Drayton House Nursery School

35 Austen Road, Guildford GU1 3NP
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9.9 37 Reviews
  • Drayton House Nursery School, Guildford
Drayton House Nursery School offers an holistic education with full or part-time care for children from 6 months to 5 years old.

Founded in 1943, Drayton House has an excellent location in Guildford and is well known as a friendly and happy place. It's a place that both parents and children value for its warm atmosphere, high standard of teaching, and the individual attention given at the very beginning of nursery and academic life.

Class sizes are purposely small so that the children in care have the best opportunity to build their confidence and independence whilst learning all the basic skills they need to give them a solid start on their journey in the world.

Most important of all, the nursery aims to extend and broaden each child's learning experience as far as possible - remembering that childhood can, and should, have many magical moments.

Care Provided by Drayton House Nursery School

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Julie Wilson (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 20
  • Total Places for Children
  • 65
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 6 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:00-18:00
    Tuesday 08:00-18:00
    Wednesday 08:00-18:00
    Thursday 08:00-18:00
    Friday 08:00-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas
  • Parking
  • There are 2 hour parking bays at the front and side of the school so dropping off and picking up is as smooth as possible.


Drayton House Nursery School Reviews (37)

Total of 37, showing 1-20
9.9

Drayton House Nursery School has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.918) out of 10, based on 37 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Drayton House Nursery School has 37 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My eldest has been coming here for a year and I am impressed with how attentive the staff are to all the children. They do such a wonderful job in letting them express themselves but also teaching them respect, and kindness along with the start to early curriculum. My child is super happy when they
go and when they come home. His father also came to this nursery so it's a family-trusted place for us.

Reply from Jennifer OShea, Customer Experience Team Leader at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so pleased to hear how happy your child is at our nursery and that you've been impressed with our team's dedication. Creating a nurturing environment where children can express themselves, learn respect, and grow in confidence is something we truly value. It's especially heartwarming to know that our nursery has been a trusted place for your family across generations.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Drayton House Nursery School is an incredible nursery. The staff are simply fantastic and adored by the children. It is a clean, bright, happy learning environment and I have always known my children are being well looked after.

Reply from Jennifer OShea, Customer Experience Team Leader at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that you and your children have had such a positive experience at Drayton House Nursery School. Our team is dedicated to creating a warm, engaging and nurturing environment where children feel happy, safe and excited to learn. It means the world to us to know that you feel confident in the care we provide.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Drayton House is a great nursery. Both my children go there and they love being there. Teachers have close connection with the children, they learn a lot and they have great friendships with other children.

Reply from Jennifer OShea, Customer Experience Team Leader at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're so happy to hear that both of your children enjoy their time at Drayton House and that they've built strong connections with their teachers and friends.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our little boy started at the nursery when he was just 8 months and from then he has gone from strength to strength. He loves nursery and runs in each morning greeting his friends and teachers with the biggest smile and "hello". He always looks forward to nursery which is what every parent wants in
my view.


We receive daily updates so we know exactly what he has been up to during the day and I have no doubt he is really well looked after whilst he is there with plenty of TLC available should he need it. There are so many activities available throughout the day and we can see from the photos how much fun our little boy is having with his friends. I've been told the food is " so nice" .


The staff are clear and very understanding both in person and over the phone, filling us with great confidence in the nursery. We are often told what a happy little boy we have and I don't doubt that nursery plays a huge part in how he feels and behaves.


Reply from Jennifer OShea, Customer Experience Team Leader at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful feedback! It's great to hear how much your little boy enjoys his time at nursery, running in each morning with a big smile. We're glad that the daily updates and photos give you a glimpse into his fun-filled days, and it's wonderful to hear that he enjoys the meals too! Our team takes great pride in providing a caring, engaging space where children can thrive.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My eldest has attended this nursery since she was a baby and she is now coming to the end of her time in the pre-school. My youngest is currently in transition having started in the baby room. Both my children love coming to the nursery and happily walk in without a backward glance at drop-off.
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staff are lovely and friendly and really like children. They have a varied curriculum and always try to make each day varied and interesting. They organise little trips out of the nursery, going on walks to the Downs and seeing plays at the nearby Spike Centre and organise events at the nursery (sports day and graduation for the pre-schoolers). In order to keep you informed they update the app with photos and occasionally send the children home with activities that they are working on in the nursery so you can reinforce the themes of the week.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your lovely review! It's fantastic to hear that both your children have enjoyed their time with us, from the baby room to preschool. We're glad they happily walk in each day and enjoy our varied curriculum and activities. The little trips and events are special to us, too! We're delighted to keep you informed through the app and activities. Your trust and support mean the world to us!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Drayton House is a first-class nursery and has been a wonderful place for both my daughters to attend. The attention provided to the children from when they first joined (my youngest started at 7 months old) right through to graduation is of the highest standard. The emphasis on learning, behaviour,
and character development and inclusion has been fundamental in both of my daughters' development. The staff really care about the children and having experienced other nurseries before, I can say that Drayton is comfortably the best out there.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your glowing review of Drayton House! We're delighted to hear that both your daughters have had a first-class experience with us, from 7 months old to graduation. Our focus on learning, behaviour, character development, and inclusion is central to our mission, and we're thrilled to see it reflected in your daughters' growth. Your praise for our caring staff and high standards means so much to us. We're honoured to be considered the best!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending Drayton House now for a few months and he really enjoys it there. He looks forward to going each day and loves all the different activities he gets to participate in. I have seen him progress in areas of his development such as his letter recognition and writing which has been
amazing and that is down to his teachers and the staff who provide the best care for him. Very happy he gets the chance to play with other children and he has made lots of friends since starting too.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience at Drayton House! It warms our hearts to hear how much your son enjoys his time here, especially his excitement for the various activities. Watching him progress in letter recognition and writing is truly amazing, and we're thrilled to be a part of his development. Making friends and playing with other children is such a vital part of growing up. We're so happy he's thriving and having fun!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Drayton House is a top-notch nursery in every aspect right from the focus on exploratory learning and academics to extracurricular development and the development of personalities in young children. The nursery has been instrumental for my son in so many ways- behavioural development, support with learning
etc and I noticed the changes within a few months. We have been to other nurseries, and Drayton House is definitely leagues beyond!
Well done to the team for creating such a wonderful atmosphere for the little ones.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that your little one is having a lovely experience at our nursery and appreciate your kind words about the team.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Drayton House is a wonderfully loving, caring and nurturing nursery. My eldest loved her time at DH, the home-from-home feel, with structured learning enabled her to thrive and she was more than ready for school when she started. My son is now following in her footsteps and is loving every minute of
being at Drayton House. We couldn't recommend the nursery highly enough. All of the staff go above and beyond providing the best environment for all those who come through its doors.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that your little ones is having a lovely experience at our nursery and appreciate your kind words about the team.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son started in February and has come on leaps and bounds with speech and confidence, we really can't recommend this nursery enough, the staff and his lead worker have been amazing with us and very attentive to his needs.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that your little one is having a lovely experience at our nursery and appreciate your kind words about the team.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My 10 month old son has recently started at Drayton House in the day nursery and both my husband and I are absolutely delighted with our choice of nursery. The staff are lovely and the nursery has such a friendly comfortable feel to it. Our son has been doing lots of varied age-appropriate activities
which he loves and the food they serve the children is excellent. We also love the daily report we receive that tells us what he’s been up to!
Although I was nervous about him starting, after only a few weeks I am astounded by the progress he is making and I can only put that down to the great care he is getting - he seems very happy and comes home a content little boy. Thank you Drayton House for making the process of starting the nursery so easy and pleasant for a first-time mum!

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your lovely review! We are delighted to hear that your little one loves coming to the nursery and enjoys the activities planned for them.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter joined the nursery in January and has been really happy since day one. The settling-in process was seamless. They do lots of fun activities and I receive detailed updates daily which I really like. The staff are so lovely and I am incredibly happy with my choice of nursery.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your lovely review! We are delighted to hear that your little one is having a good experience at our nursery and your appreciation for the daily updates on the app.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little boy started a few months ago and since the first time he stepped into Drayton House he has loved it. He looks forward to attending each day and throughly enjoys being there, if it was up to him he would go every day! He takes great pleasure in telling us about the activities he has done that
day and any significant events he can remember and all the friends he has played with. The nursery itself has such a home from home feel and the atmosphere is so welcoming and friendly. The class sizes are perfect for getting to know each child individually and making sure they are all happy. All the team from office staff and everyone who looks after all the children are simply wonderful, they go above and beyond to make sure the children receive the best care possible. I could not wish for anyone better to look after him and to help him grow in confidence, knowledge and giving him the best learning opportunities and experiences ready for when he goes to school.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear that your little one is enjoying their time at Drayton House. It's wonderful to know that he looks forward to each day and we appreciate your kind words about our team.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am thrilled to share my positive experience with Drayton House. They have played a pivotal role in enhancing my child's independence and good behaviour. The transformation in their self-reliance and orderly conduct is truly remarkable. The teachers and staff at Drayton House deserve special praise.
They are very friendly and incredibly helpful. The nurturing environment they create has a profound impact on the children.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your lovely review. We appreciate you sharing your positive experience with Drayton House. It's wonderful to know that they have played a pivotal role in enhancing your child's independence and good behavior.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started in the baby room just after she turned 1. The staff in the baby room are so caring and supportive, they will go above and beyond to satisfy our needs. My daughter is thriving in her class, she settled very quickly and is happy to go into nursery in the mornings. I love the variety
of activities and the room looks great. The office staff have been fantastic, answering all of our hundreds of questions and very helpful in general. Thank you to all the staff, we appreciate such great care of our daughter.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your lovely review! We are delighted to hear that your daughter is thriving and enjoying her time in the baby room.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our two-year-old daughter loves her time at Drayton House. The team have been fantastic from the very beginning, going out of their way to help her settle in quickly. They are very attentive to her individual personality and needs and she has progressed so much in her speech and skills since she started.
The communication is really good and they are always very organised with every child's individual requirements. With lots of personal touches. So happy we chose Drayton House.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your lovely review! We are delighted to hear that your two-year-old daughter is having a great time at Drayton House and has experienced such positive development since starting there.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our 8 month old has been at Drayton House for a few months now. The team in the baby room have gone above and beyond to help her settle in and make the whole process easier for all of us. Communication from the office is fantastic and they are always happy to take a call from an emotional first time
mum! The team have been so patient as we figured out how everything works and the daily diaries are such a great resource. We are keen for our daughter to spend lots of time playing outside so are very happy to hear that there are plans to upgrade the outside baby area. It’s clear that the staff really enjoy working there and that reflects in how they interact with the children. Very happy we chose Drayton House.

Reply from Natalie Hunt, Head of Marketing at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're delighted you've had a wonderful experience so far! It's great to hear that our team at Drayton House has made the transition smooth and positive for your 8-month-old.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my children (girl, now 6 and boy, now 3) joined Drayton House from the age of 1 and moved through from the baby room to pre-school and attended full time.
Each room is expertly run and seeing how both children have flourished there has been wonderful. The size of the classes is perfect, the carers
are experienced and friendly and the routine and activities are brilliant and fun!
Both my children have left ready for school and with lovely friends.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear about the positive experiences your children had at Drayton House.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We've had an exceptional experience with Drayton House Nursery, where our daughter has been attending since she was 1 year old. The caring and supportive staff have always looked after her really well, attending to her individual needs and helping her grow. Our daughter is always happy to go and she
speaks positively of the staff members and her friends. The nursery emphasizes educational activities, focusing on all different aspects of child development; from physical to cognitive skills. What sets Drayton House apart is their well-rounded approach and genuine dedication to nurturing children. If you're looking for a nursery that truly understands childhood and aims for comprehensive growth, Drayton House Nursery is an excellent choice. Thank you for being such a positive part of our family's journey!

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for your wonderful review! We are glad to hear that your little one is having a good experience at the nursery.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Drayton House is the best nursery in Guildford! Our son has been at Drayton for almost four years, from baby room to preschool. Our experience is an extremely happy one. There are no tears at drop off and pick-up is never rushed: we get a great run-down of our son’s day. Drayton offers a highly caring
and nurturing environment with an independent feel. The class sizes are small so children get lots of attention. All staff, from the office to the classroom (across all ages) are top-notch, with years of early years experience and training. At preschool, they gently introduce phonics and teach children to tidy up, which helps for primary school. Other cool activities include Catalan lessons, music and gardening! Children spend lots of time in the outdoor playgrounds too. Our son has had an amazing early years experience, and Drayton has given us invaluable peace of mind while working during the day. We only wish we could stay on for another year!

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Drayton House Nursery School

Thank you for sharing your wonderful review of Drayton House! It's lovely to hear about your son's fantastic journey there, from the baby room to preschool.


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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.918)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.918) out of 10 for Drayton House Nursery School is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 37 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 37 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.918 for Drayton House Nursery School is calculated as follows: ( (406 Excellents x 5) + (34 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 441 Ratings = 4.918

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Drayton House Nursery School is based on 37 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 65 number of registered child places is 13, which has been reached with 37 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (3)

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Meet the Team (1)

Julie

Julie Wilson

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Hi, my name is Julie, my childcare journey began in 1993 after a long career in banking in the City. I graduated from The Maria Montessori Training Organisation in London with a level 4 qualification.


Since then I have been fortunate enough to work in a diverse range of childcare settings. I have set up and managed nurseries in Dubai and South Africa and have worked in Australia and in Central London.


Drayton House has been a nursery for many years and I have been privileged to be here for 8 years of them. we are now welcoming the children of parents who came here as a child themselves. It is such a rewarding experience to be part of such an incredible timeline. I will never tire of watching the children develop and grow in confidence towards the next steps in their educational lives.


Frequently Asked Questions about Drayton House Nursery School

What is the Age Range of Children that Drayton House Nursery School accepts?

Drayton House Nursery School accepts Children aged from 0 years 6 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Drayton House Nursery School Open?

Drayton House Nursery School is open: Monday 08:00-18:00, Tuesday 08:00-18:00, Wednesday 08:00-18:00, Thursday 08:00-18:00, Friday 08:00-18:00.

How many Children does Drayton House Nursery School have capacity for?

Drayton House Nursery School has capacity for a total of 65 Children.

How far is Drayton House Nursery School to the centre of Guildford?

0.8 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.