New purpose-built nursery coming soon to Newbury prep school

Horris Hill Preparatory School will be expanding its offer to families from September as it welcomes pre-school aged children into a brand-new nursery.

The school, which sits on the Hampshire/Berkshire border, is gearing up to welcome pre-school aged children for the first time ever into a purpose-built nursery facility offering wrap-around care from the start of the next academic year.

Construction is already underway on the 65-acre countryside site, and contractors are working hard to deliver the brand-new building which will become home to a new cohort of boys and girls, aged two years and above.

This is the first time in the school’s 134-year history that it’ll have a nursery facility.

Harriet Uwalaka, head of Horris Hill’s Lower School, will manage the nursery, and she said she was “immensely excited” about it opening its doors in September.

She said: “Nurturing youngsters from a very young age in an early childhood education setting brings immense benefits.

“Not only does it help them develop daily routines and good habits, but it also lays the foundations for a lifelong love of learning.

“Our brand-new nursery facility will provide a wonderful environment for our young learners to express themselves and be curious about the world around them, which they will learn to explore alongside their peers.

“Our ethos will be to instil a sense of magic, awe and wonder within the children as they navigate their way through the wonder years; a time of their lives when they believe anything is possible.

“We will provide them with an abundance of opportunity to be explorers, scientists, artists, and experimenters, both indoors and out.”

On June 22, Horris Hill is planning a ‘Big Toddle’ event in support of children’s charity, Barnardo’s, to bring more potential nursery parents and carers through the gates so they can see for themselves what the school grounds and new nursery facility will have to offer.

Families will be able to take part in a safari-themed sponsored walk, suitable for little legs, whilst also hearing more about the nursery and meeting other like-minded parents.

As well as tie ‘Big Toddle’ offering an opportunity to raise much needed funds for an incredibly good cause, the event will help mums and dads to also get a feel for whether Horris Hill is right for them.

John Forsyth, chairman at Horris Hill School and chief executive of Forfar Education which owns the school, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the imminent opening of our wonderful new nursery, which we believe will give our youngest children the very best start in life.

“Our fully qualified, friendly, and highly knowledgeable early years team will breathe life and vitality into the bricks and mortar of the building, making it a home from home.

“We can’t wait to welcome our newest intake into the comfort and care of our Horris Hill nursery and watch the young minds of our littlest cohort grow and develop over the coming months and years.”