Pre-prep

Reception to year two | Ages 4 to 7

At Windlesham House pre-prep, children bounce into school excited to learn, inspired to explore, and empowered to be themselves. Our warm, joyful community celebrates curiosity, creativity, and care in everything we do.

Where does your child thrive in their early years?

Windlesham House pre-prep is a joyful, spirited community where every child is known, valued, and inspired. Nestled within our broader school community, we are proud of our unique identity as a warm and purposeful environment that balances exceptional academic foundations with creativity, kindness, and a sense of fun. Our children bounce into school excited to learn and are immersed in rich, dynamic experiences every day.

Our dedicated team of teachers and teaching assistants collaborate with passion and precision, adapting provision to suit the individual while maintaining high expectations and joy in learning. Our communication with parents is a partnership we treasure, and one that enhances every child’s success.

“The school trips are great, we even go out hunting for dragons!” Sophie, aged 7

How do we inspire young learners at Windlesham House?

We focus on developing the whole child. Children are inspired to take risks, show resilience, and celebrate effort over outcome. Through initiatives like flexi-seating, they are empowered to learn how they learn best, becoming metacognition masters in the process. This approach fosters independence and self-awareness, helping children take ownership of their learning. They talk confidently about their learning, their wellbeing, and their relationships with staff, which are built on deep trust and mutual respect.

ACE learning habits

Through our ACE (Active, Creative, Explorative) learning habits, children are inspired to be curious thinkers and resilient problem solvers who are unafraid of making mistakes. We celebrate the effort and process as much as the outcome, and this mindset encourages children to take pride in their learning journey.

Active learners

Children engage physically and mentally with their learning through hands-on experiences, movement, and exploration that bring concepts to life.

Creative learners

We encourage children to express themselves through art, drama, music, and imaginative play, celebrating their unique perspectives.

Explorative learners

From forest school adventures to visiting authors and whole-school performances, children embark on journeys that spark imagination and build confidence in expressing themselves in new and exciting ways.

What values guide our pre-prep community?

At Windlesham House pre-prep, our values of curiosity, creativity, celebration of success, commitment, contribution, and care are at the heart of everything we do. We believe young children flourish when they are encouraged to ask questions, explore new ideas, and express themselves in a safe, supportive environment. These values guide our approach to teaching, relationships, and expectations, fostering a community where every child feels seen, valued, and motivated to succeed.

By instilling values such as commitment and contribution, we prepare our pupils to be confident, compassionate individuals who are ready to embrace the next stage of their educational journey academically, emotionally, and socially.

“Children are able to enjoy the benefits of small classes and being taught by inspirational teachers whilst sharing all the big school space when needed.” Windlesham House parent

How does specialist teaching enhance early learning?

None of us can predict what the future will hold for the children, and it is important that we equip them with an understanding of how technology will have an impact on their lives. We have a bank of iPads in the department, and technology is appropriately integrated into many of the lessons the children have. In addition, from Year Two onwards, computing is taught as a specialist subject.

Further specialist lessons in the department take full advantage of the breadth of expertise we have across the school. These include Physical Education, games, swimming, drama, music, cookery, and forest school. This specialist approach ensures children receive expert guidance while developing a broad range of skills and interests from their earliest years.

What age groups does pre-prep cover?

Our pre-prep welcomes children from Reception (age 4) through to Year Two (age 7), providing 3 years of specialist early years education that builds strong foundations for prep school.

How does pre-prep connect to the wider school?

While pre-prep has its own unique identity and dedicated spaces, children benefit from access to specialist facilities across our 70-acre campus, including the sports centre, performing arts centre, swimming pool, and forest school areas.

What makes the pre-prep environment special?

We have purposefully designed calm, open spaces with sage green walls and flexi-seating to support movement, focus, and independence. This thoughtful environment reduces sensory overload and empowers children to take ownership of how they learn best.

Contact our Admissions team

To discover more about pre-prep life at Windlesham House, please contact our admissions team at whsadmissions@windlesham.com or call +44 (0)1903 874700.

Explore our Pre-Prep curriculum

Pre-prep curriculum

Pre-prep co-curricular

Pre-prep wrap around care

Visit Us

There is no substitute for experiencing Windlesham House in person. A visit allows you to see our pupils and staff in action, explore our magnificent seventy-acre estate, and get a real feel for the warmth and energy that makes our school special. Whether you attend an open morning or arrange a private tour, you will have the opportunity to meet our Headmaster, Ben Evans, and our senior leadership team, ask questions, and see why families choose Windlesham House for their children's education.

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