• Little Downsend Epsom is nurturing, calm and high in standards, and aims to give children a confident and happy first experience of school.

• Will suit families seeking an Epsom pre-prep where younger children can start gently but still feel part of a bigger educational journey.

Admissions at Little Downsend Epsom are warm, visit led and clearly focused on helping families understand the early-years and pre-prep journey before committing. The overall feel will suit parents who want a calm, leafy Epsom setting for the first years of school rather than a high-drama prep process.

Scholarships are not really the point at this stage. Families are more likely to choose Little Downsend Epsom for its nurturing start, calm setting and clear place in the wider Downsend journey.

The overall picture is reassuring, with the school openly linking itself to the wider Downsend family and highlighting the group's strong ISI standing. Parents should still visit because the physical feel of the site and the atmosphere for very young children matter a great deal here.

Assessment begins with close observation in the earliest years before building into structured tracking of the core skills needed for Reception to Year 2. Parents should expect a practical emphasis on confidence, curiosity and school readiness rather than overt pressure.