Our passionate and experienced staff work closely with parents to ensure that every child has the opportunities, activities, and resources to develop into happy, confident and independent individuals. Overview Our children benefit from expert care and teaching whilst at nursery, and families benefit from experts on tap to inform and advise on key learning, wellbeing and developmental stages. Whilst children’s learning is fun, play based and creative, our curriculum ensures we are giving them a head start, gradually readying them to thrive in their next step up to Reception. They believe they are having simply fun, we know it’s purposeful play developing firm foundations for life-long learning. Being part of Copthorne Prep ensures a seamless journey through school. Pupils already feel at home as part of our school family as they move up to Reception and continue their journey on a future-focused curriculum which runs through to age 11. We also benefit from being part of the award-winning Caterham School family with early offers and scholarship opportunities in Year 5 to join the senior school. Meet the team Alexis Henke Head of Early Years Alexis Henke Head of Early Years As Head of Early Years and Reception Teacher here at Copthorne Prep, I am passionate about creating a nurturing, inspiring environment where every child can embrace their individuality and flourish. With over 21 years of experience (16 of those here at Copthorne Prep) in Early Years education, I have worked across Nursery and Reception settings, gaining both my Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) whilst working full-time. What I love most about Early Years is being part of those magical moments of wonder, discovery and achievement – whether it’s a child reading their first word, writing their first sentence, or developing the confidence to master a new skill. I am passionate about helping children build strong foundations, not only in their learning but also in essential life skills such as independence, resilience, confidence and empathy. I believe every child deserves the very best start to their educational journey, and I am committed to ensuring our youngest learners feel happy, valued and excited to learn each day. Faye Rumble Faye Rumble Nursery Lead Faye Rumble Nursery Lead I love being a part of Flying Start Nursery as I enjoy every day being different. I love seeing the progress the children make from their starting point until they go into Reception class where they thrive as they already feel secure and a sense of belonging at Copthorne Prep. Sophia Pavlou Sophia Pavlou Nursery Practitioner Sophia Pavlou Nursery Practitioner I love working at Copthorne Prep’s Flying Start Nursery because the children truly make every day a joy. I have many years of service with the nursery, which reflects the warm, supportive environment and strong values at the heart of the school. The ethos is centred around nurturing confident, happy learners, with a clear focus on understanding each child as an individual and carefully supporting their next steps through meaningful, child-led experiences. The environment is welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring, and the strong relationships between staff, children, and families create a real sense of community. Being part of a team so committed to high-quality early years practice and giving children the very best start makes this a truly special place to work. Sharon Ford Sharon Ford Nursery Practitioner Sharon Ford Nursery Practitioner One word to describe my thoughts about being part of our Flying Start Nursery is: exciting. The children have every opportunity to grow in all areas while still having fun which forms a firm and loving foundation. Alexis Henke