Your guide to life at Wellesley Nursery

The nursery is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday, giving families flexibility around work and other commitments.

You can register your child at any time. We recommend registering as soon as you are ready so that we can discuss your preferred start date and support a smooth transition.

Register your child

Tours can be booked by calling the school or sending an email. During the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the nursery, meet staff, and ask any questions about our approach and facilities.

Feel free to call Issy Langly-Smith, our registrar to start with, or you can email her on registrar@wellesleyprep.co.uk and she can talk you through the admissions process.

Alternatively you can submit an online enquiry form, book a tour, or attend an Open Day. Following this, your child will be invited to join us for an informal taster session to help us understand how they learn best.

View Admissions Journey

A small contribution towards transport costs may be requested to help cover expenses.

All trips are carefully planned with appropriate staffing, transport, and child-to-adult ratios to ensure every child is safe and enjoys the experience.

Some examples of trips include –

• Hartley Wintney High Street – learning about road safety
• Chineham Library – promoting literacy and a love of books
• All Saints Church – exploring RE and cultural understanding
• Wellington Riding – developing community awareness

Our nursery trips are designed to enrich children’s learning through real-world experiences, linking directly to key areas of the curriculum. Trips help children explore new environments, develop confidence, and make meaningful connections with what they are learning in nursery.

Our Oaks (Pre-School) group gently develops skills needed for Reception through structured learning, play, and social development. With individual support and purposeful play, children are confident, independent, and ready for the next stage of their education.

Yes. In addition to outdoor play, children benefit from specialist teaching in PE, swimming, and music, taking advantage of the school’s excellent facilities and expert staff.

Absolutely. Outdoor learning is central to our approach, with children spending time daily in our dedicated EYFS outdoor space and the wider school grounds. Children enjoy activities such as gardening, climbing, water exploration, and “Forest Friends” woodland sessions. Muddy boots and rosy cheeks are a daily sight!

Our EYFS outdoor space includes –

• Pirate ship climbing frame and wobbly bridge
• Mud kitchen
• Climb-in sandpit
• Wendy House
• Water exploration system
• Large outdoor wooden blocks and tyres
• Outdoor classroom
• Bikes
• Seasonal gardening beds and herb garden

Children also have access to the school’s woodland classroom and low ropes course, encouraging confidence, coordination, and a love of nature.

Learning is child-led and interest-based, making it meaningful and engaging. Each day combines play and adult-led activities, allowing children to explore at their own pace while developing confidence, independence, and curiosity.

Our curriculum covers –

• Communication and language
• Phonics and mathematics
• Creative arts, music, and drama
• Personal, social, and emotional development

We also place a strong emphasis on physical development, ensuring children move, grow, and thrive with access to specialist teachers in PE, gymnastics, and swimming when ready.

At Wellesley, we believe the best foundation for a child’s growth is expert-supported play with purpose. Our nursery staff foster development by encouraging children to explore through a mixture of child-initiated and adult-guided activities. With individual support from experienced teachers, every child is nurtured to reach their next steps. Learning themes are flexible, reflecting children’s changing interests and embracing spontaneous learning opportunities.

First aid is managed on site unless further medical help is required. All of our nursery staff are pediatric first aid trained, ensuring children are always well cared for. During term time, we have a dedicated school matron to help when required.

Yes, nursery pupils do wear a school uniform. All items can be purchased from our uniform supplier, Perry Uniform.

View uniform information

Yes, we cater for most food preferences and allergies, with all meals freshly prepared on site. If your child has any serious dietary requirements or allergies, please speak to the school so we can ensure appropriate arrangements are in place.

Yes, there is plenty of parking available on site, and it is clearly signposted for visitors.

Yes, nursery children benefit from being part of the Wellesley school community, while still enjoying the warmth and care of a dedicated Early Years setting.

Our nursery is led by a highly experienced Early Years team, including a qualified Head of Foundation Stage and dedicated teaching staff who provide a nurturing and engaging environment.

We maintain small class sizes and staff-to-child ratios in line with government guidance, ensuring each child receives individual attention and care.

Each day includes a balance of child-led play and adult-led activities, allowing children to explore at their own pace while developing key skills and independence.

View a typical day

We offer a gentle and supportive transition. Every family is invited to a “stay and play” session before starting, allowing children to explore the environment and begin building relationships with staff. Many of our families also join our playgroup on a Friday morning which really helps with children feeling at home here.

Yes, children enjoy specialist teaching in PE, swimming, and music, delivered by experienced staff.

As part of the wider school, nursery children benefit from excellent facilities including –

• Swimming pool
• Sports hall with gymnastics equipment
• Performing Arts studio
• Woodland learning spaces
• The wider Wellington Estate

Yes, outdoor learning is an integral part of nursery life at Wellesley. Children spend time outside every day, enjoying our extensive grounds, woodland areas and dedicated Early Years outdoor space, helping them build confidence, physical skills, and a love of nature.

We place a strong emphasis on communication, language, and personal, social, and emotional development, helping children grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, enriched by the Wellesley approach. Learning is shaped by children’s interests, making it engaging, meaningful and fun, while building strong foundations in communication, phonics, maths, sport and music.

Children are grouped according to their stage of development –

• Acorns (ages 2–3) – for our youngest children beginning their early learning journey.
• Oaks (Pre-School year) – preparing for the transition into Reception.

Children can join Wellesley Nursery from the age of two years old.

Yes, there is plenty of on-site parking, which is clearly signposted for visitors.

Yes. The one-way system is only for the school. You may still meet local traffic, including cyclists and horses coming the other way, so please take extra care when entering and leaving the site.

We operate a one-way system for safe access –

• Approach the school via the Wellington Arms Hotel on the A33
• Leave by turning left out of the car parks up to the T-junction

This system helps traffic flow safely during drop-off and pick-up times.

The school is conveniently situated near Hook, with easy access from surrounding towns including Hartley Wintney, Basingstoke, and Odiham.

Wellesley Nursery is part of Wellesley Prep School, located at –

Wellesley Prep School

Bylands Lane, Statfield Turgis, Hook, RG27 0AR

Staying at Wellesley allows children to experience consistency, familiarity, and a strong sense of community, helping them flourish academically, socially, and emotionally throughout their primary years. The school’s inclusive, family atmosphere ensures children feel connected, supported, and inspired at every stage of their journey.

Yes! Wellesley Prep offers a continuous education from Reception through Year 8, providing –

• A nurturing and academically strong environment
• Specialist teaching in PE, music, drama, and swimming
• Opportunities to develop confidence, independence, and leadership
• Access to excellent facilities across the school, including woodland spaces, sports halls, and creative studios

Absolutely! Nursery pupils are a big part of the school family –

• They eat in the main dining hall alongside older children.
• They join assemblies and other school events, fostering a sense of belonging.
• The Nursery playground links with the Pre-Prep playground, so children mix regularly with older pupils.
• Older pupils often visit the Nursery and Pre-Prep to help and play, creating a vibrant, family-like atmosphere.

We make the transition smooth and supportive –

• Children in the Oaks (Pre-School) group familiarise themselves with Reception routines.
• They benefit from small class sizes and individual support from experienced staff.
• Reception teachers work closely with Nursery staff to understand each child’s interests, strengths, and development needs.

Children at Wellesley Nursery naturally progress into Reception at Wellesley Prep School. Our strong Early Years curriculum ensures children are well-prepared, confident, and ready for the next stage of learning.