Address: The Little Courtyard, Hampton Court House, Richmond upon Thames KT8 9BS
Website: hamptoncourthouse.co.uk/the-little-courtiers-early-years
Founded: 2001 (Hampton Court House)
Pupils: 30, co-ed
Ages: 2-5
Termly Fees: £5,993-£6,936. 15 hour funding accepted
Head Teacher: Imogen Stone, head of early years at Hampton Court House
Religious Affiliation: Non-denominational
Entrance Procedure: Selective; candidates invited to trial days
Contact: Dale Cash, head of admissions; [email protected] or 020 8614 0857
School Visits: Open mornings held fortnightly during term-time
The Curriculum
The Little Courtiers enjoys a bespoke, child-centred curriculum where each child is motivated to learn through their interests. The nursery combines the EYFS with Forest School and draws from Montessori and Reggio Emilia pedagogy, which focuses on the holistic child as an individual. Small class sizes, broken down further in lessons such as phonics, enable every child to learn at their own pace from an early age. Early French immersion programme to year four enhacing language literacy, cognitive development, problem-solving and creativity.
Games & The Arts
Beautiful parkland campus where children can be children and outdoor play and learning are central to development. Sports and the arts are a focus in the curriculum through specialist lessons like PE, music and ballet, which are integrated into the curriculum at an early age supporting physical, emotional and cognitive growth. Clubs start from age four, e.g. mini athletics, art and design, lego club, LAMDA.
Pastoral Care
Through parent partnership, The Little Courtiers uses a combined approach, utilising the EYFS, a positive behaviour management system, and Jigsaw, a PSHE programme. Every child is treated as a unique individual. They are taught to express themselves well, regulate their emotions, resolve conflict in a positive way, have manners, recognise the importance of their voice and to assert it in a respectful way. Safeguarding is key to excellent pastoral care.
Head Teacher’s Philosophy
We place the child and their families at the centre of every decision we make. We think of early years as a nurturing springboard to ensure children have the best start in life. It is our responsibility to foster a sense of awe and wonder of the world.
Outstanding Characteristics
The Little Courtiers pre-prep at Hampton Court House stands out for its passionate staff dedicated to early years’ education. Beautiful grounds encourage outdoor exploration and our child-centred approach and bespoke curriculum nurture a love for learning. Children thrive, making remarkable progress from their starting points, cultivating happiness and a positive learning environment. It’s a perfect springboard for automatic entry to our prep school as children are already known and nurtured, maximising their potential for academic and individual development as they move through each school year.
