Early Years
Where our youngest children start, and what the first years here look like.
Starting at three
Our Early Years phase is the start of a child’s time at Llangattock. Children can join us from the age of 3 and stay through to 19, so a family who arrives early does not face a change of school at 4, at 7 or at 11.
Early Years here is a small, calm room with familiar adults, and six acres of outdoor space just outside the door. The day is built around play, talk and movement. We teach by stage rather than age, which means we start where your child is and move at their pace.
Families often find us while looking for a nursery place, so it is worth being clear about what we are. Llangattock School Monmouth is a school rather than a day nursery. We run term-time only, 8.45am to 3.30pm, with a 12.50pm finish on Fridays, and we do not offer wraparound childcare or holiday cover.
If what you need is full-time daycare, a nursery will fit your family better. If you are looking for a school place for a three- or four-year-old who needs more than a mainstream classroom can easily offer, that is what we do.
Very small groups, with the same adults every day. Children settle sooner and learn more readily when the people around them already understand how they work.
Six acres, used every day and in most weather. Outdoor learning, movement and space to regulate are part of the timetable rather than an extra.
We start with communication — spoken, signed, visual, or whichever route works for your child. Everything else builds on it.
Children reach our Early Years phase by different routes. Some are already known to a health visitor, a speech and language therapist or a portage worker. Some arrive with a plan in place. Many arrive with nothing written down yet.
We do not wait for a diagnosis or a finalised plan before we begin supporting a child. Our universal provision — the teaching every child here receives as standard — already includes a great deal of what would be described as targeted or specialist support elsewhere. In the Early Years that matters, because the support a child receives at three shapes a good deal of what follows.
You can read how we identify and meet additional needs, and how the Welsh ALN and English SEN frameworks both work here, on our ALN and SEN page.
Early Years places at Llangattock are arranged in one of three ways.
Through your local authority. Most of our families are placed and funded by their local authority, in Wales or in England. If your child has an Individual Development Plan, an EHCP, or an assessment underway, the route is usually through your case officer or ALNCo — see referrals and placements.
Privately. Some families choose and fund a place themselves, with no plan and no local authority involvement. You do not need a diagnosis to enquire.
A combination. Sometimes a place begins privately while an assessment runs its course. If you are unsure which applies to you, ask us — we can usually tell you within one conversation.
Children come to us from across Monmouthshire, from Monmouth itself, and from over the border in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. Cross-border placements are routine here.
Our Early Years phase suits children who need more than a mainstream classroom can easily offer — more adults, less noise, more time. Small groups, the same familiar faces every day, and a pace set by your child rather than by a scheme of work.
Some children arrive with a plan already in place. Many arrive with nothing written down, and a parent who has been worrying about it on their own for a while. Both are welcome, and neither needs sorting out before you get in touch.
Visits are relaxed and unhurried — bring your questions, and your child too if that helps.
Arrange a visit