“When I visited other preschools with Emilio I didn't feel comfortable, like they were that eager for him to be there. I worried as he has autism and I was already anxious about sending him to school. As soon as I visited you I felt so much better. You were welcoming, friendly and accepting. I never had any issues with Emilio at school and I always felt like you all put his needs first and went out of your way to accommodate him. He absolutely loved school and I didn't worry about him at all when he was there. Now with Alvario I feel exactly the same. He loves it and I feel comfortable dropping him off knowing that he's with lovely people and safe. I would recommend Claygate Montessori to everyone and anyone with young children.”
Outstanding-rated Montessori pre-school in Claygate, Surrey
A small Montessori pre-school in Claygate for children aged two to five
Claygate Montessori School, Claygate Village Hall. An Outstanding-rated Montessori pre-school for children aged 2 to 5. Book a visit today.
5.0from 5 parent reviews
- Ofsted ratingOutstanding
- Ages welcome2 to 5 years
- Opening hoursTerm time only, Monday to Friday
- Government funding15 & 30 hours accepted
Why families choose us
Thirty years of a small, independent Montessori pre-school
From a genuine Montessori approach to a team who know every child by name, here's what parents notice when they look closely at how their child spends their session.
- 01
Learning that follows the child A genuine Montessori approach, not just the name
Children choose their own activities from specially designed Montessori materials and work at their own pace, with a teacher on hand to guide rather than direct. The aim is confident, independent learners who develop naturally, not to a fixed timetable.
- 02
Outside every day Built into the timetable, not an afterthought
Outside play has its own slot in the daily timetable, every single day. Alongside it, the week includes football with Little Kickers, French, drama and music on rotation, so children get a genuine mix of structured and unstructured time.
- 03
A small, family feel Staff who know your child and know you
This is a small, independent pre-school, not part of a chain, so staff are a familiar, approachable presence at drop-off and pick-up. Parents can chat with the team about how their child's day has gone whenever they need to.
Our 10-day calm start gives every child a structured, gentle transition into nursery life.
What makes us differentOfsted Rated Outstanding
What local parents say
Nothing tells you more about a nursery than the families who are already there.
“We sent my daughter to Montessori mid pandemic after we moved to Claygate and haven't looked back. The staff are incredible and very understanding about our daughter's medical needs. Her progress since she started nursery has been amazing and her speech and language skills have come on leaps and bounds. It is a really nurturing environment and I love the fact that they don't separate the children by age group so they all get to interact together. The Little Kickers and French lessons are a great addition to the regular programme and my daughter seems to really love them. We are delighted that our little girl is able to attend such a wonderful nursery where she is so well cared for.”
“Amazing nursery, and the staff don't get enough credit for the love, care and devotion they give to the children. Elyse started primary school today and if it wasn't for you, she wouldn't have been ready or confident enough to go.”
Come and see a Montessori session for yourself
Come and see the classroom, meet the team, and get a feel for how your child would spend a session with us.
Come and see us- Government funding
A Montessori pre-school for Claygate families since 1990
🏡
Our space
The school is based in Claygate Village Hall on Church Road, equipped with a wide range of genuine Montessori teaching materials. Children are not separated into age-locked rooms, and instead work and play together across the 2 to 5 age range.
🌿
Outdoors
Outside play has its own place in the daily timetable, every day, alongside football with Little Kickers, French, drama and music sessions through the week.
Claygate has its own railway station on the South Western Railway line into London Waterloo. There is a safe, on-site car park for drop-off and pick-up.
Find us
Visit our nursery
Address
Claygate Village Hall, Church Road, KT10 0JP
Opening hours
Term time only, Monday to Friday
Age range
2 to 5 years
One classroom, every age learning together
Children aged 2 to 5 are not split into separate age-locked rooms. Instead they share one Montessori classroom, working and playing alongside each other at their own pace.
For parents considering a nursery place
Pre-school Readiness Checklist
Everything you need to know before your child's first day. From what to pack to how the settling-in process works.
Fees & sessions
Ad-hoc
per session
Morning session
£28.00
Subject to availability.
All prices are per child. Monthly fees are spread across 12 months.
Explore our fees, funding support and simple enrolment process
Day in the life
A typical day
Ofsted registered, inspected, and rated Outstanding
Independently inspected so you do not have to take our word for it.
Things parents ask us
Common questions
Getting started
We are a small, independent, family-owned pre-school, not part of a chain, so children are known individually and staff are a familiar face at drop-off and pick-up. We follow a genuine Montessori approach, where children choose their own activities and develop at their own pace, and we take a flexible approach to which sessions and days work for your family. There is a safe, on-site car park for drop-off and pick-up, and no hidden fees.
We're based at Claygate Village Hall, Church Road, Claygate, Esher, Surrey, KT10 0JP. We've been part of the Claygate community since 1990.
We take children aged 2 to 5 years, in sessions during term time only, Monday to Thursday (morning and afternoon sessions) and Friday mornings.
Just call us on 020 8398 8104 or email claygatemontessori@outlook.com and we'll arrange a time to show you round.
Places vary by term, so the best way to find out what's currently open is to contact us directly. A few places are typically available for the autumn term, but this changes, so please get in touch to check.
Fees and funding
Yes. Every 3 and 4 year old is entitled to 15 universal hours a week regardless of parental work status, and working families may also be eligible for the 30 hour entitlement. Eligible 2 year olds can also access 15 funded hours through Early Learning for 2 year olds or the Working Parents Entitlement. We're happy to talk you through what applies to your family.
Our fees depend on the sessions and days you need, so the best next step is to get in touch and we'll talk you through current pricing.
Safeguarding
We were rated Outstanding in all 4 areas at our last inspection in November 2022. Our Ofsted report is available on the Ofsted website.