Pre-Prep

In the Pre-Prep we provide an engaging, nurturing environment that stimulates learning, builds confidence and encourages creativity. Above all, we foster independent learning, building firm foundations for the future.

Learning is fun!

Learning in the Pre-Prep is vibrant and exciting with a wide variety of subjects taught through a creative curriculum approach. Specialist teachers teach subjects such as music, drama, languages, P.E and ICT. Many children have the opportunity to start individual lessons and the annual Summer Concert is a wonderful way to celebrate their musical achievements.

Visits, Visitors and Events

A full and varied programme of visits, visitors and events enhances the curriculum and develops the children’s knowledge. Children enjoy theatre trips, and outings to a variety of local attractions such as Tonbridge Castle, Tudeley Church and Whitstable beach, as well as further afield to Drusillas Zoo, the Florence Nightingale Museum and the Science Museum. Pre-Prep children participate whole-heartedly in the life of the school, and take part in annual events such as Science Week, and fundraising events.

Recreation

Pre-Prep children enjoy playing in their own field, with an enclosed wooden adventure playground, and also have access to the extensive grounds, swimming pool and sports hall. PE lessons are taken by a specialist teacher from Nursery upwards, with skills for sports such as netball and rugby introduced in Year 1 in preparation for competitive matches in the Prep School. The children relish the chance to demonstrate their skills at the annual Pre-Prep Sports Day.

Clubs and Activities

Children in the Pre-Prep enjoy participating in a wide range of clubs. These include Ballet, TaeKwondo, Art and Craft, Swimming, ICT and Board Games to name just a few.

Forest School

We have a dedicated Forest School leader who takes each class, from Nursery to Year 2, for a full day of Forest School each half term. It is an opportunity for them to engage with nature, to take risks, to learn about the world around them and to develop skills.  Find out more here.

Outdoor Learning in the early years

Our Outdoor Learning area for the Early Years children (Nursery and Reception) is very popular and provides a wonderful resource for exploration and learning. It is used every day, whatever the weather!z

The outdoor learning environment is a rich, dynamic and natural space for learning and development in children of all ages. Its value as an essential learning resource has been recognised by many pieces of research, and more recently within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS):

Being outdoors has a positive impact on children’s sense of well-being and helps all aspects of children’s development.

Outdoor environments offer children the freedom to explore, use their senses, and be physically active and exuberant and enable the development of skills that can’t be developed within the classroom. Our new outdoor learning area has been meticulously designed to maximise the opportunities for play, exploration, discovery and investigation with a variety of different materials and environments. For example, contact with soil, sand, stones, mud and clay allows children to gig, mix, build and sculpt, while larger rocks and stones are perfect for climbing. Plants can be grown and cared for in the garden areas.

A water area, complete with an interactive waterwall, provides endless learning opportunities as the children explore puddles, make streams, investigate the pumps, waterwheels and containers and construct boats, rafts and dams.

The outdoor space also supports imaginative role play; part of the area has often been turned into a bakery, a tea room or a travel agency to name but a few examples! Importantly, the outdoors can also provide opportunities for quiet contemplation and reflection either in solitude or with friends. Calm spaces that encourage children to be relaxed and thoughtful are important for wellbeing and for developing a sense of awe and wonder about the world. The outdoor environment is also vital to support children to develop healthy and active lifestyles. The outdoors allows for active play and whole body movement which is less practical within the indoor environment.