Start with your child, then build a clear plan
for school choices, applications and preparation for entry.
Understand your childTheir interests, personality and pace of growth
Find the right fitChoose a school with your child at the centre
Move forward with confidenceTurn future plans into clear, practical steps
SCHOOLS & RANKINGS
Explore nurseries, prep schools and secondary schools, then get to know the settings and places that could suit your child.
Discover London nurseries and their neighbourhoods. Listed alphabetically, not ranked.
Explore the nursery directoryTIPTOP PREP SCHOOL GUIDESchool profiles, learning environments and senior-school destinations.
Explore prep schoolsTHE TIMES PARENT POWERSchool rankings, profiles and an interactive regional map.
Explore secondary schoolsThe nursery directory draws on My Baba’s selection and is not ranked. The prep school guide is compiled by Tiptop; secondary rankings are from The Times Parent Power.
Schools & rankingsWHAT WE EXPLORE TOGETHER
Make sense of the choices ahead.
Bring school choices, application dates and everyday arrangements
together in a practical plan.
Compare schools, courses and entry points around your child’s learning, interests and your family’s plans, from nursery to Sixth Form.
Organise documents, registration and assessment dates around your chosen schools, with clear priorities for English, written tests and interviews.
Plan for everyday school life, from day or boarding routines to travel, holiday care and communication with the school.
FIND THEIR STARTING POINT
From nursery to Sixth Form,
connect early-years care, school choices and each transition.
Explore the curriculum, school culture and activities, while considering your child’s readiness for boarding and independent learning.
0+ covers early nursery planning; minimum ages vary. The 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+ stages are common entry points in England, but not every school offers each one. Our nursery and 4+ pathways are for day attendance, for families with arrangements to live in the UK and provide daily care and transport.
Every child.
Their own path.
THE TIPTOP APPROACH
Tiptop Education focuses on school choices and admissions from nursery to Sixth Form. We begin with your child’s personality, interests, learning and English, then consider the schools and routes that fit your family’s plans.
We explain the differences between schools and organise the documents, assessments and application dates. You can see the reasoning behind each recommendation and understand what to prepare next.
Understand the child.
Make the next step clear.
ONE STEP AT A TIME
A clear route through the preparation,
so each decision is an informed one.
Tell us about your child, your hopes
and the questions on your mind.
Compare schools and entry routes,
with clear reasons and preparation priorities.
Prepare for age-appropriate assessments, written tests or interviews, based on each school’s requirements.
Prepare the required documents and track registration, assessment dates and application progress.
Plan travel and everyday arrangements,
ready for a new school environment.
YOUR FIRST LITTLE STEP
Choose a starting point to create a preliminary checklist.
Bring it to your first conversation with an adviser.
Your message opens as a draft. Review or edit it before sending.
Contact Tiptop with my checklistQUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Every child’s circumstances are different.
Here are some questions parents often ask.
There is no single right age for every child. Alongside school entry points, consider their English, emotional readiness, independence, wishes and the support your family can provide. Our 0+ category covers early nursery planning; it is not a standard formal school entry age. Minimum ages vary, so check with your chosen nursery. You can then explore common entry points in England — 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+ — and discuss individual schools. Our 0+ nursery and 4+ (usually Reception) pathways are for day attendance only. Family support, daily care and settling in are especially important.
Timelines vary, and some schools require applications more than two years ahead. Check your chosen schools’ registration, assessment and offer dates before planning documents and academic preparation. A general timeline is not a substitute for a school’s own deadlines.
Consider your child’s personality and readiness for independence, where your family lives and what each school offers. Boarding patterns, weekends and holiday accommodation can vary. Day school also calls for careful planning around travel, everyday care and family arrangements.
They can fulfil different roles. Check each school’s guardianship policy and who is responsible for holiday accommodation, travel, emergency contact and home–school communication. Confirm the details with the school and any relevant service providers.
It helps to have a brief overview of your child’s current year group, learning and English, interests, intended entry date and your family’s three main priorities. You do not need to send sensitive documents such as passports for an initial conversation. You can also use the tool above to create a checklist.
For types of early education and nursery care, see GOV.UK’s official childcare information (check the applicable guidance for your local council and chosen nursery). Minimum ages vary by provider; check with your chosen nursery. For common entry points and application timelines, see the Independent Schools Council (ISC); for an example of 4+ (Reception) entry, see Dulwich College’s official admissions information (included only to illustrate the entry stage). For guardianship arrangements, see AEGIS guidance on school guardianship policies. Sources checked: October 2026.
The website and checklist help you organise school choices and admissions planning. Application dates, assessments and minimum ages follow each school’s official requirements for the relevant year. We will agree the service scope with you before work begins and explain the responsibilities and arrangements for any guardianship or other third-party services.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THEIR FUTURE
Whether you have a plan or are just beginning to explore,
let’s talk about your child and what you hope for.