Our school day is carefully structured to balance purposeful learning with time to play, explore and rest, supporting children at every stage of their development.
Woodland Nursery
7.30am to 6.00pm
Kindergarten to Form 2
8.30am to 3.30pm
Form 3 to Form 6
8.20am to 3.45pm
We offer a range of flexible wrap-around care options to support busy family life, all delivered in a calm, familiar environment by our experienced staff.
Breakfast Club
Available from 7.30am, with an 8.00am start also offered for families who prefer a later arrival.
Aftercare
Flexible collection times are available at 4.30pm, 5.00pm (with tea provided), or 6.00pm.
Holiday Quest
Our holiday provision runs during all school holidays, with the exception of the Christmas to New Year period, bank holidays and our four annual staff training (INSET) days.
Sessions are available in the morning or afternoon, with care offered from 7.30am to 6.00pm.
Full details can be provided by our admissions team, who are always happy to discuss individual arrangements, and wraparound fees can be found here.
Wrap-around care is booked and paid for through our School Spider Parent App, making it easy for families to select, manage and amend sessions as needed. The system is designed to be straightforward and flexible, allowing bookings to be updated in line with changing family arrangements.
Our team is always available to offer support or guidance if required.
Your first invoice will be issued shortly before or after your child’s start date and is payable upon receipt.
Thereafter, invoicing is arranged as follows:
Woodland Nursery
Fees are invoiced monthly, with payment due on or before the 1st of each month.
Kindergarten to Form 6
Fees are invoiced termly and should be settled on or before the first day of term.
Families who prefer to pay by monthly instalments are welcome to do so. In this case, following receipt of the termly invoice, a standing order should be arranged to ensure the balance is cleared by the final day of term. Our Business Manager will be happy to assist with setting this arrangement in place. and can be contacted via bgm@pownallhallschool.co.uk.
Yes. We take great care to ensure every child feels happy, confident and secure as they begin their journey at Pownall Hall.
Once a place has been formally accepted in the Woodland Nursery, families are invited to a New Starter meeting with their child’s key person. This provides time to discuss your child’s individual needs and routines, while your child explores their new environment and begins to build familiarity, with you close by.
For children joining Woodland Nursery, Kindergarten or Reception, we offer a small number of complimentary settling-in sessions. These sessions are carefully planned in partnership with parents and are typically a few hours in length, though timings are agreed to suit each child.
Families are also provided with guidance booklets to support a smooth and confident transition:
Ways to Prepare Your Child for Joining Woodland Nursery
Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten and Reception
Our approach is always flexible and child-led, ensuring each child settles at a pace that feels right for them.
Details of our current school and nursery fees for this academic year can be found here.
Our admissions team is always happy to discuss fees, payment options and any questions you may have, and to help you understand what is included at each stage.
Tax-Free Childcare can be used towards the payment of nursery fees, Holiday Quest, and wrap-around care. It may also be used towards Reception year fees until your child reaches compulsory school age.
Unfortunately, Tax-Free Childcare cannot be applied to school fees beyond this point.
Our Business Manager will be happy to advise on eligibility and support you with the process should you require further guidance.
Pownall Hall School prepares each child for the senior school that is the right fit for them, both academically and personally. Rather than feeding into one particular school, our pupils move on to a wide range of senior schools across the region and beyond.
Throughout the senior school transition process, families are guided carefully and personally, with advice and support at every stage to ensure each child is confident, well-prepared and ready for their next chapter.
No. Pownall Hall School warmly welcomes families of all faiths, cultures and beliefs, as well as those with no religious affiliation.
As part of our school community, we mark a small number of traditional celebrations such as Christmas and Easter, including a Christmas carol service. These occasions are approached in a spirit of reflection, celebration and togetherness, and are valued as part of the school’s cultural and community life rather than religious observance.
Respect, understanding and kindness sit at the heart of our approach, and we are proud of the inclusive community we share.
Class sizes at Pownall Hall School are carefully managed and are strictly capped at a maximum of 18 pupils. Each year group is organised into two form classes, allowing children to benefit from small, well-supported learning groups while enjoying the wider friendships and opportunities, such as sports, music and drama, of a larger year group.
This structure enables teachers to know each child well, provide individual attention, and support both confidence and academic progress.
We offer an extensive and varied extra-curricular programme, with over 50 clubs and activities available each week, designed to complement classroom learning and allow children to explore their interests, develop new skills and build confidence.
Many clubs are led by our own teaching staff and are included as part of school life at no additional cost. We also work with carefully selected external specialists who provide expert coaching and teaching across a range of disciplines. In addition, partnerships with off-site providers offer opportunities in activities such as tennis, golf and horse riding.
Further details about our extra-curricular programme can be found here.
Drop-off and pick-up arrangements are carefully managed to ensure a smooth and welcoming start and end to the day.
For our Robins, Wrens and Owls, parking is available on the school driveway, in the section closest to the main gates.
From Kindergarten through to Form 6, arrivals are staggered to ease traffic flow. There is ample parking on the approach to, and around, the pedestrian gate entrance at the top of the site, where families are greeted each morning by the Headmaster.
Clear guidance is provided to all families, and our team is always on hand to assist, ensuring the experience is calm, safe and well organised.
We believe children thrive when they are both supported and appropriately challenged. Small class sizes allow our teachers to know each child well, tailoring lessons to build confidence while encouraging curiosity, resilience and ambition.
Progress is carefully monitored, and teaching is adapted to ensure children are stretched at the right pace for them. Extension and challenge are woven naturally into classroom learning, allowing children to develop strong foundations while growing in independence and confidence.
Our approach ensures children leave Pownall Hall well prepared, academically secure and ready for the next stage of their education.
The wellbeing of our children sits at the heart of life at Pownall Hall. We are a close-knit community where every child is known, valued and supported as an individual.
Strong relationships between staff and pupils ensure children feel safe, confident and able to be themselves. Teachers take time to notice how children are feeling, offering reassurance, guidance and encouragement when needed, and celebrating successes both big and small.
This nurturing environment allows children to grow in confidence, develop positive friendships and enjoy coming to school each day.
You can find out more about our pastoral initiatives here.
Yes. We welcome children joining Pownall Hall throughout the year, subject to availability.
Children joining mid-year are carefully supported to ensure they feel comfortable and confident from the outset. Time is taken to understand each child’s background, strengths and needs, and a thoughtful settling process is put in place in partnership with families.
Our small class sizes and warm community mean new children are quickly known and included, allowing them to settle naturally and feel part of school life in a short space of time.
We believe strong communication with parents is essential to supporting each child’s development. Families are kept well informed about their child’s progress, both academically and pastorally, through weekly class newsletters, parent meetings, termly reports and ongoing day-to-day communication.
Parents are always welcome to speak with their child’s teacher or a member of the senior team, and we value open, collaborative relationships built on trust and shared understanding.
Pownall Hall is a school where warmth and ambition sit side by side. We combine high expectations with a nurturing, family-like environment in which every child is genuinely known.
Our setting, our size and our approach allow children to enjoy their childhood while being challenged, supported and inspired to achieve their best. Many families describe Pownall Hall as having a unique atmosphere, one that feels both special and welcoming, many say ‘magical’ and unlike anywhere else.
Our setting plays an important role in school life, with children benefiting from time outdoors each day within the school grounds. The space around them is used to support learning, play and exploration in a natural and stimulating environment.
Outdoor learning supports wellbeing, creativity and resilience, offering opportunities for both structured activities and imaginative play. It is an integral part of how we support children’s development and enjoyment of school life.
Families who wish to explore our facilities in more detail are invited to view our Facilities page or experience the setting first-hand during a personal visit.
Children are carefully prepared for senior school entry in a calm, supportive and individual way. We work closely with families to understand aspirations and advise on suitable next steps, ensuring each child is well matched to their future school.
Preparation for assessments is integrated into everyday learning, building skills, confidence and familiarity over time rather than through pressure or intensive coaching. As a result, children approach assessments feeling secure, well prepared and confident in their abilities.
