Will Charlotte be a cygnet, swift or swan? How pupils at the Princess's nursery are split into groups, receive lessons in poetry and given grades for their behaviour

Princess Charlotte is to attend Willcocks Nursery near Kensington Palace
There is no uniform and Charlotte will play with offspring of the upper classes
Nursery is described in Tatler as ‘mix of old English families and chic foreigners’
Morning sessions cost £3,050 a term, while afternoon sessions are £1,800

Published: 22:25 GMT, 18 December 2017 | Updated: 09:27 GMT, 19 December 2017

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So what can the fourth in line to the throne expect when term starts on January 4? Yummy mummies, poetry lessons and some eye-wateringly exorbitant fees… here is the Daily Mail’s guide.

Her first day

Handily, Willcocks Nursery is just around the corner from Kensington Palace. There is no uniform and Charlotte can expect to spend her days with the offspring of the upper classes, described in Tatler as a ‘mix of old English families and chic foreigners’ .

With 32 children in the nursery aged two to five, pupils are split into four groups named after birds: Cygnets, Swifts, Swallows and Swans.

Kate’s stay and play

In Charlotte’s early days, Kate will be encouraged to take part in ‘stay and play’ sessions. For William, there are regular ‘fathers’ breakfasts’.

If the surroundings seem strange at first to the young princess, there will be a familiar face – one classroom wall has a portrait of the Queen, alongside a picture of the Crown Jewels.

Once she is used to being away from home, Charlotte will progress to afternoon sessions and can even participate in Lunch Club – an informal session designed to prepare children for big school – which runs from 12 to 3pm three days a week.

Each child has to bring a packed lunch. Healthy eating is encouraged, with milk to drink and fresh fruit to snack on.

Even Princess Charlotte will be expected to help prepare milk cartons for her classmates and tidy the dressing-up box.

Hidden gem: Willcocks Nursery

The fab ‘MISS Lavinia’

Lavinia Lechmere Loveday Taylor – ‘Miss Lavinia’ to pupils – is both co-owner and headmistress (it’s a cooperative, meaning staff are also part-owners). She has been teaching for several years and was made head in 2009.

Mrs Taylor, 57, is married with two sons. Tatler describes her as a ‘fab head’, known for her kindness. Her motto is: ‘We try our best not to disappoint’. As well as Mrs Taylor, there are five female teachers and a team of extra-curricular staff: Lucy the dance teacher, Amelia the French teacher, Pedro the sports coach and Katherine the music teacher.

From art to aristotle

Willcocks prides itself on the politeness of its pupils and prizes manners as highly as numeracy and literacy.

Charlotte, no doubt already grounded in royal etiquette, will be coached in everything from table manners to saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

It is not all story time and counting to ten, though. Pupils are used to far loftier themes for their lessons, including archaeology, the environment and talks on polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. In a testimonial on the nursery’s website, one satisfied parent even mentions Aristotle and Alexander the Great.

Children also have a host of visitors, from firemen and policewomen to the local vicar. Pupils are never stuck in the classroom for long, however. They are encouraged to interact with nature – and this includes getting down and dirty with creepy crawlies in the school’s spacious playground.

There are also sand and water features, construction sets, wheelie toys and plenty of ball games.

There are regular outings on which they all wear yellow high-vis jackets – to the Science and Natural History museums, the Royal College of Art and the Royal College of Music, as well as nearby Hyde Park in the summer months.

Creativity is encouraged, with singing, dancing and learning musical instruments. Recent arts projects include clay-pot making. Creations are proudly displayed in an ‘art gallery’ on the website.

Left: A photo from the school’s website showing pupils playing with clay

Making the grade

Toddlers get graded and parents receive termly reports of their behaviour, along with photographs of what they have been doing.

The nursery, rated ‘Outstanding’ in its latest Ofsted report, has a reputation for high standards. The report praises everything from the subjects covered to the PTA. ‘The organisation of the time that children attend is exceptional,’ it states. ‘As a result, no time is wasted and children enjoy a productive learning experience’.

A hefty price tag

With all this on offer, it’s certainly not cheap. Morning sessions cost £3,050 a term, while afternoon sessions are £1,800. Add in the Lunch Club and the total is nearly £20,000.

As a royal, Charlotte will have bypassed the long waiting list – parents are encouraged to register their child at birth.

They pay £125 to register their child (non-refundable if they don’t get in), and a £1,500 deposit the moment they’re offered a place. Willcocks does not participate in the Nursery Education Grant (the 570 hours’ free early education offered by local authorities), so it really is only for the well-heeled.

In almost every respect, Charlotte’s nursery is posher – and pricier – than George’s Westacre Montessori School in Norfolk, which costs just £33 a day.

Keeping her safe

After recent reports of an intruder at George’s school, royal bodyguards will be on high alert to make sure Charlotte is safe. Parents and teachers may be asked to sign non-disclosure agreements in advance of her arrival. Tucked away as it is, Willcocks is low-risk. Tatler describes it as ‘understated’ and ‘under the radar’.