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First for girls for learning for adventures for friendships for fun

All-girls setting

Little Corgis is QCPS’ Pre-School for girls aged three to four, and is the first step in the QCPS journey, providing the very best start to a preparatory education.

Located in our beautiful buildings on Portland Place, in the heart of central London, Little Corgis has been thoughtfully designed to support families and working parents.

At the very heart of life at QCPS both geographically and philosophically our Little Corgis class offers a warm, nurturing environment that fosters curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong enthusiasm for learning. Girls enjoy direct access to a free-flow play area and exploration and discovery are an integral part of their learning.

Curriculum

Led by a qualified Early Years teacher, supported by an experienced teaching assistant and specialist staff in Art, Dance, Forest School, French and Music, our youngest learners benefit from a curriculum that inspires curiosity, creativity and confidence from the very beginning.

We believe that children’s first experiences of education should reflect the globally connected world they live in. Through our Early Years Curriculum, girls explore rich, thematic units rooted in enquiry-based learning. These units encourage independence, critical thinking, and meaningful connections across subjects. On-site workshops and off-site trips bring learning to life, while celebrations including Lunar New Year, Eid, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving and Christmas, provide powerful opportunities for cultural exploration and shared experience.

Daily Literacy and Maths sessions are seamlessly woven into the timetable. In Literacy, we focus on phonics, early reading, and the foundations of writing, using a consistent synthetic phonics approach from Little Corgis through to Reception. Pupils begin with opportunities to write from the outset, supporting confident letter formation and a smooth progression as they move up the school. In Maths, we follow a Maths Mastery approach, beginning each session with a real-life problem to encourage critical thinking, number fluency, and practical problem-solving.

There is a strong and intentional focus on the development of soft skills, which are increasingly recognised as vital for future success. In fact, the 2025 World Economic Form Jobs Report highlights key attributes such as resilience, flexibility, agility and attention to detail, qualities that are embedded within our teaching through our Values of Collaboration, Creativity, Courage, Compassion and Curiosity, which are at the heart of everything we do.

Above all, our aim is to know and nurture every girl, to provide the highest standards of care and education in an environment where each child feels safe, supported, and celebrated. We help our girls grow into resilient, creative, independent, and confident learners, excited about school and eager for what lies ahead.

Transition from Little Corgis to Reception is seamless and automatic, unless an alternative path is considered more suitable for an individual child. We place the wellbeing of every girl at the heart of our provision, knowing that a happy and secure start to life is essential for long-term wellbeing and success.

Facilities

As part of the main Preparatory school, Little Corgis have their own dedicated space to learn and explore. One of the rooms links to a beautiful outdoor courtyard where girls are encouraged to develop fine and gross motor skills, and social connection outside the classroom as well as within.

All girls will have regular outdoor time at Park Crescent Garden – a stunning gated green space used by QCPS girls.

A safe place for fun and learning

Come and discover Portland Place

Meet the Team

Shireen Toor

Welcome! I am Miss Shireen Toor and I have the joy of leading Early Years at QCPS. I am passionate that all our wonderful Little Corgis and Reception pupils enjoy the opportunity to grow, be curious and thrive in our nurturing, secure environment. I am dedicated to creating inclusive and engaging learning experiences that celebrate the unique qualities of each and every child.

My teaching journey began with an Education BA, followed by a PGDE and a Master’s in Educational Leadership; equipping me with a deep understanding of child development and the magic of play-based learning. Now, with many years’ of experience in early childhood education, I am committed to creating a safe and stimulating preschool where young minds can flourish. With our warm, approachable nature, my team and I strive to build positive, lasting relationships with you and your daughter.

I warmly invite you to the QCPS community – a place where every girl begins her learning journey. From Little Corgis and beyond, we nurture courage, creativity, compassion, collaboration, and curiosity.

60 seconds with Shireen Toor
Elina Dina, Teacher of Little Corgis Pre-School at Queen's College Preparatory School

Elina Dina

My name is Elina Dina and I feel privileged to be part of the Early Years team at QCPS, where I’ve been teaching for the past 5 years.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Early Years Education and a Masters in Special and Inclusive Education, I bring a strong foundation in child psychology and a deep commitment to nurturing every child’s unique potential. Over the past 8 years, I’ve embraced hands-on, play-based learning and believe that strong, trusting relationships between educators and children are key to helping them feel safe, confident, and ready to thrive.

I look forward to welcoming you and your daughter into our warm, inclusive community, where curiosity, creativity, and connection are at the heart of everything we do.

Admissions

Fees

All families are entitled to 15 hours Early Years funding per week (term-time only) from the government.

The fees include all food and drinks and trips. The only other cost you will incur is the uniform for Little Corgis. We regard our Pre-School as the first year of school, so we like to see all our girls, including those at Little Corgis, in their uniforms.

Check eligibility

£3,457

per term

15 hours funding model: term-time only

How to apply

We can’t wait to hear from you!

  1. After completing the registration form, a ‘playdate’ is then arranged for your daughter to visit Little Corgis. It is most likely this will be within one of our regular Stay and Play sessions that run throughout the academic year, which you are most welcome to attend at any point.
  2. Following the ‘playdate’, the Principal will decide on whether a place is to be offered. If so, we ask you to pay a deposit of £500, which is refundable at the end of the Pre-School year. If your daughter continues at QCPS into Reception and beyond, her deposit will be tranferred automatically and will be refunded when she leaves the school.
  3. Once the deposit is received, your daughter officially becomes a Little Corgi!
Register

Visit us

There are a number of ways you can come and see our wonderful Pre-School provision:

Stay and Play Sessions:

Our ‘Stay & Play’ sessions offer a relaxed and welcoming opportunity for families to experience the Little Corgis preschool environment. Held every other Friday morning, our ‘Stay and Play’ sessions are an informal way to experience the Little Corgis pre-school environment. Parents and and families are invited with their daughter (up to the age of five) for themed play activities, while meeting our Early Years teachers and getting to know other families. It’s a gentle, enjoyable way to discover our nurturing approach and see our learning spaces in action.

Each session includes a short story time, followed by a variety of themed play and exploration stations designed for young children. Every event also features a themed activity for children to enjoy and take home.

Upcoming Stay & Play sessions (9–10am):

  • Egg-cellent Art Day – Friday 20 March 2026: Easter crafts, playdough egg decorating and fine motor chick games.
  • Sensory Play Stations – Friday 24 April 2026: Hands-on sensory trays including sand, soil, rice and pom poms.
  • Model Magic – Friday 8 May 2026: Playdough fine motor play and seashell painting.
  • Nature Explorers Day – Friday 22 May 2026: Leaf rubbing, planting flowers and garden-themed sensory play.
  • Bookworm Bonanza – Friday 12 June 2026: Story time and character-themed colouring activities.
  • Summer Sun – Friday 26 June 2026: Sun catcher crafts and a parachute game.

Your daughter may attend any one, or a series of mornings for her to participate in fun, interactive activities.

Click here to register for one or more of our events.

Personalised tour:

Mr Richard Tillett, Principal of QCPS, would be delighted to show you around our wonderful site at 61 Portland Place and answer any questions you may have. To book a private tour, please email admissions@qcps.org.uk.