EARLY YEARS
Where your child’s learning journey begins with fun, confidence and curiosity.
Small beginnings. Strong foundations.
Where confidence grows, curiosity is encouraged, and every child is truly known.
Ages 3-5
Small, nurturing class sizes
Forest & Beach School every week
Experienced Early Years team
This isn’t just where your child starts school — it’s where they begin to love learning.
Your child is welcomed into a setting that balances nurturing care with high-quality early education. Every day includes gentle routines, rich play, outdoor discovery and supportive adults who understand how young children learn best. Children leave Early Years confident, independent and genuinely excited for what comes next.
How your child learns
Here's what that actually looks like day to day…
Play with Purpose
Children explore ideas, use language and make sense of the world through carefully designed play. Every activity is intentional — whether they’re building, storytelling, imagining or problem-solving.
Inspired by
Reggio Emilia
Our spaces are calm, beautiful and designed to spark curiosity. Children express themselves through art, movement, music and construction, guided by adults who observe and extend their thinking.
Forest & Beach School
With 11 acres of grounds and Porthcawl’s coastline on our doorstep, outdoor learning happens every week. Nature is not a treat here — it’s part of how children learn.
HERE'S WHAT YOUR CHILD'S DAY MIGHT FEEL LIKE...
A Day In Early Years
A gentle morning welcome
Free flow play and continuous provision
Outdoor exploration
Group time, stories and songs
Snack and social time
Specialist lessons
Forest or Beach School
Quiet time or reflection
Afternoon inquiry and play
Every day balances energy, calm, curiosity and comfort — in a setting designed for your child to thrive. It’s structured enough to feel safe, and flexible enough to feel joyful.
Every child known.
Every family valued.
Every child has a key person — a trusted adult who builds a close, secure relationship with them and their family.
This means emotional security, personalised support, consistent communication and a deep understanding of your child’s individual needs. It’s the anchor of their Early Years experience.
You’ll know exactly who they are — and they’ll know your child.
Lauren Hallihan
Early Years Leader
Foundations for lifelong learning
Designed around how young children grow, think and communicate
Social-Emotional
Your child learns to understand and manage their emotions, building resilience, empathy and confidence with the support of trusted adults.
Physical
Daily movement and outdoor play build the physical skills your child needs — coordination, balance and the fine motor abilities that underpin writing and focused learning.
Cognitive
Your child begins linking ideas, noticing patterns and making predictions. These are the early reasoning skills that form the foundation for future academic progress.
Language & Communication
Through stories, songs and rich conversation, your child develops the vocabulary, listening skills and early literacy foundations that will carry them through school and beyond.
Working together — because children flourish when school and home are in partnership
We build strong relationships through daily communication, shared celebrations of learning, open conversations about progress, family workshops and opportunities for you to be involved in school life. Together, we create a community where every child feels known and supported.
Discover everything about Early Years at Clare House School
Inside our free Early Years Guide: what a day looks like, our curriculum philosophy, Forest & Beach School, settling in, the Key Person approach and how we prepare your child for Year 1. No obligation — just clear, reassuring information delivered to your inbox.
Come and meet us — Play & Learn Club
Our weekly Play & Learn sessions are a gentle, low-commitment way to experience Early Years at Clare House School. Led by Lauren Hallihan, our Early Years Leader — open to children aged 2 to 5.
Settling in
A supportive start
We understand that starting school is a significant milestone. Our settling-in process is designed at a pace that feels right for your child — with phased starts when needed, time for parents to stay, and regular communication throughout.
A seamless path
into Year 1
As a through-school, your child moves into Year 1 gradually and confidently. They meet new teachers, explore new spaces and build familiarity through shared experiences — so the transition feels secure and exciting, not abrupt.
You're not the only one asking these questions…
We were quite nervous about starting, but the way they supported our child (and us) made such a difference. Within a few weeks they were excited to go in each morning — that says everything
Early Years Parent
It doesn’t feel like a typical classroom — it’s calm, creative and thoughtful. You can see how much care goes into how the children learn, not just what they learn.
Early Years Parent
Knowing there’s someone who really understands your child is incredibly reassuring. Communication is always open, and you genuinely feel part of it.
Early Years Parent
Start your child's journey with us
Your child’s Early Years experience should feel joyful, safe and full of possibility. At Clare House School, it is.
OUR CURRICULUM
Designed for how young children learn best
We blend the EYFS (England) and Curriculum for Wales to create a personalised, research-informed experience shaped around your child’s developmental stage. This approach allows us to focus on the whole child — their social-emotional growth, physical development, early thinking skills and language. Children learn through rich, playful experiences that strengthen literacy, numeracy and communication for life.
PEDAGOGY
How your child learns with us
Play with purpose
Play is learning. Children explore ideas, use language, collaborate and make sense of the world through play. Our teachers carefully design experiences that are engaging, fun and appropriate to every child’s needs. Whether they are imagining, building, problem-solving or storytelling, your child is learning with intention.
Inspired by Reggio Emilia
We believe children are powerful learners — curious, capable and full of ideas. Our environment reflects this: calm, beautiful and intentionally designed to spark inquiry. Teachers observe, listen and extend children’s thinking, while children express themselves in many ways — through art, movement, music, construction, storytelling and more. This approach gives your child ownership of their learning and the confidence to explore their interests deeply.
A purpose-built environment for Early Years
Our learning spaces — indoors, outdoors and in nature — invite children to follow their interests, make choices and collaborate. Continuous provision allows them to access high-quality resources independently, strengthening self-direction, problem-solving and confidence. The environment becomes a “third teacher,” quietly encouraging exploration and growth.
FOCUS AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT
The foundations for lifelong learning
Social–Emotional Development
Your child learns to understand their feelings with the support of trusted adults. Strategies such as Zones of Regulation, simple mindfulness routines and expressive arts help them recognise emotions and respond calmly. Over time, they develop resilience, empathy and a strong sense of self.
Cognitive Development
As your child explores, they begin to link ideas, notice patterns and test their thinking. They learn to concentrate for longer periods and make simple predictions. These reasoning skills form the foundations for future academic progress.
Physical Development
Daily movement, purposeful play and outdoor exploration strengthen both fine and gross motor skills. These abilities form the basis of writing, self-care, balance and coordinated movement. When children build physical confidence, they are better prepared for focused learning.
Language & Communication
Stories, songs, conversations and playful dialogue nurture your child’s ability to express themselves. They learn to listen, share ideas and build the vocabulary needed across all areas of learning. Early phonological awareness and mark-making create strong foundations for reading and writing.
Start their journey
Trust registration no.16459676
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