• Merlin School is warm, stimulating and child centred and aims to make the earliest years of school life both joyful and substantial.

• Will suit families seeking a genuinely homely and creative pre-prep where children can be busy, imaginative and well taught without pretension.

Admissions at Merlin School are warm, low drama and philosophy of childhood first rather than highly selective. It should suit parents who want a genuinely homely pre-prep where children can start school in a creative, hands-on environment without being rushed.

Scholarships are not part of the Merlin story. Families choose the school for its scale, warmth and imaginative early-years teaching rather than for any status competition.

The overall picture is very appealing for the age range, with the school describing itself as a pre-prep for boys and girls and outside reviewers characterising it as homely, fun and stimulating rather than glossy. Parents should still visit, because a pre-prep works only when the everyday warmth is real.

Assessment is observational, teacher led and firmly geared to secure early foundations rather than formal exam-style pressure. Parents should expect the basics to be taken seriously, but in a way that still protects confidence, curiosity and the pace of childhood.