Sompting Abbotts Early Years Nursery
This 3-minute video will give you a sense of what life is like for the children in the Pre-Prep and Nursery. Note, children joining the Nursery are under no obligation at all to continue into Reception class at Sompting Abbotts if parents want them to start school elsewhere.
Sompting Abbotts Nursery accepts children from the age of two years. Most parents use their Early Years Free Entitlement from West Sussex County Council. You're free to decide if you want your child to continue into the Reception Year at Sompting Abbotts Prep School or go to another school.
“We’re a small Early Years setting with maximum 18 children on any day so our family-feel nursery tends to suit children who prefer a supportive small-scale environment.”
We’re a small Early Years setting with maximum 18 children on any day so our nursery tends to suit children who prefer a supportive small-scale environment. We also put a big emphasis on child-centred exploration. All our children get to spend lots of time outdoors, with at least one Forest-School style excursion to the woods each week.
Why the Early Years are so important
We're strong believers that good Early Years education has a tremendous impact on life outcomes. The first five years of a child's life are fundamentally important. They're the foundation that shape a child's future health, happiness and development.
Every new experience, every new word, every new behaviour helps a child move forward. Children learn more quickly in their early years than at any other time. We know that they need love and nurturing to develop trust and that this sense of security will turn into confidence as they grow.
“Outdoors is seen as their world and the excellent opportunities offered by the extensive grounds and gardens mean that they can, for example, climb the apple tree every day, see it blossom and come into fruit, lose its leaves and then bud again, and they enjoy eating the apples in the autumn. The teachers share this appreciation of the natural world and build on it to enthuse the children, underpinning their growing appreciation of the non-material aspects of life.”
Our youngest pupils join the Early Years Foundation Stage and remain in our nursery (Pre-Prep 1 or PP1) for two years. Teachers follow the statutory framework to deliver an exciting play-based curriculum, with a balance of child- and teacher-initiated activities.
Fun, play and song
Our children love their weekly singing lessons with our Head of Music. They also join in with the Pre-Prep 'show-and-tell' assemblies as soon as they're ready. We involve them in school life from the start so they take part in our Sports Day, Harvest Festival and Christmas Nativity too.
When they're ready, they take their first steps in learning to read and write. We'll introduce your child to phonics, reading and number and topic-based learning. Our bright and secure classroom is a stimulating area with lots of equipment for dressing up fun, messy and sensory free play, painting, role-play, reading and creativity.
If you go down to the woods today...
Children at our nursery near Worthing, Lancing and Steyning enjoy at least one weekly excursion into our 'outdoor classroom' – our woods and grounds – for forest school-style activities to learn about wildlife and the change of seasons. We're right in the South Downs National Park and they get to build dens, go on mini-bug hunts, collect conkers and pine cones and see how the seasons change. If it's wet or cold, we simply wrap up and put our wellies on!
Learning about nature is part of everyday life at Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School, where we strongly support the ethos of the Forest School movement. The school uses its 30 acres of grounds, mature woodland, conservation ponds and wild areas as one big outdoor classroom that is adapted to nature and Forest-School-style lessons.
“I can see one!” Nursery children spotting trains in the distance from the gate of the their walled garden play area!
Nursery near Worthing, Lancing and Steyning
Sompting Abbotts is a nursery in the Worthing area that offers the Extended Free Entitlement of 30 hours to all eligible children aged two, three and four years.
FAQs
What time is the nursery open?
We're open each week day from 8.30am to 3.15pm during term times. Parents can choose how many days or half days they want their child to attend, and if they want them to stay for a home-cooked lunch.
What areas does the nursery draw children from?
The nursery is near Worthing, Lancing and Steyning. Most children tend to come from these areas, It's housed in the school's Pre-Prep building, The Stables.
What about outdoor play?
We think we offer some of the best outdoor play facilities for nursery children in Sussex. Our safe Walled Garden contains wooden climbing apparatus, bikes and scooters, sandpit and playhouse, plus fruit trees (good for shade in summer!). The extensive grounds provide woodland, a pond and field walks as ideal settings for forest-school fun and outdoor learning.
How is the nursery regulated?
We're inspected regularly by Ofsted. We've two qualified teachers working in the EYFS and three part time teaching assistants with Early Years qualifications.
Does my child need to wear the uniform?
No, that's up to you. We do ask your child to wear our practical red tracksuit top and trousers (and to supply wellies). Some children do like to wear the uniform to be 'like the older ones'. We have regular second-hand uniform sales at school.
What are the costs?
● We accept the full 15/30-hours WSCC Free Entitlement (+ £2.80 per day if you’d like your child to stay for a home-cooked lunch)
● 9am - 3.15pm: £60.75 per day; 9am - noon: £29.16; noon - 3.15pm: £31.59
● You can also drop your child off to our Early Room from 8am or collect from the Late Room until 4.30pm at no extra charge (please see below).
What if I need to drop off my child earlier or collect later?
Free wrap-around care is available to our Nursery and Pre-Prep pupils. The Early Room is staffed from 8am and the Late Room until 4.30pm. If you're delayed after this time, your child will be taken to the Main School Library for supervision. There is no extra charge for this.
My child hasn't mastered toilet-training yet and still needs a sleep in the day.
We are aware children develop differently and we look after them and help them learn. We do ask parents to provide nappies, wipes or spare pants. A cosy cushioned area is available for children who require day-time naps.
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Our insight
Here's our Nursery Leaflet
Download it as a PDF to have all your questions answered and find out more about the nursery facilities
Following our earlier announcement in July of the shortlisted entries for the Independent Schools of the Year 2023 awards, we're delighted Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School has been selected as a Finalist in the Independent School of the Year for Environmental Achievement category.