Preschool In Surrey

A happy, nurturing start for girls from age two

Girls can join Rowan Preschool from the term after they turn two, beginning their Rowan journey in a warm, nurturing environment where they are known, understood and encouraged to flourish.

These earliest years are incredibly important. At Rowan, we combine purposeful learning with plenty of opportunities to play, explore, create and discover, helping every girl develop the confidence, independence and curiosity she needs for the exciting years ahead.

A Preschool where every girl is known

Starting Preschool is a big step, both for children and their parents. Our experienced Early Years team takes time to get to know each girl as an individual: her personality, interests, strengths and the things that make her happy.

Through careful observation and strong relationships with families, our teachers build a detailed picture of each child's development and shape learning and support around her individual needs.

The result is an environment where girls feel secure, valued and ready to explore.

Learning through curiosity and play

Life in Rowan Preschool is creative, exciting and wonderfully hands-on.

Our carefully planned Early Years curriculum supports girls' physical, cognitive, social and emotional development while giving them the freedom to ask questions, investigate ideas and discover the joy of learning.

Alongside their Preschool teachers, girls benefit from specialist teaching from the very beginning, including Music, Drama, French, Dance, Gymnastics and Sport.

These varied experiences help girls discover new interests, build confidence and develop skills that will support them throughout their time at Rowan.

Squirrels Class - ages 2 - 3 years

Our Squirrels class provides a warm and stimulating start to school life for girls aged 2-3 years. Children can join us in the term after their second birthday and move into our Hedgehogs class in the September after they turn three, ensuring a smooth and age-appropriate transition through our Early Years setting.

In Squirrels, our focus is on advancing the prime areas of learning: Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal, Social & Emotional Development. Each day we ensure our classroom is an exciting and challenging learning landscape girls can dive into. All the opportunities we provide have a purpose and objective behind them - even if they look like ‘just play’ to adults!

Hedgehogs Class - ages 3 - 4 years

As the girls move up to Hedgehogs, their learning becomes more structured while still nurturing curiosity and creativity. Building on the foundations of the Early Years Curriculum, we focus on developing the whole child - academically, socially, and emotionally.

Phonics and Literacy: They begin the engaging Song of Sounds phonics programme, and by the end of the year, they will have explored all single-letter sounds, laying the groundwork for confident reading and writing.

Mathematics: Daily maths lessons combine clear teacher-led input with hands-on opportunities to apply new skills through thoughtfully planned activities, ensuring understanding and enjoyment go hand in hand.

Emotional Wellbeing: We continue to prioritise emotional literacy, helping each girl recognise, understand, and express her feelings. This strong foundation supports resilience and empathy.

From Preschool to Reception, and beyond

For many girls, Preschool is just the beginning of their Rowan journey.

Our Preschool and Reception teams work closely together and girls become familiar with the people, places and routines around them. This helps the move into Reception feel like an exciting next step rather than a leap into the unknown.

That continuity gives girls a wonderful opportunity to build confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging from their earliest days at Rowan.

Families are supported through welcome events and settling-in sessions, ensuring everyone knows what to expect. Thanks to our excellent Early Years provision, which was praised by the ISI as a ‘significant strength’ for being relevant, engaging and developmentally appropriate, our youngest pupils are exceptionally well prepared.

Rowan girls start Reception confident, ready for new routines, new learning opportunities and a wonderful year ahead.