Pre-Prep Admissions Process

Pre-Prep Admissions

Our Pre-Prep School, comprising Nursery, Kindergarten, Prep 1 and Prep 2, is a nurturing environment where our key qualities of kindness, curiosity and courage help pupils to flourish and thrive in their development and learning every day.

We understand that starting school is a big step for pupils and their families and strive to support you during this transition throughout our admissions process.

From September 2026, our new 3+ Nursery will be open, further enhancing our Pre-Prep provision. For more information, please click here and for Nursery admissions please contact the Registrar.

Download the Kindergarten Admissions Guide

Admissions Process

Step-by-Step Guide

We welcome two Kindergarten classes into Pre-Prep each year.

Please click on the boxes below to see a step-by-step guide to our admissions process for entry to Kindergarten (age 4+) in September.

Visit Us

Register

Stay and Play Session

Places Offered

Offer Holder Event

Deadline To Accept

Welcome Evening

Induction Day

1. Visit Us

The best way to get a feel for our school is to visit us.

We warmly invite you to see the School for yourself, and to meet our wonderful pupils and staff.

We offer open events and small group tours throughout the academic year. Please click on the link below to see our admissions events dates and to book your place.

BOOK YOUR PLACE

2. Register Your Child

To apply for a place you will need to register your child by clicking on the button below.

We operate a rolling registration system and welcome early registrations for later years. You will be asked to pay a registration fee. Please note that this fee is non-refundable but may be transferred to a subsequent year.

If you experience any difficulties with the online registration process please contact our Registrar who will be happy to help.

3. Stay and Play Session

We host a Stay and Play Session for children wishing to join Kindergarten in September 2026.

Admission to Kindergarten is by ballot. Families must attend the Stay and Play Session in order to be entered into the ballot. At this session, children will have the opportunity to play in our Kindergarten classrooms while parents can ask our staff any questions they may have about Ibstock. Siblings of current pupils who attend this session are guaranteed a place.

4. Places Offered

A formal offer of a place will be made to those successful in the ballot.

Offers will be sent to you via email. You will be asked to complete an online acceptance form and pay the acceptance deposit. Our offer of a place will be deemed to have lapsed if it is not formally accepted by the deadline stated in the offer.

5. Offer Holder Event for Parents

The event will provide you with the opportunity to hear from key members of staff, ask questions and have another look at the School before making your final decision.

6. Deadline For Acceptance Of Offers

You will be asked to confirm acceptance of our offer by the deadline and pay an acceptance deposit of £2,000.

The deposit is non-refundable should the place subsequently be declined if more than 14 days have elapsed after the acceptance deadline. This deposit will be returned to you when your child leaves the School.

7. Welcome Evening For Parents

JUNE

Our Welcome Evening is an opportunity for us to welcome new parents and carers of Kindergarten pupils to the School.

During this adults-only event you will meet your child's teachers, explore our Pre-Prep facilities, and meet fellow new parents and carers.

8. Kindergarten Induction Day

SEPTEMBER

New Kindergarten pupils are welcomed into School the day before the start of term.

Induction Day gives our new Kindergarten pupils the opportunity to settle in to their surroundings before the older pupils join on the first day of term.

Explore Admissions

Admissions FAQ

Fees and Bursaries

View Our Prospectus

Scholarships

International Applicants

Admissions Policies

Occasional Admissions Process

Register Your Child

Reviews

The Good Schools Guide
Talk Education
Tatler Schools Guide
From Parents
From Pupils

‘Spectacular music from the start.’

Read the full review

‘Stunning art from outset.’

'Range of clubs and societies...mind-boggling'

Range of clubs and societies…mind-boggling’

‘…pupils are taught to become independent critical thinkers...’

Read the full review for Prep

Read the full review for Senior

'The whole school is led impressively by Chris Wolsey...'

‘The whole school is led impressively by Chris Wolsey. Engaged and accessible, he brings a collegiate style of leadership to the school community.’

'...seamlessly combines tradition and innovation…’

‘This all-through school on the edge of Richmond Park seamlessly combines tradition and innovation…’

‘Christoper Wolsey is somebody who genuinely cares about the wellbeing and opinions of the students.’

‘From personal experience – and it’s the consensus among my peers – I believe that Christopher Wolsey is somebody who genuinely cares about the wellbeing and opinions of the students.’ So says one satisfied parent of Ibstock’s head. And Wolsey cares about the pupils’ articulacy, too.

Tatler

'Alongside forging positive relationships with his charges, he puts great emphasis on their oracy..'

'Alongside forging positive relationships with his charges, he puts great emphasis on their oracy: the public-speaking team recently triumphed in a competition at Cambridge University; and through membership of the The Noisy Classroom organisation, the debaters can argue the toss with children from around the world.'

'The new Esports arena is match-fit for gamers'

'The new Esports arena is match-fit for gamers; the school team has exploded onto the Esports Rocket League, already winning silverware; and did we mention that there’s an incoming head of AI? However, if all this doesn’t sound enticing enough, the roster of foreign adventures should clinch it. ‘Over the next few years, my lucky son is hoping to go on a classics trip to Pompeii and a Tuscan art retreat, as well as language-study visits to Munich and Valencia, skiing in Switzerland and surfing in France,’ reports one parent.'

‘…the range of community and charity activities...'

‘…the range of community and charity activities that my son is involved with is amazing.’

‘We love everything about Ibstock...'

‘We love everything about Ibstock and our son is incredibly happy there.’

'...my daughter is happy and flourishing...'

‘Very happy indeed with the school as a parent. Most importantly, my daughter is happy and flourishing. Thank you.’

'...I don’t think there could be a better school for me.’

‘It’s given me so many opportunities... I don’t think there could be a better school for me.’

‘Right from the beginning I was made to feel at home.’

‘Ibstock...helped me to explore my interests and talents.’

‘Ibstock helped me achieve the grades I needed…but more importantly it helped me to explore my interests and talents.’