Little Downsend Leatherhead

13 Epsom Road, Leatherhead KT22 8ST
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9.0 32 Reviews
  • Little Downsend Leatherhead, Leatherhead
Little Downsend Leatherhead is a wonderful setting for children from the ages of 2 to 7, combining a warm and caring environment with an innovative, playful and vibrant approach to learning.

At Little Downsend Leatherhead, and all the Little Downsend Schools, there is an equal focus on ensuring children are happy, settled and cared for, whilst creating the very best foundation for mastering early learning skills. Class sizes are deliberately small so children benefit from personalised learning programmes and the chance to embrace every subject with curiosity and adventure.

Specialist Teaching is a key part of a Downsend education, with even the littlest benefitting from weekly lessons in French, dance, technology, Forest School, music and games. From Reception, all children visit the main school to make use of the 25m pool, and from 2022 will be able to stage performances in the 200 seat auditorium as part of the main school's £5m Creative Arts Centre development.

Teaching staff are all qualified teachers and are dedicated to ensuring that every Downsend child feels part of the family, is supported to achieve their very best, and is presented with the very best opportunities, whatever their age. Children achieve excellent academic results, far exceeding National and Surrey averages in every area.

All children in Nursery are supported to use technology appropriately, working with iPads and the very best ed-tech apps to support their learning. Little Downsend has joined the Microsoft Showcase Schools Programme and is currently following the Incubator Pathway.

Little Downsend Leatherhead offers flexible options, monthly payments and a pay-as-you-go holiday club.

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Care Provided by Little Downsend Leatherhead

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

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Lisa Burns (Head of Little Downsend)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 50
  • Total Places for Children
  • 70
  • Age Range
    • from 2 years 0 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Holiday club offered

Funding & Fees Guide for Little Downsend Leatherhead

  • First Steps (Age 2) and Rising Reception (Age 3):
    From September 2023, the extended full-time daily rate, from: 07:45 to 18:00 is £103.01.
    A full day runs from: 07:45 – 16:00 at a cost of £88.01.
    Extended Day runs from: 16:00 – 18:00 at a daily cost of: £15.
    Little Downsend offers different rates depending on how many half days per week your child will be with us.
    Little Downsend offers a 'pay as you go' holiday club.

  • Please note, that we provide monthly payment options for our nursery year groups.

Little Downsend Leatherhead Reviews (32)

Total of 32, showing 21-32
9.0

Little Downsend Leatherhead has a Review Score of 9.0 (8.973) out of 10, based on 6 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Little Downsend Leatherhead has 32 reviews.

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Review from Kim C (Mother of Child) published on 17 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Little Downsend is the most nurturing, exciting and welcoming environment. The enthusiasm and care from the staff mirrors the enthusiasm and excitement the kids have towards their learning environment. Everyone at the school cares about every child and they couldn’t do more to help. My daughter is loving
her time here and can’t wait to learn more with her friends and move through the school. 10/10 from our family.

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Review from Katja H (Mother of Child) published on 17 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff at Little Downsend Leatherhead managed the "new normal" very well. With this they enabled my son to have a very diverse and joyful school experience. The small class size is a plus in itself, the teachers / teacher's assistant and all the other staff generate a very positive environment for
the children. Next to excellent teaching in a great environment (creative class rooms, wonderful outdoor areas behind the school) all the extra activities make this school very special: various sports (multisports and football club, swimming lessons at the pool at the Downsend Main Site), dance sessions, Forest School just to name a few. They are also on top of introducing digital learning tools into the classroom, e.g. digital whiteboard, online learning tools.

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Review from Sarah J (Mother of Child) published on 16 November 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We cannot praise Little Downsend Leatherhead enough, it’s such a supporting and nurturing environment for the children. Our eldest has loved his time in both the nursery and the pre school. He currently attends Reception and goes into school every day with a smile. The curriculum is varied and engaging
from nursery through to year 1 with both classroom-based and outdoor learning. All the teachers and staff know the children so well and genuinely care about their welfare. More recently, the COVID management has been incredibly good and thorough. It is a wonderful nursery/school.

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Review from Gayle H (Mother of Child) published on 7 June 2018
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son loves it here, very pleased with the level of care and teaching. Holiday club also very good.

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Review from Ingrid (Mother of Child) published on 7 June 2018
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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has thrived emotionally and academically at Downsend Pre-Prep Leatherhead. All staff members are wonderfully warm and kind to the children. I love that each teacher and teaching assistant knows my son well, and how he is greeted by name at the door every morning. I have always felt happy leaving
my son at Downsend knowing he is in great hands.

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Review from Liz W (Mother of Child) published on 7 June 2018
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have had two children at the pre-prep and the school has done a wonderful job of preparing them for the lower school. We have been very happy with the curriculum and club activities that are offered, and feel that the warm, family atmosphere has helped them to thrive. Going to school is fun for them
and they are always happy to attend.

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Review from Anandi S (Mother of Child) published on 7 June 2018
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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Staff are wonderful throughout the school, everyone knows the children and are so welcoming. The nursery staff are kind and compassionate with a wonderful manner. The head of the nursery is brilliant, she keeps the children behaving well but at the same time is soft and kind.
Thank you.

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Review from Alice G (Mother of Child) published on 7 June 2018
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter joined the Leatherhead Lodge in January 2016 in First Steps and is now in Rising Reception. She has progressed in leaps and bounds at Downsend, and is coming along amazingly with her numeracy and literacy skills. Her little brother joined in January 2018 and has taken to it like a duck
to water. We have not got a bad word to say about the school. Downsend’s teaching body is second to none, the running of the school is well organised and the facilities are propitious to learning inside and outside of the classroom. Downsend instils in children the curiosity to expand their knowledge of the world around them, and learning becomes a fun, exciting and engaging process for both pupils and parents.

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Review from Michelle W (Mother of Child) published on 7 June 2018
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I love this school, they offer a great level of flexibility for parents just wanting to give their kids a taste of school life and stimulate their learning, through to the working parent who needs full time care. My child loves the school and teachers. He has made some wonderful friends and chats constantly
about the activities they’ve been doing.

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Review from Elisa H (Mother of Child) published on 6 June 2018
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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have been very happy with my child's progress at Downsend Leatherhead Lodge. It is a very caring and nurturing environment, where there is little pressure and the children are encouraged to do their best.

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Review from Lesley (Mother of Child) published on 6 June 2018
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Downsend Pre-Prep Leatherhead has been wonderful for our elder daughter (4). The facilities are great and the staff are warm and dedicated and it feels like a home away from home. Our younger daughter (2) will be starting in September and I’ve no doubt that she will be just as happy there.

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Review from Jilly H (Mother of Child) published on 6 June 2018
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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both our children have been to Downsend Pre-prep Leatherhead and they love it! Such an amazing close community with lovely, friendly approachable teachers. Great outdoor space and a verity of activities to get involved in. The days are varied with a good balance of work, sport, dance and play.

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Current Review Score: 9.0 (8.973)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.0 (8.973) out of 10 for Little Downsend Leatherhead 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 6 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.0 out of 5 from 6 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 4.944 for Little Downsend Leatherhead is calculated as follows: ( (67 Excellents x 5) + (4 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 71 Ratings = 4.944

  • 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 4.029 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Little Downsend Leatherhead is based on 6 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 = 3.6

    • 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 70 number of registered child places is 14. 6 Positive Reviews ÷ 14 = 0.429

  • 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.

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Awards / Recognitions (6)

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Meet the Team (1)

Vanessa

Vanessa Conlan

Job Title: Headteacher - Little Downsend

Joined: 2018

An experienced teacher of 20 years, the last 8 in headship, Vanessa is a graduate of the University of Southampton where she obtained a BEd (Hons) in Primary Education with music specialism.


Vanessa has taught in a range of schools through her career, Her strengths lie in teaching, learning and assessment and her passion lies with the Early Years and getting the very best start in education for every child. Vanessa is a mother of 2 energetic young boys, is a Harlequins Rugby club season ticket holder and loves to travel, camp and listen to live music with her family.


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