Kindergarden established c1948
Children aged 3½ to 7½ years old
Miss Irene Cooper, having been Froebel trained, (Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852) invented the kindergarten), started a kindergarten school using a rented room at the Dodo Jaye Dancing School in Millers Road in January 1948. By the autumn of 1948 she had acquired 23 Windlesham Gardens, from where the school took its name. It opened there in the September with a staff of five, for children aged 3½ to 7½ years old.
School vision statement
I went there in the January of 1949 in the school uniform of cream and tan. The prospectus was a piece of folded cream-coloured paper with brown printing; only 5 inches by 4 inches in size, probably due to still suffering the effects of wartime shortages and rationing. This paper unfolded to give the names of the staff, school hours and term dates. When fully opened the flimsy paper prospectus had a vision statement for the school by Miss Cooper. A lot of schools today would do well to embrace her ideas and ideals!
I loved the school
I have just a couple of memories from my two terms at that school all those years ago. One, that I loved going there, even from my first day. Two, the coat pegs had small transfer painted pictures beside each one so children could recognise their peg, even if they were too young to read a name or recognise a number. My peg was with a picture of a little soldier drummer boy.
Do you remember?
Did you attend this school? If you can share your memories, please post a comment below
Comments about this page
I went to Windlesham Kindergarten joining in September 1949. I was happy there and stayed until I passed the 11+. We moved up to Dyke Road when we outgrew the Windlesham Gardens site. The school has expanded over the years and is still going strong. I am still friends with many of my classmates after all these years and in touch with one of the teachers and now am one of the Governors!
My aunt, Judith Marsh taught at Windlesham in the 1980s I think. One of the ex-teachers there, I believe was Noel Haggard who used to be my old Headmeater at Woodingdean County Primary. Another teacher was Sue Chapman, small world as I used to teach with her in London in the 1970s.
Hello Della, I also went to Windlesham Kindergarden in 1949 but only for a short while as I went on to the Brighton and Hove High School, and I remember you and your sister Georgina? very well as you both looked very similar with straight dark hair. We lived in Cambridge Road, Hove, and I have a brother named Ashley.
I began my education aged 4 at Windlesham in Dyke Road. I have just celebrated my 70th birthday. I stayed there until my 0 levels, taught by Mrs Wade and Mrs Garner. I even made head girl. Both my daughters Imogen and JoJio went there too. Imogen made head girl and then went to Brighton and Hove High. Jojo left for the same school but into reception. Three of my grandchildren went there. Ella, Alfie and Jack. These three have gone on to achieve great things. All of us remember our time there with great affection, and on the same day as the 60th anniversary of the school I celebrated my 60th too. I am still in contact with two of my class mates and even with one guy I was in kindergarten with. Happy days.
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