foundations

From 2½ to 5, your daughter will receive all the care and encouragement she needs to flourish. As soon as she joins us in Westbourne, you’ll feel included in her education – we’ll keep you up to date with her progress through regular informal contact, and through our Information and Parents’ Evenings.

In Nursery, our experienced staff give individual attention to each child, discovering their interests and helping to develop them. We focus initially on the ‘prime areas of learning’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum: communication and language; physical development; and personal, social and emotional development. Naturally, these are vital to your daughter’s future success and happiness, and they play a big part in her first school days.

Moving into Kindergarten, in the academic year your daughter turns 4, she will learn more about numbers and letters through classroom activities. She will also develop her physical skills further, and continue to gain confidence and understand teamwork, through indoor and outdoor play. We encourage girls at this age to think about their own health and welfare, and to begin good habits for life.

Your daughter joins Reception in September, at the start of the academic year in which she turns 5. She’s now at school full-time, with teaching that includes all EYFS curriculum areas. We also introduce RE, swimming and French lessons in Reception – and ballet, which started in Nursery, continues.

Other Westbourne experiences include nature study, building dens, and letter and number games in our outdoor classroom and varied campus. By the end of her time in Westbourne, she’s more than ready for the transition to Year 1 in our Prep Department.