THE Arbor Prep School and Cherry Trees Montessori Nursery at Risby, near Bury St Edmunds, have been acquired by the London-based Montessori St Nicholas Charity.

The school and nursery have a combined capacity of 250, providing education and care for children aged from three months to 11 years.

“We have been hoping that one day we would be able to acquire Arbor Prep School and Cherry Trees Montessori Nursery,” said Philip Bujak, chief executive of the charity, which was formed in 1954 to support the Montessori education movement in the UK.

“The school has a wonderful heritage and history of creating well rounded, independent and academically successful boys and girls using the Montessori method in a pure form at nursery and pre prep and following this through with a lighter touch in a traditional prep school setting up to age 11. We think this is the very best start for young people before they go on to their careers in senior schools.

“The trustees and I look forward to developing the already excellent ethos in the school and to creating educational facilities that are second to none in the region,” he added.

There are more than 810 Montessori schools across the UK educating over 30,000 children at any one time and nearly 60 of these now have pupils through to the age of 11.

Other schools owned by the St Nicholas Charity include the sought-after St Nicholas Preparatory School in Knightsbridge in London with 280 pupils and a two-year waiting list.