The Croft Preschool and Reception

At The Croft Preschool and Reception, we provide a warm, nurturing, and intellectually stimulating environment where children begin their educational journey with joy, confidence, and curiosity. Our setting combines the best aspects of a nursery school - caring, play-based learning - with the academic structure and expertise of a high-quality Preschool preparing children for the exciting path ahead at Tranby Prep School.

Children can join us from the term in which they will turn 3. Welcoming them at this stage ensures they receive an outstanding early education in an environment designed to help them thrive.

Book Your Visit

You may already have heard wonderful things about The Croft, but there’s nothing quite like seeing it for yourself. A personalised tour and conversation with Katie Hannah, Head of The Croft, is the perfect opportunity to discover what makes our setting such a special place for little ones to learn, play and grow.

Book a tour at a time to suit you

Come and See What Makes The Croft So Special

Why Choose The Croft – A Nursery School Setting with a Difference?

A Strong Educational Foundation. From as young as two years old, children at The Croft benefit from the support of experienced, qualified teachers alongside our amazing nursery nurses. This partnership is what sets us apart from more traditional nursery school settings. It’s not just childcare, it is education in its truest form.
School-Ready and Ahead of the Curve. When children move from Preschool into Reception, they already have a deep familiarity with the structure and rhythm of school life, giving them an academic and emotional advantage. Tranby children consistently acheive far beyond national expectations.
Specialist Subjects from Reception Onwards. From Reception, our children benefit from dedicated teaching in Sport, Languages, DT, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). They build in DT, conduct exciting experiments, and greet their peers in French, Spanish, and German - all from the age of four.
Child-Led Exploration Meets Academic Excellence. We blend child-initiated play with teacher-guided sessions in phonics, literacy and numeracy. This approach develops the characteristics of effective learning - independence, motivation, resilience - while laying firm academic foundations.

Download a Prospectus for The Croft

A Unique Children’s Nursery and Preschool Environment

While many nursery schools focus on routine care, The Croft Preschool and Reception is a place where children flourish through structured learning, high expectations and joyful discovery. Our curriculum is alive with excitement, featuring:

Daily Dough Disco to build fine motor skills, coordination and hand strength, laying the foundations for writing.
Weekly yoga to support physical development, mindfulness, focus and emotional awareness.
Creative, collaborative learning through play, challenges and projects that encourage imagination, problem-solving, communication and teamwork.
Cookery to develop fine motor skills, early maths and language, while building independence, confidence and a positive relationship with food.
Forest School sessions that build confidence and independence through hands-on outdoor learning, encouraging creativity, physical activity and problem-solving.

A Unique Children’s Nursery and Preschool Environment

Exceptional Outdoor Learning Environment

Our exceptional Foundation Stage Outdoor Learning Area is a space for adventure, imagination, and discovery. In our extensive grounds, your child can:

Explore sand and water play zones
Bake in the mud kitchen or read in the hobbit house
Build in the outdoor construction area
Climb, balance, and navigate tunnels and tracks
Visit our gated woodland, safe pond viewing area, and fire pit amphitheatre
Experience hands-on learning as children grow their own fruits and vegetables in our allotment.

We go outside in all weather, developing bravery, gross motor skills, and a love of nature that stays with children for life.

Discover Tranby Prep School

Enriching Experiences Beyond the Classroom

Our Preschool children enjoy regular visits to our on-site Forest School, where they connect with nature and learn through meaningful outdoor experiences. Whether solving a creative challenge, working as a team to build a shelter, or simply spotting signs of spring, children develop confidence, communication, and care for the world around them. In Reception children will visit our off-site Forest School in Wawne, near Beverley. These visits provide a full day of immersive learning in a beautiful, natural setting.

Educational Trips and Visits

We also offer exciting off-site visits and invite engaging guests into school. Whether it’s a farm visit, fire engine or walk to the bakery to explore maths and money, every opportunity is designed to make learning real, relevant, and fun.

At The Croft, we believe a Preschool or nursery school setting should be about more than childcare. It should ignite curiosity, inspire confidence, and lay the foundation for a love of learning, for life.

Our Outdoor Fun and Learning Zone

Our state-of-the-art outdoor exploration zone encourages inquisitive play, teamwork, bravery, and exercise. The children thrive in this tailor-made section of The Croft, which is unmatched by any other local preschool setting. Combined with our classroom teachings, children go home at the end of the school day tired but beaming after a day filled with discovery, growth, and learning. Whether they’re conquering new challenges or collaborating with friends, each moment fosters both personal and social development in a fun, nurturing environment.

Visit The Croft Preschool and Reception

A Warm Welcome Awaits at The Croft Preschool and Reception

Prospective pupils may be registered for admission at any time. You can book a private tour HERE and meet Head of Prep, Cath Sweeting along with pupils.

Our Registrar Sharon McEwan is available to answer your questions. Please email Sharon.McEwan@tranby.org.uk or telephone 01482 657016.

PRIVATE TOUR