Exceptional Futures Begin with Exceptional BeginningsQueen Mary’s Pre-Prep School for Ages 0-7 Years
The foundations for lifelong success are built in the earliest years. At this crucial stage, children learn, explore, and develop at a remarkable pace. An exceptional start provides the confidence, curiosity, and resilience to thrive in the years ahead. At Queen Mary’s, our Pre-Prep pupils begin their academic journey in an environment where curiosity is celebrated, confidence grows naturally, and every child is known as an individual. Small class sizes, specialist teaching and a rich programme of experiences ensure pupils develop the skills, enthusiasm and resilience that will underpin future success. By the time they move into Prep, pupils are not simply ready for the next stage – they are excited by it. |
From Early Years to Key Stage 1
At Our Co-educational Pre-Prep School in North Yorkshire, pre-preparatory pupils make an exceptional start to their academic and co-curricular journey. Starting in our nursery for 0-3 years, they develop under the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, learning through play in communication and language, physical development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, expressive arts and design, along with personal, social, and emotional development.
Pupils continue the EYFS framework in Pre-Reception (ages 3-4 years) and Reception (4-5 years) before learning outcomes under Key Stage 1 in Years 1 and 2. Girls are brilliantly placed to continue in our Prep School for Years 3-6, and then our Senior School for Years 7-11. Boys within our Pre-Prep setting move on to other schools.
The Foundations of Future Success
Our Pre-Prep builds confidence, curiosity and capability. Academic success begins long before examinations. Our Pre-Prep curriculum is carefully designed to develop strong literacy and numeracy skills while nurturing creativity, communication, and independent thinking. Through engaging lessons and personalised support, pupils learn to question, explore, and discover for themselves.
Every child is challenged appropriately and supported thoughtfully, allowing them to make exceptional progress from their individual starting point.
Pre-Prep School Key Highlights:
- – Small classes with individual attention
- – Specialist teaching in key subjects
- – Strong foundations in literacy and mathematics
- – High levels of pupil engagement and participation
- – Individualised challenge and support
- – Signature programmes include: Little Leaders and Adventure.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Some of the most memorable learning happens outside the classroom. From visits to museums and historical sites to nature-based learning and practical workshops, our pupils regularly connect classroom learning with real-world experiences. These opportunities deepen understanding, spark imagination, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.
Our Forest School nurtures creativity, imagination, and a lifelong connection with nature, and our ‘Little Green Thumbs’ gardening club teaches about plants and growing food.
Every Child Known
Children learn best when they feel secure, valued, and confident. Our nurturing environment ensures every child is known and understood. Strong relationships between staff, pupils, and families allow every child to develop the confidence to take risks in their learning, persevere through challenges, and celebrate success.
This culture of care creates the ideal conditions for academic growth.
Ready for Prep and Beyond
By the end of Pre-Prep, pupils leave with strong academic foundations, excellent learning habits, and a genuine enthusiasm for education.
They are confident learners, ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges of the next stage of their academic and personal development.
Co-curricular Activities
In our nursery school, preschool, Reception and Key Stage 1 classes, we ensure there is time for developing early friendships, interests, and skills with a rich range of structured co-curricular activities especially designed each term for our youngest pupils. Our Pre-Prep Co-curricular offering changes termly but popular options include Adventure Club, Construction Club, Little Green Thumbs, Mini Music Makers, Mini Yogis, Multisports, NSEA Jumping Training, Pony Stars, and Zoom Patrol (Bikes & Scooters).
Pre-Prep School Educational Trips and Visits
Our Pre-Prep children enjoy lots of events and educational visits that take place throughout the year. Our range of school trips extends learning far beyond the classroom – from secret mission adventures and strawberry picking to festive theatre trips and a Christmas pantomime. Our experiences are far-ranging from bee and flower farms to art galleries and outdoor adventure centres.
Christian Preschool Ethos
Our older Pre-Prep children are often included within the school for carol services, nativities, hymn practises, and prayers – many of which are overseen by our Chaplain and our Choir Leaders. As a Woodard School, our proud Christian values run through the school and help instil the school’s core values of trustworthiness, hard work, public spirit, and good manners.
Part Time Pre School or Full Time Pre School
Queen Mary’s Pre-Prep is all about flexibility for parents. As such, parents can enrol their children in part-time or full-time, with many parents opting for the part-time preschool option.
We accept the government childcare funded hours, childcare vouchers, and tax-free childcare account payments for our nursery and Pre-Reception classes, which makes Queen Mary’s a popular nursery school and Pre-Prep school choice.
Being Part of the Wider School Community
As well as the excellent facilities, equipment, and specialist staff, children in Pre-Prep engage with the wider school community every day and are very much part of the family. They take part in many whole school events across the year from Christingle and the Santa Run to Sports Day, the Easter Egg Hunt, and Speech Day.
Before and After School Care
Our pre-prep school provision has been created with flexibility in mind. For Pre-Reception, Reception, Year 1, and Year 2, we have a before and after-school care provision that wraps around the normal school day of 8.30 am – 3.30 pm. Children who are signed up to an after-school care session are often taken from class to a 30-minute activity club until 4.00 pm, followed by the care provision until 5.30 pm. In the mornings, children can arrive from 8.00 am.
Queen Mary’s Pre Prep School, Near Thirsk and Ripon
Situated between Ripon and Thirsk, Queen Mary’s Preprep school in Topcliffe, North Yorkshire is based within the heart of the school grounds. The Nursery building has a room for ages 0 – 2 years and another room for ages 2 – 3 years. Next door to the Nursery building is our Reception building, which consists of a Pre-School classroom for ages 3 – 4 years and a Reception classroom for ages 4 – 5 years. Key Stage 1 classes for ages 5 – 7 years are located in the Prep School section of our main school building.
Queen Mary’s School has a formidable reputation for academics and extra-curriculars, and is ranked Top 4 UK Independent School without a Sixth Form. School success runs across all years, and it is often regarded by parents as one of the best preschools and best pre prep schools in the area.
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Remarkable beginnings begin here. Our exceptional Early Years Foundation Programme starts with children aged 3+ months in our nursery and progresses through our Pre-Reception (ages 3-4 years) and our Reception (4-5 years) classes. Our nurturing, co-educational environment has been thoughtfully designed to meet each stage of development.
Early Years Education -
Our creative, engaging, and ambitious Key Stage 1 Curriculum for ages 5-7 years (school Years 1 and 2), continues developing children in all areas so that they may thrive.
Pre-Prep Curriculum -
Outdoor Learning
We pride ourselves on our extensive outdoor education programme and our love of learning in the great outdoors – from forest school to trips to outdoor classroom settings. We are known for our adventure programme with climbing, canoeing, paddleboarding, high ropes, river swimming, and more part of every day life at Queen Mary’s.
Queen Mary’s Nursery School
Located in Topcliffe between Thirsk and Ripon, Queen Mary’s School opened its new nursery school in September 2026 for children aged 3 months to 3 years. Offering a formidable early years education with nature, learning through play, and fun embedded into the everyday.