Rising 3 Entry

This fresh entry point is designed to cater for children turning 3 in the term they join Broomfield House School, creating a seamless and supportive transition into our early learning environment from a young age. For example, if a child turns three on 15 November, they can start in the Rising 3s class on the first day of the autumn term. 

Parent interest has grown significantly, so much so that we knew it was time to introduce an earlier opportunity to join us.

This carefully considered addition, a dedicated Rising 3s provision, reflects our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of local families while maintaining the exceptionally high standards for which Broomfield is renowned. Resourced thoughtfully and designed to the highest quality, this new development will further enhance our outstanding Early Years offer, ensuring we continue to give every child the best possible start in a nurturing and inspiring environment.

Smooth Transition

Rising 3s complements our existing Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten early years provision, offering a cohesive early years journey.

FAQ

What curriculum will Rising 3s follow?

The Rising 3s curriculum follows the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Broomfield’s nurturing ethos, aiming to develop confident, curious, and independent learners. Closely aligned with the Pre-Kindergarten framework, it focuses on personal, social, and emotional growth, communication, and early problem-solving through playful, purposeful learning.

Each child’s journey is personalised to their interests and strengths, combining structured sessions with opportunities for independent exploration.

The programme includes outdoor learning, including Forest School, alongside enriching experiences in art, music, dance, and drama, ensuring a creative, holistic and enjoyable foundation for a smooth transition into Pre-Kindergarten.

What is the staff-to-child ratio?

We follow all statutory government guidelines for staff-to-child ratios in the Early Years. Beyond meeting these requirements, we intentionally staff above these minimum levels to ensure children receive the highest quality of attention, support, and learning opportunities. This allows us to provide a truly nurturing environment where staff can get to know every child exceptionally well.

Where will the Rising 3s class be located?

Over the summer, we will be undertaking a significant capital investment project to create a dedicated new space for our Rising 3s, extending and enhancing our already excellent Early Years provision. This will embrace biophilic learning principles, designing indoor spaces that connect children to the natural world. The project includes brand-new toilets and purpose-built learning areas to provide the very best experience for our Rising 3s. We are working closely with our trusted contracting partners to deliver this in line with our sustainability focus, further enriching the school’s facilities for everyone. The plans also include air conditioning throughout the Harrow House building and additional openings to increase natural light in the Early Years areas.

What indoor and outdoor spaces will the children use?

The children will have access to our current Pre-Kindergarten and Early Years outdoor spaces, as well as brand-new areas specifically designed for Rising 3s. As part of our all-through prep school experience, they will also use other carefully designed areas across the site to enrich their curriculum and broaden their learning experiences.

What time does the school day start and finish?

Children can be dropped off from 8:30am, with all Early Years children expected to be in school by 8:45am. While the official start of the school day for Kindergarten to Year 6 is 8:30am, we recognise that our youngest children may need a little more time in the mornings.

Is there an option for the children to stay for mornings only?

We understand that families have different routines, and in our Rising 3s class, we are happy to accommodate mornings-only attendance. However, there is a minimum requirement of three mornings per week during the autumn and spring terms to ensure children benefit from a consistent, positive routine. During the summer term, unless a child is starting with us for the first time at that point, we expect all Rising 3s to attend five mornings per week. This supports a smooth transition into Pre-Kindergarten. Once in Pre-Kindergarten, there is a minimum requirement of five mornings a week, with most families choosing to extend this to include full days.

Can the children stay for lunch?

Yes, children are welcome to stay for lunch if they remain with us until 3:30pm. Some parents currently collect at 12pm before lunch, but we are also happy to accommodate lunch as part of a full day if required. Due to it being lunchtime for the whole school until 1:30pm, and then returning to lessons, we are not able to accommodate a collection point directly after lunch.

Can my child stay for full days?

Yes, we are happy to support full-day attendance after an initial transition period, which may vary depending on each child’s individual needs. We fully understand the needs of working parents and are keen to support any specific attendance requirements you may have.

Can I book additional sessions flexibly?

To ensure we provide the highest quality of provision, our teaching team plans well in advance based on the children expected to attend on any given day.

We are happy to accept ad hoc bookings but ask for at least 24h notice to allow us to plan accordingly.

If you would like to increase your child’s number of mornings or move to full days, we will be happy to accommodate this on a consistent basis.

Are we able to secure a place in Pre-Kindergarten if we do not take up an earlier place in Rising 3s?

We always aim to work with families to understand their requirements and context, and where possible, families will be able to pay an earlier deposit to secure a place in Pre-Kindergarten if we have space available for the following year. However, we may not always have a steer on availability until towards the summer term. The best approach is to get in touch for a conversation as soon as possible.

Will there be priority for siblings?

Yes, if you already have a child attending Broomfield and would like to secure a place in Rising 3s, you will have a priority place.

What meals and snacks are included?

We offer a delicious, varied, nutritious, and carefully balanced lunch option for children who stay with us for a full day. All food is freshly prepared on-site, and we also provide morning snacks as well as plentiful fruit to keep children energised during the morning sessions. We also offer milk or milk alternatives for our Rising 3s and Pre-Kindergarten children.

How does the school cater for allergies?

Our kitchen team are allergy champions, following strict guidelines on food preparation and labelling throughout the school, for children, staff, and guests. We run a nut-free kitchen and cater for children with allergies or intolerances, as well as those who avoid certain foods for social or religious reasons. If both main meal choices contain an allergen, the chef will ensure there is an allergy-free alternative.

Fees

We carefully benchmark our fees within the local area, as well as against the world-class experience that Broomfield offers. These fees reflect the quality of our provision and the expertise of our teaching team.

The fees for a child’s first term at Broomfield are payable by 1 March of their year of entry, or at the time of accepting the offer if after that date. In respect of occasional places, the first term’s fees are payable on accepting the offer. Once children are in school, fees are payable on or before the first day of each term and should be paid by direct bank transfer. The school bank account details are included on each term’s invoice.

What about Early Years funding?

We accept the 15-hour Universal funding available, which will begin the term after your child turns three. For example, if your child joins Broomfield in September and turns three in October, universal funding will begin in the spring term.