Anstey First School and Nursery
"BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE THROUGH RESPECT, RESILIENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY"


As you will see from the photographs available to browse on our website, our children are privileged to benefit from stunning grounds, located in open countryside within a small and beautiful, rural village. With the support of our community, we have superb outside facilities which include an outside classroom (“The Cabin”), a wildlife area, pond and raised beds in which our children learn about growing herbs and vegetables.
We have introduced the Montessori approach in our early years classrooms and are developing it throughout the rest of the school up to Year 4. The result is a unique blend of the National Curriculum being taught through a topic, skills based approach, with a Montessori ethos throughout the school. This leads to independent learners, who take responsibility for both themselves and the environment around them. Our children are expected to organise themselves, communicate in an appropriate fashion and challenge themselves to extend their learning.
Our size is also our strength. Although we are Hertfordshire's smallest school, our community has a very big heart. With their support we manage to remain well-resourced both within the classroom and without. We have iPads, wireless laptops and interactive whiteboards inside our classrooms and outside we have built a fantastic forest school in adjacent woodland. Access to a minibus gives us the flexibility to take our children on regular trips to enhance their learning experience and their enjoyment of time spent at our school.
We are often able to share events and learning opportunities with other schools. The excellent behaviour of our pupils and their willingness to join in confidently with larger groups is regularly commented upon by visitors and observers.
In this way, our pupils have the best of both worlds. We have a tradition of providing a caring, nurturing, ‘family’ setting which encourages sociable, confident, well-mannered and thoughtful children. At the same time, they are developing their confidence and wider social skills to prepare them for their future development.
Our children are always encouraged to work to their highest standards and achieve their full potential which is much more than just academic success. We aim to support them as they grow into confident, happy individuals and to provide them with the skills to get the most out of their education at every level.
We offer wraparound care with daily Breakfast Club (8am start) and After-school Clubs (till 5.00pm).
We are always pleased to show visitors round and hope that you will feel inspired to visit us soon.
