At Wildflowers Kindergarten, we protect and nurture young children’s curiosity and sense of wonder in a calm and joyful environment.

With us, children are given space to move freely and immerse themselves in exploration and imaginative play in the beautiful Hampshire countryside.

Our Day

Our days start with a conversation and seasonal rhyme before we walk to nearby woods or parkland where the children run and climb, observe changes in the landscape, make discoveries and play with what they find. Mid-morning the group gathers to eat fruit and home-baked bread whilst creating a story together.

On returning to our converted barn, the children have a cosy rest and share a warm healthy meal. In the afternoon, they engage in activities in which they practise skills and express their creativity using our carefully chosen resources.

The consistency of the Wildflowers days provides the children with security and a shared sense of ownership over our time together, which encourages them to contribute to the well-being of the group.

Our Education

By ensuring that our children feel safe and by conveying trust in their capabilities when meeting physical, social and practical challenges, they are supported to grow in confidence and develop resourcefulness, perseverance and resilience. 

Within Wildflowers’ culture of care, children learn about respect towards others, themselves and their environment.

We extend the children’s knowledge and vocabulary, deepen their understanding and teach skills by playfully engaging them in educational games following their individualised learning plans and responding to spontaneous learning opportunities.

Four and five year olds

Parents of children who turn four between 1 April and 31 August can request that their child is admitted to a reception class when they are five years old. This is called deceleration. 

Children can join the optional reception year at school in the spring term, or summer term if their fourth birthday is between 1 January and 31 August. This is called a deferred school start. 

Government funding continues until the end of the term in which a child turns five years old.

We have extensive experience in teaching children whose school start is deferred or decelerated, or who are home educated. 

By teaching each child individually, following their interests and ability, and with their parents’ active support, we have found these children to be well prepared for Reception or Year 1.

With us, four and five year old children benefit from having more time to play in nature and from having the opportunity to grow in confidence and deepen and broaden their capabilities in a familiar environment before moving on to school.

  • “Wildflowers is what all early years provision should be, a place where children’s engagement with life is the very centre of its philosophy. This is high quality early years provision at its best.”

    Suzy, senior lecturer in education

  • “Children are extremely motivated to learn and are constantly eager to know more. They flourish above expected levels of development due to skilful teaching.”

    Ofsted

  • “Our daughter has learnt independence, resilience, empathy and problem-solving, but also so much more. The skills and values, the security and loving environment Wildflowers has given her to learn about herself and the world will stand her in good stead for her entire life. If only every child could spend their formative years in this way, the world would be an infinitely better place.”

    Rooey & Ghanem, parents

  • “The Wildflowers children who have started at our school have been independent, resilient and able to problem solve with ease. Helena and her team ensure that a space is held for each child that supports them holistically.”

    Lauren, primary school teacher

  • “The staff at Wildflowers are not only hugely knowledgeable about early years education, but also invest love, genuine care and real engagement into each child. My children’s creativity has grown and blossomed, as well as their inquisitiveness in the world around them. They have learnt to be independent, to think for themselves, and to show care and interest in those around them.”

    Julia, parent and primary school teacher

  • “Wildflowers offers something so totally different to your standard preschool options. The teachers make an emotional investment in your child that I just am not convinced exists elsewhere. They put so much time and thought into each and every child that their learning programme is, in essence, bespoke.”

    Joanna, parent

  • “Children have extraordinary levels of self-control, resilience and respect. They have a superb awareness of the rules and boundaries of the setting and follow these easily. This leads to a remarkably calm environment.”

    Ofsted

  • “The mutual respect between the adults and children at Wildflowers is unlike any other early years setting I have experienced, even as an ex-teacher, and witnessing the staff navigate conversations with the children is a lovely thing. It’s an environment that nurtures the understanding that each child is part of the Wildflowers community, has their part to play, with clear expectations as well as the encouragement to grow into themselves as authentic individuals.”

    Kate, parent

  • “Our daughter has grown in confidence and independence immeasurably over her first year at Wildflowers. She has an enriched sense of empathy for others and for nature, and she has enjoyed so much learning through rich, brilliantly thought through experiences.”

    Parent

  • “Wildflowers is a completely unique place for children to grow and explore. Helena and the team are so nurturing and supportive of the children, helping them to discover the many wonders of the beautiful Hampshire countryside, as well as giving them all the essential building blocks ahead of their school journey. We feel so grateful we’re able to give our daughter the opportunity to spend so much time in nature with people who are so committed to their emotional, physical and social development.”

    Emma, parent

  • “Wildflowers is a sanctuary of presence, gentleness, and respect for each child’s being. It’s a place where children are met with warmth and a deep steadiness that allow them to feel safe, thrive, and be fully themselves. The manager has cultivated something extraordinary – an environment that is calm, creative and deeply nourishing for young souls. Children don’t just attend Wildflowers; they are seen, heard and truly held.”

    James, parent

  • “I am most grateful for the educators’ tireless enthusiasm and energy in running the operation which allows children to learn so much on their own in an incredible environment. Those lessons are the ones which give children, in my opinion, the ability to stand on two feet securely in later life and withstand the weather of the world.”

    Arthur, parent

  • “Wildflowers is a very unique and special setting where our son grew in confidence, independence and resilience even within his first term.”

    Kate, parent

  • “I can so clearly see that our children’s time at Wildflowers has shaped them in amazing ways which will last all their lives. They have been helped to see all the beauty and wonder in creation, and given a hunger and thirst for learning. Their creativity has been nurtured and grown, and their curiosity encouraged.”

    Parent

  • “Wildflowers is a magical place. The manager has created a safe space for children to experience a new adventure each day in a variety of beautiful settings. The routine and structure of the day grounds the children, allowing them the freedom to explore, play and be curious about their world.”

    Rebecca, parent

  • “I’m astounded at the calm and mindful nature of Wildflowers and the love and care all show each other.”

    Clair, early years educator

  • “Both my children have have had the most wonderful experience. Helena works tirelessly and puts so much care and love into every detail. I know that Wildflowers has given my children the best possible start.”

    Stacey, parent

  • “The team are so incredibly dedicated and caring, with a real passion for early years education. They absolutely know what they’re doing and have built an amazing place where children are supported in all aspects of their development whilst having a great time.”

    Richard, parent

  • “Wildflowers not only enables, but encourages crucial right brain learning in preschool children – the chance to develop originality, creativity and song.”

    Juliet, parent and psychologist