Holy Cross Prep School | Pre-School Nursery

Pre-School Nursery

Little Sparks Pre-School Nursery

Welcome to our Little Sparks pre-school nursery for girls aged 3-4. Little Sparks is open 51 weeks of the year for All Year Round (AYR) children and approximately 34 weeks for Term Time Only (TTO) children.

At Holy Cross Prep we see our life’s mission as igniting the spark that will change the lives of all our girls – the spark that will become a flame that will define the arc of their lives. Our ‘little sparks’ will benefit directly from our unrivalled grounds in the heart of Kingston, our wonderful facilities and our permanent specialist teachers.

Curiosity, creativity, communication and confidence are the four cornerstones of early education. Everything happens on a child by child basis, with cognitive development derived from every activity. The girls have all the excitement of our eight acres of grounds (uniquely large for this part of Kingston) – our adventure playground, woodland, pond, play village and sports pitches. From getting messy in the mud kitchens to spotting the mini beasts who have checked into our bug hotels, our little sparks will be curiosity personified.

Here we ignite the spark, that shapes the life.

We hope you enjoy exploring our brochure below – please click the link to download the brochure.

Little Sparks Prospectus

Curriculum

In their first year at Holy Cross, our ‘little sparks’ make giant leaps in their personal, social and physical development. Our pre-school captures the imagination of our endlessly inquisitive learners, helping them to take the first small steps towards independence.

The Little Sparks curriculum encompasses The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and more; it provides exciting early exposure to some specialist subjects including art, drama, music, sport, French and Forest School. This broad and dynamic programme is the best possible way of easing your daughter’s transition into the main school, where she will complete the final part of the early years journey. With these robust foundations in place, our Little Sparks will be reception ready and they will fly!

The EYFS has seven interconnected areas of learning and development.

The three prime areas of learning are:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development – self-regulation, managing self, building relationships
Physical Development – gross motor skills (climbing, risk-taking, balance and coordination) and fine motor skills (holding scissors and pencils correctly)
Communication and Language – listening, attention, understanding and speaking

The four specific areas of learning are:

Literacy – reading comprehension (story books), phonics (knowing initial sounds, s a t p i n) and writing (early mark making, letter formation and name writing)
Mathematics – number (1 to 10) and numerical patterns
Understanding the World – past and present, people and communities, the natural world (using technology and computing)
Expressive Arts and Design – creating with materials, being imaginative and expressive

All Year Round Nursery

Our Pre-School Nursery for aged 3-4 year old girls and is open 51 weeks of the year for All Year Round (AYR) children and approximately 34 weeks for Term Time Only (TTO) children. Children can start the term or half term after they turn 3 years old. The all year round provision is closed one week at Christmas and all bank holidays. The term dates can be found on the school website.

All Year Round Provision Fees

Attendance	Start	Finish	Daily Rate
Standard Day* (drop off 8:00-8:45am)	8:00am	3:00pm	£87.40
Extended Day* (drop off 8:00-8:45am)	8:00am	6:00pm	£107.20
* To include breakfast (7:30am-8:00am) add £9.00 to the daily rate.

The all year round provision and TTO afternoon sessions are booked or notified before the first day of the preceding term e.g. to confirm the provision for the spring term notification must be received before the first day of school in September.

The minimum attendance for the AYR provision is 2 full days.

Term Time Only Provision

Attendance

Start

Finish

AM Session

(drop off 8:00-8:45am)

8:00am

12:00pm

Standard Day

(drop off 8:00-8:45am)

8:00am

3:00pm

Attendance for the term time only provision is a minimum of 5 mornings per week and a minimum of 3 afternoon sessions. This increases to a minimum of 4 – 5 afternoons in the summer term, the term before they move into the reception year.

Term Time Only Fees

Attendance	Plus	Per term
5 AM sessions	3 afternoons	£4,476.00
	4 afternoons	£4,571.00
	5 afternoons	£4,762.00

Term Time Only Optional Extras

Breakfast Club

7:30am

8:00am

£9.00

Tea Club session 1

(includes snack)

3:00pm

4:30pm

£10.00

Tea Club session 2

(includes light tea)

4:30pm

6:00pm

£10.00

For term time pupils the optional extras (breakfast club, tea club session 1 and 2) are booked up to 24 hours in advance on the school app, called the School Gateway. Further information and instructions are available from the school office.

Supplementary Charges

For both term time and all year round there are supplementary charges for snacks £55 (£85 AYR) and trips £40. Nursery fees for children below the compulsory school remain exempt from VAT.

Government Funded Early Education

We will participate in the Government’s Funded Early Education (FEE) scheme which enables eligible families to access 15 or 30 hours of funded early education per week for 3 and 4 year olds, in addition to Childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare. More information can be found on the Achieving for Children Kingston and Richmond’s website or families can apply and check their eligibility on the Childcare Choices site 15 and 30 hours childcare support. Childcare Choices.

Parents will need to complete a Government’s Early Years Funding (EYF) declaration form in order for us to be able to make the appropriate claim on their behalf with Achieving for Children Kingston and Richmond. Government funding will vary for each family depending on their circumstances so when the scheme is available, please contact the bursar for further details.

Childcare Vouchers and Tax Free Education

The school will receive childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare payments. Childcare vouchers can be redeemed for the nursery fees, wraparound care (before and after school) and for co-curricular clubs. The government does not allow vouchers for off-site activities such as trips.

Early Years Childcare Funding – funded hours

For children in receipt of Early Years Funding (either 15 or 30 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year), this funding is intended to provide children access to a room, with play resources and the minimum level of adult supervision for that age group. At the Holy Cross Prep School Pre-School Nursery, the funded hours each day are 8:00am-2:00pm. However, what takes place within those hours is far more than what the funding provides. We therefore charge an additional fee that includes a charge for the enhanced level of provision that is the hallmark of our Pre-School Nursery education.

This includes access to a qualified teacher, an enhanced ratio of staff to pupils, a termly trip, specialist teachers providing sessions in Forest School, PE, music, ballet and yoga, baking and all the associated ingredients, two fruit or vegetable snacks per day, an enhanced curriculum that teaches phonics and maths, access to facilities across the main school including music room, sports hall and Forest School. Throughout the year this enhanced provision also includes a parents’ meeting, an annual written report, opportunities for parents to come into school for tea parties, nativity performances, sports day, prize giving and end of Nursery celebration. If you would like to opt out of these enhancements, please speak to the registrar or bursar who will be able to assist you.

Our pre-school girls will enjoy all the advantages of our school – specialist teachers, renowned care, fabulous facilities and grounds. All in the heart of Kingston.

– Mrs Hair, Headteacher