Ruspini House

Our Ethos

We believe the early years shape everything that follows; this is why, at Ruspini House, we treat children with the care, depth, and intention they deserve. Our educators are more than teachers, they’re guides, co-regulators, and trusted companions on each child’s journey. Through strong, nurturing relationships, we help children feel safe, seen, and ready to explore who they are and what they can become.

We blend the best of Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Forest School to create an approach that’s both child-led and purposefully designed. It’s not just what children learn, it’s how they learn. Through play that’s rich with meaning and discovery, they develop the building blocks of lifelong learning: curiosity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.

Our bespoke RMS Ambitions map out the journey from preschool through Reception, not as a checklist, but as aspirational, whole-child goals. They are underpinned by the values we hold dear: kindness, perseverance, ambition, integrity, courage, and inclusivity.

Our educators are central to it all. Highly trained, deeply reflective, and passionately committed, they continue to learn just as our children do, and it shows in the way they stay, grow, and lead the way in shaping young lives.

Our Environment

Our nursery experience extends far beyond the classroom, with weekly Forest School sessions being just one exciting element. We’re incredibly fortunate to have access to 300 acres of private parkland, offering an unparalleled outdoor learning environment. Imagine your child exploring trim trails, discovering the secrets of walled gardens, having stories in glamping pods, or learning in our very own dedicated woodland classroom. This expansive natural setting provides endless opportunities for adventure and discovery, encouraging a deep connection with the natural world.

Children can observe the RMS bee hives, engage in hands-on learning, and discover the wonders of biodiversity right on their doorstep. This rich outdoor tapestry ensures that every day brings new possibilities for exploration, helping children develop a sense of wonder, resilience, and a lifelong love for the outdoors.

A Curriculum Full of Possibility

At Ruspini House, learning stretches far beyond the classroom walls. Our children dive into music with specialist teachers, explore new languages with confidence, and move with purpose in expertly led PE sessions, all from the very start.

We believe in offering rich experiences that spark imagination and open young eyes to the wider world. One week might bring the excitement of hatching chicks; another, a visit from a mobile farm or storytelling in a glamping pod. From stepping into a planetarium to splashing in our very own swimming pool, every day brings new opportunities to explore, express, and discover.

Best of all, it’s all part of the experience, no hidden extras. With access to exceptional on-site facilities and the wider resources of the school community, our youngest learners enjoy a truly enriched curriculum, thoughtfully designed for depth, joy, and growth.

Relationships at the Heart

At Ruspini House, everything begins with relationships. We know that children thrive when they feel safe, seen, and truly understood; this is why secure, trusting connections are the foundation of all we do.

Our educators are deeply attuned to the emotional world of young children. Using calm, consistent language and designated ‘calm corners’ for regulation, we support children in developing the tools they need to understand and manage their emotions. Our approach is rooted in current research and driven by a belief that early relational experiences shape not only emotional wellbeing, but lifelong learning.

When it comes to behaviour, we look beneath the surface. Our team takes a curious, reflective approach, asking why, not just what. This means behaviours are understood in context, and children are supported with empathy, consistency, and care. We’re proud to be recognised as a Flourish Attachment and Trauma-Informed School, a reflection of our ongoing commitment to creating a nurturing, emotionally literate environment.

Our relationships don’t stop at the nursery gate. We work closely with families, offering regular opportunities for parents to step into the setting, take part in learning experiences, and share in their child’s journey. From parent workshops to stay-and-play sessions and informal moments at pick-up, we believe in working in partnership every step of the way.

We’re also proudly connected to the wider school community. Specialist teachers from across Cadogan House enrich our curriculum, while older pupils from Years 10, 11, and 12 act as role models and helpers. Our dedicated Sixth Form Prefects build genuine bonds with our youngest learners, and children are warmly welcomed at whole-school events and end-of-year assemblies. These cross-school connections help children feel part of something bigger, fostering confidence, continuity, and community.

Our relational approach extends beyond our own gates. We’ve worked with Master’s students at Brunel University, helping inform best practice in early years assessment and guiding the development of our own child-centred baseline and ambitions, with a strong focus on supporting independence from the very beginning. We also proudly support local charities, helping children understand the value of empathy, contribution, and care for others.

Teaching That Adapts to Every Child

No two children are the same, and at Ruspini House, we believe their learning journeys shouldn’t be either.

We spend time getting to know each child and their family deeply, building the trust and understanding that allows learning to be truly tailored. Because we know our children so well, we can plan with real purpose: meeting each child where they are and building the skills they need to grow.

Whether it’s weaving a love of dinosaurs into early writing skills or using a child’s fascination with water to spark mathematical thinking, our high staff-to-child ratios allow us to adapt learning both in our planning and in the moment. This responsive, child-led approach helps every learner feel seen, stretched, and supported.

We also have a range of programs in place to help children flourish. From early speech and language screening to social-emotional support and small-group interventions, we put in place what’s needed early and thoughtfully. It’s all part of our commitment to individualised, holistic teaching that helps every child make meaningful progress in their own time and in their own way.

The Early Years Journey

Every stage of our early years provision is thoughtfully designed to grow with your child, building skills, confidence, and a love of learning from the very beginning.

Bluebells Class — Ages 2–3

Bluebells is where the journey begins for many of our children, and those early steps matter. Research shows, and our experience confirms, that starting at two gives children a real advantage in the Prime Areas of learning: communication and language, personal, social, and emotional development, and physical development.

There’s no formal assessment to join, just a warm welcome, a nurturing environment, and a team ready to support each child as they settle in. Even our youngest learners enjoy access to specialist teachers and purpose-designed environments, with routines that mirror the wider nursery, gently adapted for their age and needs.

The focus here is on building attention, listening, language, and confidence, through stories, songs, play, and responsive adult interaction. The foundations laid in Bluebells support everything that follows.

Blossoms Class — Ages 3–4

In Blossoms, learning deepens and widens. We introduce our daily phonics programme, offer specialist teaching in subjects like music, movement, and languages, and begin to stretch early literacy and mathematical thinking in playful, purposeful ways.

As busy as the days become, we fiercely protect time for child-led learning, because we know that this is where thinking happens at its richest. Our skilled educators tune in to children’s interests, using well-timed questions and prompts to scaffold deeper understanding and challenge developing critical thinking skills.

The balance is intentional: high-quality teaching paired with space to explore, discover, and wonder. It’s how children learn best, and how they grow into motivated, confident learners who are ready for their next step.