Our Early Years provision encompasses the very best of The Curiosity Approach in Little Griffins, and an exceptional outdoor Forest School Nursery with Wild Griffins, which will launch in September 2024. Children are welcome to join Little Griffins from 2.5 and Wild Griffins from 3 - children are welcome to mix and match their days across the two settings.
To book a time to visit our settings, please contact admissions@westhillpark.com.
Little Griffins
Little Griffins is our wonderful Curiosity Approach® accredited Early Years setting, where we pride ourselves on creating an engaging, calm and tranquil environment where children can build their own play using authentic materials that mirror the home. The Curiosity Approach® is a modern-day approach to Early Childhood. It’s a beautiful recipe book of wonderful ingredients, carefully mixed together with experience, passion and a love of Early Childhood.
Children who join Little Griffins have the opportunity to experience all the school has to offer, from swimming in our on-site pool, to weekly Forest School, specialist music classes, French, PE and the opportunity to take riding lessons at the on-site stables.
They have their own playground, but enjoy lunch in the main dining hall, with beautifully prepared fresh meals, real knives and forks and open cups.
Children are welcome from 2.5 years old.
Wild Griffins
Wild Griffins is our 100% outdoor Forest School provision. Led by Miss Allen our Forest School Leader, Wild Griffins will open in September 2024, with taster days organised on Fridays in the summer term.
Set within 25 acres of grounds, Wild Griffins will have its own designated area, with a Yurt being put in place for the most extreme weather conditions. Wild Griffins will initially have space for 12 children.
Children in a forest school environment experience nature first-hand, they witness the changing of the seasons and get caught up in the wonder those changes bring about. Our Wild Griffins will be able to harness the power of the outdoors and use it to help them understand science, numeracy, literacy, working as part of a team, problem-solving, risk-taking and so much more.
Children are welcome from 3 years old Monday - Thursday, with an additional session for 2.5-3 year olds on a Friday.
EARLY YEARS (Nursery & Reception) FEES AND CHARGES from 1st September 2024
West Hill Park School participates in the Government’s Early Years Funding Scheme (EYE), which provides children aged between 3 and 5 years with 15 free hours of education per week. All participation is in the form of sessions as listed below:
| Little Griffins Sessions | Wild Griffins Sessions | ||||
| Start | Finish | Start | Finish | ||
| Full morning with lunch | 08.20 | 13.00 | Monday - Thursday Full day | 08.20 | 15.30 |
| Afternoon session without lunch | 13.00 | 15.30 | Fridays Half Day | 08.20 | 13.00 |
| Full Day | 08.20 | 15.30 | |||
| *Minimum of four sessions per week | |||||
We offer before and after-nursery wraparound care from 07:30 until 18:00 for those who need it. We also run Club WHP, a holiday club for children from any school from EYFS to Year 8, run by teachers and support staff from West Hill Park School. Club WHP runs during the majority of the school holidays to cover ~48 weeks per year.
Any hours attended in excess of the 15 free hours are charged at the rate of £10 per hour, which is also the hourly rate for children who are too young to be eligible for the 15 free hours. The core sessions include swimming, French, Music and Dance, which are taught by qualified specialist staff. An enhanced provision fee of £4 for every free hour claimed by children eligible for the EYE funding will therefore be charged. The school adopts a flexible approach to attending sessions. Parents should contact the Head of Early Years with any requests in the first instance. Extra sessions, where available, are charged in arrears at the rate of £10 per hour.
For more information on fees, please click here.
All sessions include activities (except riding), lunch, and healthy snacks.
Please contact admissions@westhillpark.com to enquire about availability
Little Griffins Nursery
| From 2.5 Years |
| Curiosity Approach Accredited |
| Swimming, French, Music, Gym and Dance all taught by specialist teachers |
| Set on 20 acres of beautiful grounds, 3 miles from the beach |
| On-site stables with riding lessons available |
Wild Griffins Nursery
| From 3 Years Monday - Thursday, 2.5 years Friday Mornings |
| 100% Outdoor Setting |
| Yurt for extreme weather and shelter |
| Set on 20 acres of beautiful grounds, 3 miles from the beach |
| Led by Miss Allen - Forest School Leader |
| On-site stables with riding lessons available |