St Swithun's Nursery & Preschool

My daughter attended the preschool at St Swithuns between the age of 3-4yrs old and absolutely thrived there. The staff and facilities are exceptional. It was a perfect hybrid of free play with wonderful outdoor space and a regular forest school afternoon, alongside readying the children for starting reception, with introduction of more formal lessons in a range of subjects (phonics, maths, French, music, art, cooking, swimming). I could not recommend more highly.

The care, support and communication were brilliant throughout her time there. We couldn't have asked for a better pre-school experience!

My daughter attended Preschool for two years and it truly helped build the foundations of her wonderful character and give her a determination to succeed in friendships, play and learning. It's such a warm, nurturing environment where the teachers care deeply about each individual little person and understand what makes them tick. The surroundings and equipment couldn't be better, with forest school, specialist staff visits (including French, Art, Music, Science, Swimming, PE etc), it's as if they're attending a mini school built around playtime and exploration! I always felt we were listened to as a family, and they always had time for us and our daughter. Seeing older children within the wider school building also gave our daughter the confidence to face Reception without fear and aspire to be like one of the 'bigger girls' one day. She was a sponge to all the knowledge gifted to her at St Swithun's and I would whole heartedly recommend it.

The preschool at St Swithun's is simply exceptional, I can't recommend it highly enough. Our daughter had been at both a previous nursery and a preschool and neither compare to how special St Swithun's has been for her. The staff are amazing - kind, caring and enthusiastic but it is really the facilities and breadth of activities which set St Swithun's apart. Our daughter did weekly swimming, french, cooking, music as well as early phonics and maths. She loved each day and has been so ready to start school as a result. We feel so lucky she was nurtured and given so much attention - she learnt so much in a year! It's just an incredible place for boys and girls and we haven't thought twice about signing our younger daughter up for nursery and preschool.

Both my children have been through this nursery and pre-school and it has been the best thing I have done for them. They had both previously done the Montessori route and I was in two minds about the shift but this setting is just spectacular on so many fronts. Baby 1, my son, was so ready for school, despite being an August baby, and he developed his love of maths here at St Swiths and it put down such fabulous foundations. He also loved the outdoor space and the nurture and he became so much more confident. I always felt they adored him for him and they valued his unique character. Baby 2, my daughter, is still there. She is a social and physical creature and adores the play, dance, art, and all the opportunity to be with her friends and she is friends with everyone and she loves every second. Forest school, swimming, dancing and performance and the crafts are the highlights for her, but we would also add that the staff are just spectacular. So very experienced and full of creative ideas.

There has been a massive change in our child being interested in what she does at nursery since she joined. She learns, and she is happy to get to school every morning. Thanks to the diversity of activities across the day and the week she never gets bored, and the recurrence of activities week after week have created a valuable sense of routine, discipline and organisation. Well done.

What a fantastic nursery! I really cannot recommend it highly enough. The manager and her team are exceptional - they really care about the children's' development and well being combined with having a sense of fun and adventure. They are always on hand if you have any questions and are very accommodating and understanding. I also feel that they have got my daughter's character spot on with the regular feedback that I get. The facilities and equipment are second to none with a large modern indoor and outdoor area for the children to learn and play. There is a huge selection of activities to choose from - music, gym, dance, science, French, cooking, forest school to name a few, but the real highlight each week is swimming. My daughter absolutely loves going in each day, and sometimes I find it hard to persuade her to leave at pick up!

We have been amazed at the joy and excitement that our daughter expresses after her days at the prep school nursery. She is enthusiastic, inquisitive and always asking when she will be going back. The school curriculum is amazing with our three-year-old having weekly swimming lessons, dance, art and French, which she often recites to us in context over dinner or when saying hello and goodbye to us all. Overall, I could not recommend the nursery enough. The staff are warm, welcoming, assuring and encouraging of all the little ones. The space and facilities second to none and we are in awe of the growth and development we have seen in our daughter in only three short months. The team are amazing. Thank you for everything.

The nursery at St Swithun’s is truly exceptional and I like to use superlatives sparingly. I thought my daughter’s previous nursery was good but it really doesn’t compare. At St Swithun’s they go out and explore the large beautiful campus, making the most of the school’s facilities - our 3-year-old goes swimming, attends forest school, does ballet classes, all on-site with no extra cost. There is excellent wrap-around care - my daughter enjoys making fresh pancakes at breakfast club, and the staff are extraordinarily kind, competent and caring. I struggle to get my daughter to leave some days and I understand why. I can not recommend it highly enough.