We are proud of the development of our Pre-Prep into a brand new academic and environmentally sustainable space, which opened in September 2023. Aberdour's Pre-Prep includes Nursery, Reception and Year 1. Focusing around the two core principles of academic provision and environmental sustainability.

A Great Education Begins with a Great Start

Starting school is a huge step, both for children and parents.  At Aberdour our Pre-Prep (Nursery and Early Years section) gives the smallest children a home from home where they will be loved, nurtured and stimulated; where they will make friends and have a thoroughly enjoyable time. 

Our Pre-Prep section consists of our small and caring The Nursery at Aberdour, along with our Early Years classes in Reception and Year 1.  In its own bright, and cheerful premises, the Pre-Prep gives the youngest children a safe and reassuring environment, with plenty of space, its own large outdoor areas and even a tree house.  There is something for everyone, even a coffee shop for parents!

All the Pre-Prep staff are specialists in this area of education and they have an immediately obvious dedication to working with really young children.  Just two minutes in Pre-Prep will show you how warm and friendly it is, what resources the children have and how excited, how busy and how supported they are. 

Using the principles behind our award winning curriculum, 'Wonder, Inspire, Discover', our whole ethos is based on knowing and developing children as individuals, and we give each child a truly individual experience which takes account of their skills, their physical and emotional development, and their interests and learning styles.  We understand how to help them grow, with gentle challenges that set them off on explorations, with wonderful facilities and resources that let them discover, play and learn in their own individual way, and with plenty of encouragement, variety and fun. 

As children move on into Reception and Year 1, their confidence and abilities grow and the same approaches to teaching continue to let them find their own strengths in more advanced ways.  They are encouraged to ‘have a go’ and to take (safe) risks.  A personalised creative curriculum nurtures each child’s imagination and a broad, varied and exciting programme of activities brings it to life, with opportunities including free-play, exploration and small group teaching.  Discovery, self-exploration and critical thinking will be embedded, along with intelligent use of advanced technology, and the children develop a love of school life and a love of being with others, as well as excitement and pride in real achievements.

Our Little Learners at Aberdour are inquisitive, creative, inspiring individuals. We follow an enquiry-based learning approach that values the belief that children are strong, competent and capable, who are full of wonder and curiosity to learn.

At the heart of everything we do is the powerful image of the child; teachers are deeply aware of the children’s potential and construct all of their work and environment linked to the children’s experiences. 

The school initiative stems from the children’s innate ability to want to ask questions, be curious and explore new concepts. Our award winning 'Wonder, Inspire, Discover' programme develops these natural curiosities.

Our Wonder, Inspire, Discover curriculum is embedded into all aspects of our learning landscape; Wonder: inspired by nature and food takes place in our wonderful woodland and The Bakery, Inspire: inspired by Pictures and Theatre takes place in our Atelier and Dance Studio, and Discover: Inspired by Explorers and the Community takes place in our House of Little Explorers turret.

Within our Wonder, Inspire, Discover curriculum are a wealth of opportunities for aspirational development; offering children an early insight into a tapestry of future vocations and pathways.

Every week, the children either visit the woods for ‘Woodland Wonder’, take part in ‘Inspire’, which is linked to expressive arts, or participate in ‘Discover’; unearthing new things and exploring self-discovery. Our new build has taken our ‘Wonder, Inspire, Discover’ programme to the next level. As well as inspiring classrooms, we have also created four purpose-built turrets:

The Atelier

Our Artists Workshop; a place where the children’s imagination can flourish as they create, design and build using natural materials such as, clay, wood and cork.

The Bakery

Where our little learners become budding chefs. Our small-group cookery school allows children to plan, taste and execute a range of baked goods; children have great fun selecting, measuring, pouring and mixing ingredients to make delicious seasonal treats.

The House of Little Explorers

Slide into our world of Engineering. A place where the children can plan, design and  engineer two and three dimensional models. Our bespoke Engineering curriculum, together with our Lego-wall, enables children to create their own inventions, whilst developing their creativity, reasoning and problem solving skills.

Kitchen Garden

The Kitchen Garden is a living classroom where children engage in hands-on learning about food, sustainability, and the environment. Through planting, tending, and harvesting a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, our little gardeners gain a deeper understanding of where food comes from and the importance of caring for the earth.

This produce is used in our school bakery, where children see the full farm-to-fork journey in action. From garden beds to mixing bowls, they explore how fresh, seasonal ingredients can be transformed into healthy, delicious meals and baked goods.

Our Kitchen Garden program supports learning across the curriculum — from science and health to teamwork and responsibility — while promoting environmental awareness and sustainable practices.

By connecting children with the natural world and the food they eat, we’re planting the seeds for a healthier, more conscious future.