Pre-Prep (4-7 Years)
Pre-Prep (4-7 years)
“From an early age in the School, pupils display excellent study skills and in the prep school, this is a real strength. ’” (ISI Report, 2023)
We are determined to give each child the very best possible start to their school lives within a happy and secure environment. Our Pre-Prep years are Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. At these precious ages it is vital to develop each child’s self-belief and sustained enjoyment of discovery; our children thrive with the attention and support they receive, alongside a huge range of learning opportunities.
Our children learn to work and play constructively, learning the values of co-operation and self-discipline alongside the importance of caring for each other. Small classes and a carefully constructed timetable are combined with a superb team of staff and excellent facilities to ensure that all children flourish.
Lively, enquiring minds are encouraged and stretched through first hand practical experience and outstanding teaching, within an environment where effort, good manners, consideration for others and success are recognised and rewarded.
Children in Key Stage 1 will develop their understanding of the seven areas of learning and development in the Early Years curriculum: personal, social and emotional development, communication and language, physical development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design. Keeping Maths No Problem and English (Spelling, Comprehension, Reading) as the core subjects we have restructured the rest of the curriculum to allow the children to learn through guided play. The children go to Forest School one afternoon a week. Forest School builds self-esteem, confidence, resilience and improves wellbeing. The children are exposed to elements of risk in a controlled environment, their resulting level of independence rises and they face age appropriate challenges and scenarios. The new ‘Awe and Wonder Science Lab’ and ‘The Art Hive’ will provide extra spaces, enabling opportunities for extended play. Children will move seamlessly between subjects, developing skills in focus weeks. IT will be an enabling subject and History/Geography/RS/Languages will be grouped for the specific purpose of discovery. Music and Drama will continue to be taught by specialists, following the 3-18 ethos and as well as their dedicated spaces in Avenue and The Studio musical instruments will be available in classrooms so that the children can continue to use music as a medium in which to learn.