At Droxford Montessori, we offer a range of session options for children aged 2 to 5, with flexibility for families using funded hours, private sessions or a combination of both.
Our nursery is open Monday to Friday during term time, with morning, afternoon and full-day sessions available.
Session times
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Morning | 9.00am – 12.00pm |
| Morning and lunch | 9.00am – 1.00pm |
| Afternoon | 12.00pm – 3.00pm |
| All day | 9.00am – 3.00pm |
| Breakfast Club | From 8.30am |
Our usual operating hours are Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 3.00pm.
Breakfast Club is available every day from 8.30am and should be pre-booked with a teacher.
Telephone and email communication is available from 8.00am to 5.30pm.
Staying for lunch
Children who attend morning sessions may be able to stay for lunch on a regular basis or as a one-off, subject to availability.
The school does not provide lunch, so children staying for lunch should bring a healthy packed lunch from home. We provide milk or water at lunchtime.
As we may have children with food allergies, we ask that lunch boxes do not include any nut products.
Weekly timetable
Alongside our Montessori learning, the children enjoy a varied weekly programme of activities.
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday | Cookery |
| Tuesday | Music and Movement |
| Wednesday | Gardening Club with Mr Berry |
| Thursday | Yoga |
| Friday | Forest School |
For Forest School sessions, please ensure your child brings warm and waterproof clothing, especially during colder or wetter weather.
At the centre of all our group activities is the Montessori ethos. Children are invited to join in with activities, but are never forced to take part. We also follow the interests of the children, so activities may change or be adapted depending on what the children are curious about on any given day.
Funded and private places
We welcome children attending through funded hours, privately paid sessions, or a combination of both.
Funded children can attend a minimum of 2 to 5 days per week or the equivalent from the age of 3. Younger children may be able to attend shorter sessions.
Privately funded children can attend from 1 to 5 days per week or the equivalent, depending on availability.
We also offer a 10% discount for siblings attending the nursery at the same time.
Universal Funding, also known as 15 hours funding
Universal Funding is available for all three and four-year-olds, regardless of family circumstances.
Each eligible child is entitled to up to 15 funded hours per week over 38 weeks of the year. Funding begins from the qualifying term after your child’s eligible birthday and continues until they reach compulsory school age.
Extended Funding, also known as 30 hours funding
Some families may be eligible for Extended Funding, commonly known as 30 hours funding.
Extended Funding allows eligible children to access up to 30 funded hours per week over 38 weeks of the year, giving a total of 1,140 hours.
Extended Funding is not available to everyone, so parents should check eligibility through Childcare Choices.
Extended Funding places at Droxford Montessori are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability.
It is the parent’s responsibility to apply for a 30 Hours Code through HMRC before the start of term. If we are able to offer an Extended Funding place, you will need to provide us with your code so that we can verify it.
Parents are also responsible for keeping their 30 Hours Code updated with HMRC every 3 months to avoid losing funding.
2-Year Funding
Some two-year-olds may be eligible for funded childcare, depending on family circumstances.
Families can check eligibility and find more information through Childcare Choices.
Extra-curricular contribution
As a Montessori and Forest School nursery, we provide an enriched early years experience that goes beyond the basic requirements covered by Early Years Free Entitlement funding.
To help us continue offering this high standard of care, learning and extra-curricular provision, we kindly ask parents to contribute towards the additional experiences and resources that make our setting so special.
These include:
- Montessori curriculum and specialist equipment
- Forest School sessions led by qualified instructors
- Fresh, nutritious snacks
- Extensive outdoor learning opportunities
- Weekly cookery sessions
- Specialist music and movement classes
- Seasonal crafts, celebrations and keepsakes
- Progress tracking through Tapestry
These additional activities and thoughtful extras help create a nurturing, memorable and enriching experience for the children. They support social and emotional development, creativity, independence and a strong sense of belonging.
We are committed to being transparent about our fee structure and will always clearly communicate any additional charges. Our aim is to work with families to keep our outstanding Montessori and Forest School experience accessible while maintaining the quality of our provision.
Invoicing and payments
Invoices are issued termly, and we accept most childcare vouchers.
For your convenience, we also offer the option to pay monthly throughout the term.
Extra hours
Where available, extra hours may be requested on an ad hoc basis.
To make things simpler for families, payments for extra hours can be taken at the time of request, helping to avoid additional invoices.
Useful links
For further information, please use the links below:
- Contact us for further details
- Download our Prospectus
- Download our Sessions & Fee Structure
- Download the Government Parental Declaration Funding Form
- Access our Online Registration Form
You can also check funding eligibility and childcare support through Childcare Choices.