy skills. Her little brother joined in January 2018 and has taken to it like a duck to water. We have not got a bad word to say about the school. Downsend’s teaching body is second to none, the running of the school is well organised and the facilities are propitious to learning inside and outside of the classroom. Downsend instils in children the curiosity to expand their knowledge of the world around them, and learning becomes a fun, exciting and engaging process for both pupils and parents.

I have been very happy with my child's progress at Downsend Leatherhead Lodge. It is a very caring and nurturing environment, where there is little pressure and the children are encouraged to do their best.

Downsend Pre-Prep Leatherhead has been wonderful for our elder daughter (4). The facilities are great and the staff are warm and dedicated and it feels like a home away from home. Our younger daughter (2) will be starting in September and I’ve no doubt that she will be just as happy there.