From the ages of 4 to 7 years old pupils are based in the Pre Preparatory department. This Department comprises of Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. As to be expected a sizeable proportion of the children join the Pre Prep from our own Nursery but some children do join us from other nurseries in the surrounding area.
The Pre Prep Department is based on the main school site in a purpose-built classroom block that provides a fantastic and stimulating learning experience. The classrooms are spacious and equipped with a wide range of learning materials available to challenge the children. In addition the children are also able to make use of all the facilities of the main school.
Throughout Pre Prep class sizes are small, each having a well-qualified and experienced classroom teacher supported by teaching assistants.
In Reception the children continue to learn within the framework of the Early Years Foundation Stage programme with great importance being placed upon all the areas of learning and in particular Communication, Language and Literacy, Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy and Personal and Social Development.
In Years 1 and 2 the classroom teacher is responsible for implementing the curriculum whilst maintaining the expectations of the national curriculum. Traditional values form the basis of a learning experience that engenders an enthusiasm for knowledge and encourages hard work and diligence in all aspects of learning. All of the children in the Pre Prep Department learn a modern foreign language and have access to specialist music teaching and physical education.
The school day for the Pre Prep department starts at 8.45am and finishes for Reception at 3.15pm and for Years 1 and 2 at 3.30 pm. The children are also able to access Before and After School Club when It is necessary to do so.
The key aim for the Pre Prep Department is to build each child’s self-esteem, confidence and independence to ensure that they have the perfect start to their formative years.
Mrs Maggie Bland (Head of Pre Prep)