Our Schools value the individuality of every child and our explicit goal is to develop confident learners, who become empowered to take on the challenges of primary education.
Alphablocks Nursery School & Pre-Prep (in St. Paul’s Church, Hadley Wood) and Alphablocks Nursery School at the Hadley Wood Association Centre, both situated between Barnet and Enfield in north London, provide outstanding early education for children aged 2 to 5 years. Children have access to a wide range of learning experiences that support their development and are determined by our educational curriculum. Extracurricular activities and workshops for children include music & movement, drama, sports & physical education, language & storytelling, natural mathematics and information technology classes. Our schools are non-denominational and actively welcome families of all cultural and religious backgrounds.
Our approach
We follow a hybrid educational approach, which combines the best elements of different teaching methodologies to maximise children’s learning potential and to ‘scaffold’ their learning.
Our classrooms are specifically designed according to needs of the children and the skills we want them to develop.
It is a flexible and adaptive environment with spaces to explore, learn, relax, and have fun. We want our children to be enthused and motivated to learn.
Our teachers
All the teachers are experienced educators, specifically qualified in early education. Senior teachers mentor and guide junior practitioners, whose progress is quality-assured by the leadership team.
Teachers get to know the children well and use this knowledge to plan effectively for the next steps in each child’s learning journey through detailed and meaningful observations, which are shared with parents through various channels of communication.
Teachers understand the importance of balancing play opportunities, Forest School sessions and structured activities.
Our settings
Our Schools are situated close to each other in Hadley Wood, London. There are two main sites, and they are located in St. Paul’s Church hall and the Hadley Wood Association Centre.
Our classes are divided into different areas of learning, including a maths area, a literacy area as well as an area where we explore nature and develop children’s understanding of the world. A creative workshop area allows children to develop their own creative projects.
Over 90% of our resources, including all educational toys, are made of natural materials (and over half are handmade).
There are many outdoor spaces: a sensory garden next to the main classroom and a separate playground in a wonderful tree-lined courtyard in St. Paul’s Church. In the Hadley Wood Association Centre site, many areas support Forest School learning, and there are spectacular green spaces, some of which have been carefully developed as part of local development projects.
We encourage parents to visit our nursery schools and come and talk to our team about our approach to learning.
The Schools operate between 8.15 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. (with extended hours included). The core morning session is between 8.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m., while the core afternoon session is between 12.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. Regular attendance maximizes the impact we can have on the child’s learning journey and preparing them for school – this is why we have minimum weekly attendance thresholds, as explained below.
Our fees & funded hours
We have a transparent and competitive price list. The minimum attendance for children over 3 years old is five mornings per week. For 2-year-old children, minimum attendance is three mornings per week. Funding for 3-5 year old children is available. Parents who wish to claim the 30-hour entitlement should undertake a quick eligibility check and ensure they understand the breakdown of fees in that case.