At St Ives Nursery, we believe in nurturing the early years with care, creativity and endlessless curiosity. Designed for Children aged 2-4, our warm & inclusive environment is where imaginations bloom and little learners thrive. 

We prioritise emotional and social development, helping children develop the skills they need to connect with others, express themselves and navigate the world with confidence.  Our caring and qualified team of staff is dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging and providing support every step of the way, ensuring each child feels happy and secure.   

Our facilities are bright, cheerful and thoughtfully equipped to provide endless opportunities for exploration.  We have a wonderful, dedicated garden with endless views over the South Downs, which lends itself to hours of hours of fun and outdoor learning.  The Nursery has all the advantages of feeling like its own entity, whilst having the advantages of being part of a larger school.  The Nursery children have specialist teaching in Music, French and PE which are all taught by specialist teachers from the main school as part of the Nursery curriculum, as well as enjoying Forest School in our 8 acres of beautiful woods, lunch in the school dining hall and all the resources you would naturally expect in a thriving prep school.   

Applying for a place in Year 3 

Every child interested in joining St Ives in Year 3 will be invited to a taster day and participate in lessons with our current Year 2 cohort so we can assess whether St Ives can provide a suitable environment for your child. We will also request a report from the Head of your child’s current school. Subject to satisfactory completion of the taster day and availability of a place, places will be offered on an ongoing basis as the taster days take place. 

Scholarships and bursaries 

We are always looking for children who display real aptitude or potential, whether that be in academic, sporting, drama, art or music ability (or a combination of these) and therefore there are some fee-assisted places available on entry to Year 3. For more information, please see our Scholarships and Bursaries page.