Curriculum

In the Pre-Prep, children are taught through a topic-based creative curriculum where all areas are covered through an over-arching topic. This allows children to explore geography, history and science in a creative way, through drama and stories, supporting them to make links in their learning experiences. The outdoors is elemental to our learning programme, through the use of our wonderful woodland campus and FSA-Approved Forest School and Beach School. These learning experiences are enhanced by trips, visitors and the ‘wow’ moments within the topics. Whether it is the Mud Kitchen, mentoes or mini-professors, children delight and surprise themselves about physical or chemical change in the world around them.

Reception

In Reception, children follow the Early Years foundation stage curriculum which aims to build the firm foundations in key areas of learning and development. The children have daily phonics, English and maths inputs and the continuous provision in the classroom allows them to explore new concepts independently or collaboratively with their peers. Our small class sizes mean that children get the individual attention they require to support their developing understanding of new concepts and they make excellent progress.

Year 1 and 2

In Year 1 and 2 the children continue with their daily maths, English and phonics sessions and explore some exciting topics. We carefully plan the transition between Reception and Year 1, and then Year 1 to Year 2. Our year 1 children start the year in the Reception base classroom, accessing the continuous provision and modelling to the younger ones how to access the resources. They then begin to have some of their lessons in our Year 1 break out room ‘Banyards’ to focus on the new key stage 1 curriculum. The Year 2 classroom can be found at the heart of the Prep school so there are excellent links built throughout the year with the Year 3 teacher and Lower School co-ordinator Mrs Davies. This helps our children to confidently transition to the prep school to continue their exciting learning journey.

Specialist Teachers

All year groups have weekly lessons in Music, Art, French, PE and Games are taught by specialist teachers. Learning with a range of adults across the school allows the children to thrive and the staff become familiar faces making for an easy transition to the prep school.