Buggy Store
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Drayton House Nursery School
Where children are encouraged towards making the most of their interests and talents, and to develop their independence
9.9
Day Nurseries
Score
Drayton House
Nursery School
35 Austen Road
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 3NP
Opening Times:
Monday – Friday: 08:00 – 18:00
Drop-Off Directions & Parking
Drayton House Nursery School is located on Austen Road, a central location in Guildford that is easy to find and convenient for access.
There are 2 hour parking bays at the front and side of the nursery school so dropping off and picking up is as smooth as possible.
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Drayton House Nursery School
Founded in 1943, Drayton House Nursery School provides education for children from 6 months to 5 years old and has an excellent reputation as one of the most enchanting, respected and sought after nursery schools of its kind in Surrey, and is well known as a friendly and happy place.
The nursery offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, high standard of teaching, and individual attention is given throughout a child’s nursery journey. Class sizes are purposely small so that the children in our care have the best opportunity to build their confidence and independence whilst learning all the basic skills they need to give them a head start, as they take their next steps in life.
We believe in giving children the opportunity to learn traditional basic skills, both social and academic, while encompassing the values and objectives outlined in the Early Years curriculum. We provide a range of age-appropriate activities to extend and broaden each child’s learning experiences and encourage our children to learn and discover through play, remembering that childhood can, and should, have many magical moments.
We promote parent partnerships and provide updates and photos about your child’s routine and activities. New parents are warmly welcomed and shown around the whole setting so that you can see the progression from class to class, and as part of the initial visit we discuss your child’s individual needs. We will also share with you information about the class your child would join should you choose to send your child to Drayton House.
Nursery Facilities
Meals & Snacks
We provide healthy meals and snacks as well as fresh water and milk. Our menus are seasonal and are certified by a children’s dietician ensuring the right balance of ingredients for the children. All dietary requirements are catered for by our professional chefs.
Outdoor Garden
Our outdoor space offers an environment to explore and develop and provides a place where imagination comes to life.
Fees & Availability
Nursery fees are dependent on the age of your child and your specific childcare requirements. Funding options are available, including the government’s 15 hours funded childcare, and we also accept the Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme and childcare vouchers.
To request pricing and availability, please call us or complete the request a call back form below.
How we learn at Drayton House Nursery School
Babies
- Our Day Nursery offers places to babies between 6 months until approximately 1 year old (walking steadily) and provides the perfect place to begin your child’s nursery journey.
- We welcome and respect parents’ views about their babies, and work with you to ensure your little ones find the transition from home to day nursery as smooth as possible.
- We offer as many settling in sessions as you and your child need to feel safe and happy in a new environment. This is the start of us building a long-standing relationship with your family, ensuring secure bonds between child and nursery team.
- We recognise the importance of music, tactile stimulation, along with songs and stories and offer a stimulating environment and a variety of resources for our younger children to explore, develop and discover through play.
- We promote sensory play from a very young age, helping children to make sense of the world by connecting what they see, hear, smell, touch and feel.
- In our reading corner the children have access to a library of books and stories, music, and rhymes introducing early literacy and communication skills.
- We promote movement and balance and focus on early wellbeing awareness and relaxation exercises.
Toddlers
- When our babies get to the toddling stage and are ready to become more active, they move through to our Transition room (rising 1 to rising 2s) where we continue to build their confidence and develop their independence.
- Our transition for toddlers room is where our toddlers can thrive as they become more independent and curious and it’s a time of exploration, action, messy play and finding out about sharing!
- As children get increasingly active, we provide a range of experiences in order to continue to help them develop their coordination, memory, and social skills.
- We promote physical creativity through music and movement which is key in helping to develop children’s fine motor skills.
- We help the children to begin the process of self-awareness and help our children understand their thoughts and feelings.
- Children have direct access to a selection of age-appropriate reading resources and a rotated supply of educational equipment to encourage communication and develop language and literacy skills.
- Children sit in small wooden support chairs that enable them to sit at a low table at mealtimes, and always assisted by our nursery nurses, independence is encouraged and celebrated as the children start to take responsibility for themselves.
Kindergarten
- Our Kindergarten class offers structured and enjoyable learning activities for our rising 2s to rising 3s.
- Here children continue to develop their social skills as they learn to cope with larger spaces and further independence in their daily routine.
- When the children join our Kindergarten, they are strong walkers. They have a basic vocabulary of words and some simple phrases. Now is the time to continue to build on their movement and fine motor skills, socialising, language development, and independence, as well as having a great deal of fun!
- We feel it is important to offer a range of resources and provide plenty of messy play opportunities to encourage learning through creative play.
- Activities are carefully structured to give children an enjoyable and fruitful time whilst learning under the educational guidelines of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- Circle time is an important part of our daily routine. Letter, name, and number recognition are all integral skills that are reinforced during circle time, while the children also learn social skills such as cooperation and taking turns.
- To continue to build their independence, children learn to put on and take off their own shoes and coats as part of their daily routine. They each have their own named water bottle, and are regularly encouraged to help themselves to a drink when needed. At mealtimes children are encouraged to feed themselves with the team supporting them where necessary.
- We continue to promote early wellbeing awareness to help our children understand their thoughts and feelings.
Preschool – Form 1 & 2
- When children are ready to leave Kindergarten they make the transition from our ground floor classrooms to our upstairs classrooms. Children aged 3 years old will join either Form 1 or Form 2.
- We embed maths and literacy into everyday routines providing opportunities for letter and number recognition. Within the Early Years curriculum, sounds, letters, and numbers are explored gradually, and programmes are carefully planned to keep a balance between energetic and quieter activities.
- An emphasis is placed on art, craft, music, and the use of a wide variety of books, both fiction and non-fiction.
- Children are given more responsibility in their day-to-day routines as well as in their activities to enjoy the ‘surprise of discovery’ and ‘finding out’.
- There is time given to self expression through dressing up, role play and imaginative games and stories. We also encourage the children’s observation, understanding and interest in their environment, and develop their imaginative skills.
- We give encouragement and praise to our children inspiring them to investigate and be curious of the world around them.
- We promote kindness and wellbeing and help our children understand their thoughts and feelings.
- Mealtimes continue to be a social time where the children sit down together for snack times, lunch time and tea time.
Preschool – Form 3 & 4
- In their final year, children from 4 years old, join either Form 3 or Form 4 where they complete their education with us before moving to ‘big’ school.
- Our rooms support ‘school readiness’ through a wide range of quality resources and equipment that promote all areas of the EYFS including maths and literacy.
- For our Form 3 and Form 4 classes, the curriculum broadens and extends, and literacy and numeracy take priority with special importance given to phonics, word building and spelling, reading, and a love of books. Children will enlarge their written and spoken vocabulary and concept of numbers through practical activities.
- Themed, cross-curricular projects are undertaken each term to give the children greater knowledge and understanding of the world around them. Outings are arranged during the year, often linked to the children’s projects.
- We promote an inclusive environment where we take part in a variety of cultural and international celebrations.
- We provide a dedicated space for children to learn in smaller groups, to focus on learning life skills, preparing the children for their next step into school.
Outdoor Space
- In our large garden each class has their own designated area, and children can wander, climb, splash, and run in our outdoor learning area.
- Our children have access into the garden which is essential for healthy development and wellbeing and our outdoor equipment encourages physical development and challenges.
- We believe in the importance of fresh air in the growing process and ensure that our younger babies visit their own soft-surface playground at least twice a day when possible.
- Older children get to spend time making up lots of games in their outdoor huts, climbing in the castle or on the climbing frame, they play with a variety equipment that is provided to encourage all aspects of physical development.
- Our outdoor space allows children to understand and take risks which helps to build their confidence, independence, and eagerness to learn.
- Our children are introduced to important life skills and encouraged to try new things through play and exploration, through activities such as role play, water play and investigative play.
- We promote a ‘grow your own’ initiative, and our garden is used throughout the year to assist with teaching and learning, and children get to plant their own vegetables, herbs, plants, and flowers.
- We use natural materials such as sand and mud to promote discovery and imaginative play.
School Uniform
Our Drayton House school uniform is worn by all children in the school from the Kindergarten class upwards, throughout the school year.
Some of our Drayton House school uniform is only available to purchase directly from the School Office as these items include our logo or are a specific style.
Summer Uniform
Our summer uniform is a blue and white, small checked, dress from a well-known local high street supplier and, for boys, grey shorts with grey, white or red socks.
We also ask that sandals are not peep-toe or open heeled for safety reasons, and that each child has a sunhat for playtimes.
Our Team
Julie Wilson
Joined: 2015
Hi, my name is Julie, my childcare journey began in 1993 after a long career in banking in the City. I graduated from The Maria Montessori Training Organisation in London with a level 4 qualification.
Since then, I have been fortunate enough to work in a diverse range of childcare settings. I have set up and managed nurseries in Dubai and South Africa and have worked in Australia and in Central London.
Drayton House has been providing childcare and early years education to children for many years and I have been privileged to be here for 8 years. We are now welcoming the children of parents who came here as a child themselves. It is such a rewarding experience to be part of such an incredible timeline. I will never tire of watching the children develop and grow in confidence towards the next steps in their educational lives.
Linda Aris
Joined: 2004
After gaining my NNEB in 1989 I worked as a nanny in London until moving to Guildford and having my own children.
I joined Drayton House in 2004 and became room leader of the baby and toddler rooms. It has been a pleasure to have been a part of so many children’s journey here.
I became the Deputy Manager in 2022 and I look forward to a new challenge and whatever the future may bring.
Our Team
Our nursery has a lovely family feel which makes it a wonderful place for your child to grow, learn and play. We have a passionate team, who aim to create something special and different, ensuring all children are nurtured, cared for, and inspired with their individual needs in mind.
We have a dedicated senior team who support the nursery management in striving for delivering excellence by enriching home from home environments with an expertly trained team.
All staff complete comprehensive training, further developing their knowledge and understanding of children’s development, covering all key aspects in keeping children safe.
We can provide advice and support for all our families on a vast range of topics by pulling together our combined experience.
Food & Nutrition
Our delicious, healthy and nutritious food is sourced from trusted suppliers. All dietary and religious needs are met.
Our experienced team would love to meet you and your little one, so book a visit today and we will show you everything our nursery has to offer during your own personal tour at a time to suit you.
Join us at our next Open Day
Saturday 23rd November, 9am-1pm
Call Back Request
If you would like us to give you a call back at a time which is more convenient for you, please fill in the form below.