Welcome to our Little Lyons Nursery and Reception Admissions page. Little Lyons is a part of our nurturing and stimulating Prep School. Your application journey starts here.
Key dates
| Deadline for applications | Thursday 31 October 2024 |
| 3+ assessments | January 2025, date to be confirmed |
| 4+ assessments | November 2024 & January 2025, date to be confirmed |
Visit us
Most families begin their educational journey with us by attending one of our Meet the Head open mornings. These sessions offer an opportunity for prospective John Lyon families to meet our Head of Prep, Mrs Sonal Chatrath, and to see our exceptional School on a normal working day.
Registration
Registration is the next step for families who wish their child to be considered for a place at John Lyon.
To Register, please click on the link below. The registration fee is payment towards the administration of your child’s application to the school and their entrance examinations. This fee is non-refundable. When completing your online registration form you will be asked to upload a copy of your child’s passport and latest School report – if applicable
Nursery assessment
Children aged 3+
Children can join our Nursery soon after their 3rd birthday. The majority of children will join our Nursery in September, however we can accept children at other times during the year providing there is a vacancy and they meet our criteria.
The Nursery assessment will usually take place in the January in the year your child is eligible to join the School.
Once parents/guardians have completed their child’s registration form, you will then be invited to attend an assessment. Your child will have the opportunity to see the classroom and interact with the current pupils and staff.
These assessments last around 30 minutes. During the session, we will look at how each child interacts in the environment, how they communicate and respond to questions and how suitable we think the setting will be for your child. It will also give parents/guardians the opportunity to see the School and the Nursery area, share any relevant information and ask us questions. The assessment will be led by Miss Emily Sherr, our Head of Little Lyons and Pre-Prep, as well as our Little Lyons teaching staff.
| Our Prep School is an approved provider authorised to offer 15 hours of childcare funded by Harrow Council to 3 and 4 year old children. Families are eligible to claim the funding in the term after their child turns 3 years of age and up to and including the term they turn 5. |
Reception assessment
Children aged 4+
To join our Reception, your child must be 4 years old by 1 September in the year they are due to start. The majority of children will join our Reception in September, however we can accept children at other times during the year providing there is a vacancy and they meet our criteria.
The Reception assessment will take place in November in the year prior to entry and will take approximately 45 minutes. Your child will be among a small group of children, and they will take part in a fun group activity. We will look at your child’s interaction with the other children in the group, including how they respond to questions, their listening skills, communication and language. The assessment will be led by Miss Emily Sherr, our Head of Little Lyons and Pre-Prep, as well as our Little Lyons teaching staff.
Offers and Acceptances
We will email offer letters to parents normally within a week of your child attending their assessment.
If an offer of a place is made and you wish to accept a place you will be asked to read our Terms & Conditions, complete the Confirmation of Acceptance form and pay the Confirmation of Acceptance fee. There are some other forms to complete (depending on year of entry) these will be included or attached with your offer letter. The Confirmation of Acceptance fee is refundable when your child leaves the School.
Full terms and conditions are set out in the Parent Contract and Annual Update of Fees and Optional Extras, which are both available on request from our Admissions team.
Admission fees
| Registration fee | £150 |
| Confirmation of Acceptance fee | £1,000 (UK Resident) £3,000 (Overseas resident) |
Does the Prep School have a swimming pool?
Yes, we have our very own swimming pool on our Prep campus. We also have access to a second swimming pool at our Senior School. Being part of a Senior School means we benefit from three fully-equipped campuses with outstanding facilities for sport, music, drama, art and more.
Do you have links to other schools?
Yes, we have a Senior School. Together, we are one co-ed 3-18 school. We are also part of the global Harrow Family of Schools, which features Harrow School itself as well as a number of other leading schools around the world.
Do you offer wrap-around care before and after school?
Yes, we provide breakfast club, after school care, after school club and holiday club. These provisions are designed to be valuable to both parents and their children’s wellbeing and time. Read more here.
Can I apply for scholarship/bursary?
There are no scholarship or bursaries available for the Prep School. When applying for our Senior School, you can apply for scholarships and bursaries at the time of registering your child when your child is in the Prep School.
When will 3+ (Nursery) and 4+ (Reception) assessments take place?
Key dates are available at the top of this webpage.
Is lunch included in the school fees?
Yes, unlike most other schools in the area, we do not charge extra for lunch.
Do you offer a coach service?
We offer a comprehensive coach service, which is heavily subsidised by the School and takes pressure off families at drop-off and pick-ups. We encourage use of our coaches for not only your convenience and ease, but also for our collective sustainability efforts. It is also a great way for children to socialise with one another. Click here for more information.
Is the transition from Prep School to the Senior School automatic?
We offer our children automatic transition between Prep and Senior School, thus enabling children and parents to not go through the lengthy and emotional 11+ journey. The only exception to this will be if a child is performing well below the expected level, and therefore would not be suited to the Senior School.
We provide a wide range of sporting activities and opportunities for all pupils.
At our Prep School we concur with educational theorists who emphasise the importance of the creative mind and ‘emotional intelligence’ and ‘wellbeing’ – the need to develop the whole personality and our pupil’s imaginations especially. Drama has the power to liberate the mind.
We encourage our pupils to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. 
At our Prep School, Computing covers the use of electronic technology in all its forms, including computers and other communication devices.
• What is religion?
Art is an integral part of our Prep School’s curriculum, providing our pupils with a unique means of expressing their ideas by allowing them to explore new thoughts and give life to their creative minds.
History is taught throughout the School and pupils are encouraged to find out about events and peoples.
Planet Earth is our only home. It is an mind-blowing, diverse and constantly changing place of awesome beauty and power. 
French is the language of our nearest neighbours, probably the easiest foreign language for English speakers to learn and, after English, one of the most widely-learned languages worldwide.
The core of every science lesson at our Prep School is about developing every pupil’s curiosity in the world around them. 
Mathematics is a key subject for children of all ages at our Prep School.
English is taught using lively and creative methods through a variety of texts and resources incorporating ICT from Pre-Prep onwards.