Our Kindergarten Story

Nant-y-Cwm began in 1979, when a small group of pioneering families dreamed of bringing Steiner education to West Wales. They were inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s vision of an education that nurtures head, heart, and hands, and set about creating a school where children could learn in harmony with nature. What began around kitchen tables and in borrowed spaces soon grew into a living school community, shaped by dedication, goodwill, and a deep love of childhood.

By the late 1980s it was clear that the youngest children needed a home especially for them. Plans were drawn up with eco-architect Christopher Day, whose designs grew out of conversations with teachers and parents. Together, they imagined a building that would feel like an embrace: soft curves instead of hard corners, warm colours on the walls, a hearth at the centre, and windows set low so that children could peer out and see the changing seasons.

In 1991 the Kindergarten opened its doors — not built by contractors, but by parents, friends, and volunteers, whose hands and hearts shaped each beam, wall, and window. Over thirty years on, the building has become part of the children’s story, a place of play and song, of bread-baking and stories by candlelight. Recognised by CADW for its architectural and cultural value, it remains a living testament to what a community can create when united by vision and care.

Steiner Education in the Kindergarten

In our Kindergarten, childhood is honoured as a time to grow in wholeness, to move at a natural pace, and to truly savour the wonder of these early years. Kindergarten children learn most deeply through imitation, imagination, and purposeful activity. Teachers take up simple domestic, practical, and artistic tasks — baking bread, tending the garden, painting in watercolours, or working with wool and wood — so that the children may join in through joyful imitation. These activities follow the rhythm of the seasons and the festivals of the year, helping children feel at home in the turning of time.

Stories are told by heart, rich with gesture and song, and the children’s own play grows out of these pictures, giving space for imagination to blossom. Through touch and movement, they come to know the world, so the materials we offer are always natural and nourishing to the senses — warm wood, cool stone, soft wool, smooth silk. In this way, the foundations for later learning are quietly laid: sequencing, sensory integration, balance, hand–eye coordination, and all those early capacities that one day support the life of thought.

transitioning to Kindergarten

Before your child begins, the Kindergarten teacher will arrange a home visit, a moment to meet in familiar surroundings, to learn more about your child’s experiences, rhythms, and needs, and to begin building the bridge between home and Kindergarten.

On the first day, parents bring their child to the Kindergarten door and say goodbye there. This small ritual helps the child step with confidence into their new world, knowing that home and Kindergarten are lovingly connected. For some children, the separation may take a little more time. This is perfectly natural, and our teachers will walk alongside you with care and patience. Together we will find the gentlest way to support your child’s beginning.

Kindergarten Rhythm

Our days and weeks are held in rhythm. This steady pattern gives the children security and helps them to settle into the flow of Kindergarten life.

Each day carries its own gesture, marked by both the food we share and the activity we do together. The children enjoy simple, nourishing homemade organic meals such as rice, apple crumble, and vegetable soup with fresh-baked bread. Alongside this, their mornings follow a gentle rhythm of activity, perhaps painting in soft colours, baking bread, or working with their hands in seasonal crafts.

The exact day for each meal and activity will differ between Kindergartens, but once set it remains the same within each group, so the children come to know and trust the pattern.

Festivals & Fairs

Festivals are an important part of our yearly rhythm. They connect us to the cycle of the seasons, to the natural world, and to one another. Some are celebrated within Kindergarten, while others are shared with families, weaving parents into the life of the school.

Harvest / Michaelmas (September)
Parents and children gather in the school hall to share a harvest feast. The children sing songs they have learned, and together we share the special harvest bread.

Martinmas (Lantern Walk, November)
The children craft their own paper lanterns. At dusk, families gather for hot apple juice and homemade cakes, before walking together through the school woods, carrying their lanterns to light the darkening path.

Advent Spiral (December)
In Hermon Hall, the Kindergarten teachers prepare a candlelit spiral of greenery. Parents and children are invited to walk the spiral, carrying a candle and adding their light to the growing circle of warmth and peace.

St Nicholas (December)
St Nicholas visits the Kindergarten, leaving small gifts in the children’s slippers.

Candlemas (February)
Children dip and roll beeswax candles, sing songs, and bring their light into the world. (This is a children-only festival, though parents are often invited to help in preparations.)

St David’s Day (March)
Children come dressed in traditional Welsh costume and dance to live fiddle and accordion music. Parents join in the dancing, and everyone shares bara brith and Welsh cakes.

Easter (March/April)
Parents join a special meeting to help paint blown eggs. The children enjoy an Easter egg hunt in the Kindergarten gardens and each take home a little Easter garden to tend during the holiday.

Whitsun (late spring)
The children dress in white and set out on a Whitsun walk, finishing with a shared picnic provided by the Kindergarten.

May Day (May)
Children weave flower crowns and dance around the maypole in the garden, while parents gather to watch and share in the joy. Afterwards, the children serve fruit to their families.

St John’s Festival / Midsummer (June)
Parents gather in the garden to watch the children bravely “jump” the festival fire (a very small fire, and children are safely held by two kindergarten teachers).

End of Year (July)
Families are invited to hear the children sing and to witness the Golden Children ceremony — a moving moment when the oldest children ride their handmade hobby horses out of Kindergarten, and on towards the main school.

Fairs (Late November & July)
Alongside our seasonal festivals, the school also hosts two wonderful fairs each year. These are joyful community days, well known locally for their creative spirit, delicious food, live music, crafts, and children’s games. Parents of Kindergarten children are asked to contribute (usually by baking a cake) which is organised by your class representatives.

And please don’t worry about keeping track of every date and detail. Our school administrator, Max, will always be in touch in good time with gentle reminders about upcoming festivals and fairs.

Practical things to bring

Our weather in Wales can turn quickly, and even on the warmest days a light cardigan or jumper is needed alongside a sunhat. Please make sure all items — especially waterproofs and wellingtons — are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

To be left at Kindergarten:

• Slippers
• Waterproofs
• Wellington boots
• Warm hat / sunhat / suncream (Summer days
• Scarf and gloves (in colder months)
• A full change of clothes
• If your child is attending adventure day on a Thursday, please send them with full waterproofs, a hat and gloves in winter, and a sunhat and cream in summer. Please make sure they also have a healthy packed snack and a small bottle of water.

Bringing toys to Kindergarten

We prefer that children do not bring toys in to kindergarten. However we understand that sometimes a child really wishes to bring in a toy, in which case it will sit on the shelf to watch the children until home time.

Arrival and Collection

The Kindergarten doors open at 8:45 am. If you need to bring your child a little earlier, please speak with the teacher. Children settle most easily when they arrive on time and begin the morning rhythm together.

We kindly ask that cars do not leave the school before 9:00 am, as the narrow tracks can become congested with vehicles passing each other.

Children should be collected at 1:00 pm or 3:30 pm (depending on their attendance). Please be prompt — at the end of the day your child will be eagerly awaiting you. If you know you will be delayed, kindly phone the school office.

For safety, we will ask you to complete a form listing the adults who may collect your child (for example, grandparents or another parent). If someone not on the list will be collecting on a particular day, please provide this in writing to your child’s teacher.

Absences

If you are going to be late or your child/children are going to be absent from school please call the school office by 9:30 to inform Max.

As the children in kindergarten are still so young there are various reasons why they may need a day at home, including illness, an exciting or difficult weekend, or over-tiredness.

Children who have been sick or feverish in the night, have diarrhea or develop spots should stay at home for a minimum of 48 hours after their last episode.

At this age, it is still possible for families to take holidays during term time. Please discuss this with your kindergarten teacher before you go away. Holidays in term time are not appropriate in the Main School.

Communication

We work closely with parents and carers, and value open communication. To support this, we offer a variety of ways to share information and stay connected:

Everyday Conversations
Kindergarten teachers are available for brief chats at drop-off and collection times. If you’d like a longer conversation, simply arrange a time to meet.

Parents Meetings
Held termly through the year, these meetings offer space to deepen understanding of Kindergarten life. Each gathering has a theme for discussion, and parents are warmly encouraged to suggest topics that would be useful to explore together.

Home visits
Before joining Kindergarten, teachers will visit a child at home. This helps strengthen the link between home and school, and offers valuable insight into the child’s world.

Newsletters
School newsletters are emailed to families and also displayed on the Kindergarten noticeboard.

Email
Max the administrator and the kindergarten team will send emails to inform parents about festivals, fairs, and any messages from Kindergarten.

WhatsApp
We have a dedicated Nant-y-Cwm WhatsApp community which helps families stay connected. This includes a general Kindergarten group, individual class groups, a lift-share group, and a marketplace group. Messages from the class representatives will be shared through the Kindergarten group, and occasional school announcements may also come through this channel.

Class representatives
Each Kindergarten group (and each class in the main school) has a parent representative. This person supports communication between teachers and parents, helps coordinate festivals, and liaises with other reps across the school.

Community library
A small library of books is available for parents to borrow, please ask a Kindergarten teacher if you’re looking for something specific.

Noticeboards
Outside each Kindergarten you will find a noticeboard with information relevant to that group, while the main school noticeboard by the front gate holds news and updates for the whole parent community. If you would like to add something, please speak with Max in the office, who will be glad to help.

If you have need any help, have any queries, or want to provide feedback, please email Info@nant-y-cwm.co.uk

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Volunteering

Almost 50 years ago, parents worked by hand, in the rain, with no money to convert this old school-building into the beautiful, soul-filled school our children enjoy today. As current parents, it’s our duty to maintain and take care of the school, so our children and future generations can be held within its walls and on its grounds.

School fees are kept at the absolute minimum for accessibility (making us the lowest cost independent school in the UK, and the cheapest Steiner School by a considerable amount). Yet the school needs your help, to keep it going. It might be cleaning, painting, building, sorting, raising money, or something else.

Don’t worry if you don’t feel confident or don’t feel skilled – Patrick who runs our Helping Hands days is always there to guide and help, and it can be a great way of learning skills too!

Our School Structure

Our school is run as a nested hierarchy, with a number of groups working closely together to support and sustain our community. Each group has its own clear role, and by collaborating we create a strong framework that enables Steiner education to flourish at Nant-y-Cwm, while also ensuring that we uphold robust policies and safeguard the wellbeing of every child. These groups include the Whole School Community, the School Governance Team, the School Management Team, the Teaching Team, the Early Childhood Team, and a number of Support Teams.

The School Governance Team
Formally known as the Trustees, this team oversees the long-term aims and objectives of the school. They are responsible for the employment of staff and for the legal aspects of running both the school and the charity.

The Management Team
The Management Team coordinates the work of all other teams. They help shape team plans, draw up the overall School Development Plan, and act as a point of contact if you wish to make a proposal or reach another team. Our School Manager, Emily Hopfinger, is also the Head of Safeguarding.

The Teaching Team & Early Childhood Team
These teams are responsible for the pedagogy of the school, including child studies, curriculum, and the inner work of the teacher. Both teams send representatives to sit on the Management Team.

The Support Teams
Support Teams are wide-ranging and draw on skills both from within the school community and beyond. These include Administration, Personnel, Maintenance, Finance, and Fundraising. Parents are warmly invited to apply to join a Support Team, and friends or family with relevant knowledge are also welcome — we are always grateful for new expertise. If you are interested, please complete the “Information for School Management Team” form and return it to the office.

For further details, please see the Policy and Procedures page on our website.