Welcome to Little Downsend Leatherhead.
Little Downsend Leatherhead, located just a 5 minute walk from the Junior and Senior School, possesses its own special character, with large bright, well equipped classrooms, brimming with interactive activities. Little Downsend Leatherhead has the largest outdoor area of the three schools, with over an acre of garden space including playgrounds, astro turfed sports area and a magnificent forest school zone.
At each of our Little Downsend schools, we instil the same nurture, innovation, love of life, dynamic energy and high standards, supported by experienced and passionate teachers.
FACILITIES & LOCATION
A welcoming feeling with a dynamic energy.
Located on Epsom Road, a short walk from Leatherhead town centre towards the Knoll roundabout, and only 5 minutes from the Junior and Senior School.
Little Downsend Leatherhead, although the larger of the three, has a lovely welcoming feeling whilst also offering children delightful classroom spaces, areas for outdoor educational play as well as huge open spaces for sports, games, playtime and forest school.
All three Little Downsend Schools benefitted from a £500k+ investment in Summer 2023, upgrading the educational opportunities for children of all ages, offering light, bright spaces and amazing areas for outdoor play.
Our approach.
When children join us at Little Downsend Leatherhead, they join a friendly and welcoming community, quickly settling into the routines and fun of the day.
Our main focus is making sure that children are happy and settled, whilst also making sure that every day is full of adventure, whether they are two or seven! Although each year groups’ day is structured slightly differently due to their age, the general ethos is the same – every day should be fun, interactive, playful and exciting. The learning is subtle without children even being aware they are soaking up new skills every single day.
Our team of qualified teachers form exceptionally strong bonds with children, knowing how to get the best from them through support, or stretch or a little bit of both. We love to get outside and enjoy our natural spaces, so learning is often taken outside into the playground areas or grassy fields beyond.
Meet Head of Little Downsend, Lisa Burns
Appointed as Head of Little Downsend in 2023, Lisa Burns brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for Early Years education. With a strong belief that big ideas begin early, Lisa is dedicated to creating inspiring, nurturing e
environments where curiosity, creativity, and confidence can flourish.
Throughout her time at Downsend, Lisa has brought her energy and creativity into the classroom, leading English across the Junior School at Downsend before taking on the reins at Little Downsend, and gaining recognition from the ISA in 2024 for an award-winning programme aimed at developing early writing skills.
Lisa is passionate about helping every child develop confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. She works closely with families and staff to ensure each child is supported to reach their potential - academically, socially, and emotionally - in a joyful and enriching learning environment.
Introducing Laura Fisher, Head of Little Downsend from January 2026
We look forward to welcoming Laura Fisher into the position of Head of Little Downsend in January 2026. With a strong background in Early Years, SEN and school leadership, Laura brings with her a deep-rooted belief in nurturing creativity, curiosity and confidence in every child. Her experience spans leadership roles across independent prep schools, and she is passionate about inspiring a lifelong love of learning through creativity, exploration, play and personalised teaching. Laura is committed to helping every child thrive, and to supporting families in these most important early years of education. She believes in leading by example, continually deepening her knowledge and understanding of education in today’s fast-evolving landscape, where adaptability and innovation are essential. Laura looks forward to working in partnership with staff, families, and the wider school community to nurture creativity, champion high standards, and continue building a dynamic and inclusive learning culture where every child is supported to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.
Awards
Progression
From Little Downsend Epsom, our children have the choice to progress to Downsend Main School.
Downsend School is a Junior and Secondary school for children aged 7 years to 16 years.
Inspiring Young Minds.
Creating Incredible Futures.
0 - 4 yrs old
2 - 7 yrs old
2 - 7 yrs old
7-12 yrs old
12 - 16 yrs old
6 easy steps