Starting at The Nestlings
A little person's next big adventure.
Starting kindergarten is a big milestone — for children and their grown-ups.
We want the journey into Nestlings to feel exciting, reassuring and unhurried. From your first visit to those first few weeks with us, we'll take the time to get to know your child and help them feel safe, confident and, most importantly, that they belong.
Your Journey to Nestlings
1. Register Your Interest
If you'd like your child to join The Nestlings, the first step is to complete our Register Your Interest form.
This adds your child to our waiting list for their age group and preferred start term.
Register your interest →
2. Come and Meet Us
Families on our waiting list are invited to our Open Days.
It's your opportunity to explore the setting, meet some of the people who make Nestlings what it is, ask questions and get a real feel for how we spend our days.
Attending an Open Day isn't compulsory in order to be offered a place — but we really recommend it.
Nestlings is a little different. It's much easier to understand us once you've seen us.
3. Receive Your Offer
When a place becomes available within your child's age group, we'll contact families in waiting-list order.
Your offer email will explain everything you need to do and the timeframe for accepting your child's place.
Places are subject to availability and joining our waiting list does not guarantee that a place will become available for your preferred start date.
4. Secure Their Place
Once you've received an offer, a £150 non-refundable Placement Fee is payable within three working days to secure your child's place.
The term before your child is due to start, we'll contact you about your preferred attendance pattern and confirm their available days and start date.
5. Get Ready to Become a Nestling
This is when it starts to feel real.
We'll gather all the important information we need to care for your child, introduce you to life at Nestlings and invite you to our complimentary Tuesday morning Stay & Play settling sessions.
These give your child opportunities to explore, meet the adults and become familiar with the environment before their first proper day.
And then...
it's time to become a Nestling. 🌿
Settling In, Their Way..
Because no two children start in quite the same way.
Some children run through the gate without looking back.
Others need a little longer to decide that we're their people.
Both are completely okay.
We take time to learn about the child behind the registration form — their interests, routines, favourite things, important people, comfort needs and all the little details that help us understand who they are.
Our aim isn't simply for children to stop being upset at drop-off.
It's for them to develop genuine relationships with the adults and children here, feel secure in their surroundings and eventually arrive knowing:
this is my place too.
Before Their First Day
Before your child joins us, we'll make sure we have all of the information we need to keep them safe, happy and well cared for.
This includes their emergency contacts, medical and allergy information, dietary requirements, permissions, funding information where applicable and details of any additional needs or professionals already involved with your child.
We'll also want to know the things that don't fit neatly onto a form — what they love, what they avoid, what comforts them, what makes them laugh and anything else you think will help us get to know them.
Wondering what they'll need?
From wellies and waterproofs to spare clothes, lunches and everyday essentials, we've put everything together in one place.
Stay & Play Before They Start
During the term before your child's start date, they'll be invited to our complimentary Tuesday morning Stay & Play sessions.
These sessions give children the chance to become familiar with Nestlings gradually — exploring the environment, beginning to recognise familiar faces and getting a taste of our routines while they still have their grown-up close by.
Families are also very welcome to join our weekly Parent & Toddler Group, held every Friday from 9:30am–11:30am for children aged 0–4 years.
Their Key Person
One special relationship, within a whole community of people who know them.
Every child at Nestlings has a key person who takes particular responsibility for getting to know them and their family.
But we don't want a child to feel there is only one grown-up they can turn to.
As they settle, children develop warm and trusting relationships across our team, giving them a community of familiar adults who know them, notice them and are there when they're needed.
Those First Few Weeks
Settling isn't always linear.
A child who skips through the gate for their first three days might decide on day four that they'd much rather stay at home. Some children talk endlessly about everything they've done; others respond to “What did you do today?” with a very convincing “nothing.”
Starting somewhere new takes a lot of energy.
We'll work closely with you during those early weeks and let you know how your child is finding their feet. If either you or we have concerns, we'll talk about them and work out together what your child needs.
Staying for Reception? Their Nestlings journey doesn't have to end at four.
As an independent kindergarten for children aged 2–5 years, families can choose for their child to complete their Reception year with us rather than transitioning to mainstream school at four.
After Reception, children can continue their educational journey at The Fledglings, our outdoor provision for children aged 5–11, or transition into mainstream education.
Every family's journey is different, and we'll work with you to make transitions carefully and with your individual child at the centre.
Our Admissions Policy
Our full Admissions Policy contains the detailed terms governing admission to The Nestlings, including:
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Waiting lists and offers
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Placement Fees
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Securing a place
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Session requests
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Deferment of places
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Delayed starts
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Communication and response times
Please read our full Admissions Policy before accepting a place at The Nestlings.
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And Then, One Day, They're Just a Nestling.
They know where their wellies live.
They know which grown-up to find when they need help.
They've found a favourite place to play and people they're excited to see.
The unfamiliar becomes familiar.
And Nestlings becomes theirs. 🌿
Ready to begin?
Register Your Interest →