The Pre-Prep is in a self-contained, safe area in the main School building comprising classrooms and a well-stocked library. There is a separate changing-room. With two parallel forms to each age group, the children learn to develop their academic, social and moral skills in a stimulating, happy and caring environment. Every Form Teacher has the availability of a classroom assistant, as an extra adult, whilst there is also a full-time Matron for the whole School, dealing with any injuries or illness. Matron has a First Aid Room and is an additional ancillary when not required for medical duties. Following a child’s fourth birthday, he or she joins Reception in September for their first year of full-time School, usually after spending the previous year in Little Grange.

Here children begin to learn their phonics, commence one of the School’s Reading and Mathematics schemes, allied to the National Curriculum, plus start Science and continue with Information Communication Technology, learning basic keyboard skills. Time is found for History, Geography and Religious Studies to add breadth to the curriculum. With Music, PE, Ballet for girls, plus Art and Design, they all have a busy and rewarding time.

The Schemes of Work are based on the six areas of learning: Personal and Social development, Language and Literacy, Mathematics, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Physical Development and Creative Development.

Children progress through Pre-Prep, into Year 1 of the National Curriculum and then Year 2, learning and developing at their own pace. In Year 1, children are given weekly spelling lists to learn, while in Year 2 times tables work begins. In the three years a child will be in Pre-Prep, the Form Teacher is responsible for the teaching of all subjects with the following exceptions, as some specialists are introduced: Music from the Director of Music, PE from the Games Staff (both from Reception) and Art and Design (from Year 2) by the Head of Art and Design.

The Pre-Prep philosophy is very traditional in that all children must have a strong grasp of the 3Rs, as each Form Teacher encourages every child in her form to their own highest level of ability, so as to achieve their full potential. Year 2 children move automatically into the Preparatory School, joining Year 3.

Play is also an important part of their development and children have two playtimes a day – one in the Adventure Playground, comprising climbing frames and bailey bridges, and the other either in the Playground or on the Playing Field. All play areas and children are well supervised.