Welcome to Nightingale House Nursery & Pre-Preparatory School for girls aged 3-7 years...
At Nightingale House, childhood is celebrated, individuality is cherished and every girl is encouraged to flourish.
As a non-selective school, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. Through high-quality teaching, exceptional pastoral care and a deep understanding of every pupil as an individual, we help girls make outstanding progress from their own starting points, developing the confidence, character and curiosity that will stay with them throughout their lives.
Our aim is simple: for every girl to leave us as a happy, confident learner who knows her strengths, values others and is ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.
An introduction to The School from Mrs Martha Robinson, Lead Teacher at Nightingale House...
"It is clear from first entering Nightingale House that it is a very special place. ‘Home from home’ was Molly Papirnik’s vision when she opened the school with just one boy and girl and over 75 years later Nightingale House still feels like ‘home from home’.
In this nurturing environment, girls achieve academic excellence; with small classes and caring teachers, individuals are supported and guided to achieve their full potential. Accelerated learning in English and maths provides firm foundations for girls to develop the literacy and numeracy skills which underpin their success as they move forward with their education.
Our curriculum is carefully planned and sequenced to provide rich and diverse learning opportunities for all pupils, enabling them to excel in a broad range of subjects, with a particular focus on S.T.E.M. subjects. Girls are prepared for the future with our innovative approach to digital learning, which permeates all curriculum areas. Potential in all subjects is nurtured and developed, with girls enjoying opportunities to perform music and poetry, culminating in our annual play, performed in our local theatre.
I am proud of the girls who leave us at the end of their time at Nightingale House: happy, kind and confident girls who take forward with them, not only the academic rewards of their hard work, but a strong set of values and a passion for life and learning."
A School Where Every Child is Known
One of the things families value most about Nightingale House is the feeling that every child truly belongs.
We take the time to get to know each girl as an individual: her personality, interests, strengths and aspirations. This enables us to provide the right balance of support and challenge, ensuring she feels valued, understood and able to thrive.
From her first day, each child becomes part of our wider school family through our ‘sister’ groups, which connect girls across both Nightingale House and Clarence House. These relationships create opportunities for friendship, mentoring and leadership, helping younger pupils feel supported while enabling older girls to become positive role models.
Many families describe joining Nightingale House as becoming part of an extended family, and we are proud of the warm, inclusive community that makes our school so special.
Opportunities to Discover Talents and Passions
Learning at Nightingale House extends far beyond the classroom.
From an early age, girls benefit from specialist teaching in Music, French, Physical Education and Ballet, broadening their experiences and nurturing confidence across a range of disciplines.
A rich programme of performances, educational visits, clubs, charitable initiatives and enrichment experiences provides opportunities for every child to discover new interests, develop leadership skills and challenge themselves in new ways.
Whether performing on stage, representing their team, contributing to the School Council or leading environmental initiatives, every girl is encouraged to make her voice heard and her contribution valued.
Growing in Confidence
Children thrive when they feel safe, happy and supported.
Pastoral care sits at the heart of everything we do, creating an environment where girls develop resilience, kindness and self-confidence alongside academic achievement. We understand that successful learning is built on strong relationships and emotional wellbeing, and we work closely with families to ensure every child feels secure and supported.
Our pupils are encouraged to be curious, compassionate and courageous, developing the personal qualities that will serve them well both in school and beyond.
Connected to Our Community
We believe that some of the most meaningful learning takes place beyond the school gates.
By making full use of specialist facilities within our local community, including theatres, sports venues and swimming facilities, we are able to offer rich and varied experiences that enhance learning and broaden horizons. This approach not only provides excellent opportunities for our pupils but also helps them develop confidence, independence and a strong connection to the wider world around them.
Childhood First
At Nightingale House, we never lose sight of the importance of childhood.
Alongside our academic ambitions, we nurture friendship, imagination, creativity and joy. We want children to be excited to come to school each day, eager to learn, willing to try new things and confident enough to embrace challenges.
Because while academic success matters, we believe the most important measure of a school's success is the kind of people its pupils become.
At Nightingale House, girls do more than achieve. They grow, belong and flourish.
The Nursery at Nightingale
At Nightingale House, our Nursery offers something truly special: the warmth and security of a small, family-centred environment combined with the opportunities and expertise of an established independent school.
Designed for girls in their pre-school year, our Nursery provides a nurturing, home-from-home setting where children are known, valued and celebrated as individuals. From their very first day, girls become part of the Nightingale House family, developing confidence, independence and a love of learning that will support them throughout their school journey.
More Than a Nursery
Being located within the main school gives our Nursery girls access to experiences rarely found in a traditional pre-school setting.
Each week, girls enjoy specialist lessons taught by dedicated subject teachers, including:
- Music
- Physical Education (PE)
- French
- Ballet
These enriching experiences encourage creativity, confidence and curiosity while introducing children to specialist teaching from an early age.
Learning Through Play and Purpose
Our curriculum combines the very best aspects of early years education.
Girls benefit from:
Carefully planned, teacher-led literacy and mathematics lessons
High-quality continuous provision that encourages independent exploration
Purposeful play opportunities designed to develop language, creativity and problem-solving skills
A strong focus on communication, confidence and social development
This balanced approach allows children to make excellent progress while preserving the joy, wonder and discovery that should characterise early childhood.
Part of the Nightingale Family
One of the unique advantages of our Nursery is the opportunity for girls to become fully integrated into school life.
Through our popular 'Sisters Programme', Nursery girls build relationships with older pupils who act as caring role models and friendly faces around the school.
In the Summer Term, girls are also welcomed into one of our school teams, fostering a sense of belonging and community from an early age.
By the time they move into Reception, they already feel confident, familiar and very much at home.
Where Confidence Begins
At Nightingale House Nursery, girls are encouraged to explore, question, create and flourish in a setting where they feel safe, supported and truly known. We believe that the earliest years of education should be filled with happiness, discovery and a strong sense of belonging, laying the foundations for a lifelong love of learning.
HISTORY
"The only way to educate young children properly is
within a homely atmosphere, so I am going to start my
own school here and now." Molly Papirnik, Founder, 1951
ACHIEVEMENTS
Our research-based teaching techniques and small classes are the ideal learning environment for all children. The students’ achievements both in and out of the classroom are testament to this.
Ofsted 'Outstanding' 4 times in a row:
November 2014
September 2017
February 2020
October 2024
50%
of pupils awarded an academic scholarship at 11+ in 2024.
90%
Pupils in Year 6 reading
at ‘greater depth’:
National Average 29%
C.H.P.S. 93%
Class size averages:
State Schools: 25-30
Other Independent
Schools: 15-25
Jack & Jill School: 10-18
Nightingale House
One of the few remaining family-owned-and-run schools in the country.
“[Thank you] for all of your hard work, devotion, encouragement and tireless help in teaching [my daughter]. It has been a delight to see her development over the past year, and to see her grow, not only in maturity but academically also. Above all, your warmth towards her is most cherished. Personally, it has been a privilege for you to teach [my daughter] and to continue the bond that I have to Jack and Jill, being an old girl alum myself!”
“[Thank you] for all of your hard work, devotion, encouragement and tireless help in teaching [my daughter]. It has been a delight to see her development over the past year, and to see her grow, not only in maturity but academically also. Above all, your warmth towards her is most cherished. Personally, it has been a privilege for you to teach [my daughter] and to continue the bond that I have to Jack and Jill, being an old girl alum myself!”
“[Thank you] for all of your hard work, devotion, encouragement and tireless help in teaching [my daughter]. It has been a delight to see her development over the past year, and to see her grow, not only in maturity but academically also. Above all, your warmth towards her is most cherished. Personally, it has been a privilege for you to teach [my daughter] and to continue the bond that I have to Jack and Jill, being an old girl alum myself!”