• Eastcourt is nurturing, courteous and community minded, with a clear wish to help children grow into caring, well-educated and tolerant young people.

• A good fit for families who want a more intimate local prep-school experience, where children are known well and parents can get a realistic feel for the school quickly.

Eastcourt Independent School's admissions process is approachable, local and relationship led, with school tours and open events doing much of the work. The impression is of a smaller prep where parents will want to understand day-to-day fit and tone rather than navigate a theatrical entrance process.

Scholarships are unlikely to be the central story here. The stronger attraction is a smaller east London prep with a straightforward admissions process and a reassuringly personal feel.

• The school does not publish bursary entry points, so families should ask directly.
• The school does not publish bursary award levels, so families should ask directly.
• Families should contact the school directly to ask whether any bursary, hardship support or discretionary fee assistance is available.

The overall picture is helped by a clear website, prospectus and policy set, which gives families something concrete to review before visiting. At this size, though, the atmosphere on the ground and the quality of classroom relationships will matter just as much as the documents.

Assessment at Eastcourt is regular, teacher led and closely tied to day-to-day classroom knowledge of each child. The appeal for parents is likely to be steady progress and confidence building rather than an over-engineered testing culture.