In our Pre-Prep, we are dedicated to giving your child a happy and secure start to their school life.  Class teachers are the primary point of contact for parents, at the beginning or end of the day and by phone or email.  They are supported by Heads of Year and the Deputy Head (Pre-Prep).

In class, we use a variety of stories to teach emotional literacy and spend time talking about and naming different feelings and teaching strategies for managing them.  Praise is used to ensure that every child feels a valued member of the school community and behaviour is supported in a calm manner.  We will always validate and acknowledge a child’s feelings and staff carefully role model kindness and caring.

Our expectations for behaviour are shared in ways that pupils can easily understand, to ensure that our School is a safe space for everyone. Children are taught strategies to help them share, take turns, and communicate feelings with their peers as well as learning how to recognise how others might be feeling. We learn about the environment and why it is important to care for it through gardening, looking after newly hatched chicks and recycling.

In the Prep, the Form teacher oversees the class, engaging with them daily during registration and form time to understand their individual needs and provide personalised support. Form teachers are the primary point of contact for parents, readily available to address any questions or concerns that may arise. This continuous interaction allows Form teachers to closely monitor both the progress and wellbeing of each child in their care. They are supported by the Head of Year and Deputy Head (Prep), ensuring a comprehensive network of care and guidance.

In an ever-changing world, we understand the need to prepare your child to navigate adversity with optimism and resilience. In the Prep School, Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PHSE) lessons reinforce our commitment to mental health and wellbeing. Topics such as ‘healthy body, healthy mind’, ‘coping with change’ and ‘healthy, happy friendships’ are taught in an age appropriate and sensitive way and open discussion is always encouraged.

Through assemblies and workshops, we explore topics such as staying safe online and living in a digital world. In Years 3 to 6, we use the ‘Girls on Board’ approach to empower girls to manage friendships independently. Developed by a leading educator, this program has been incredibly well received by both pupils and parents. We explore important topics such as positive masculinity in our extended PHSE programme and assemblies with the older year groups, helping boys to develop a healthy understanding of their identity.

From Year 6 onwards, we introduce initiatives such as ‘Breakfast Bites’ where guest speakers come in to chat about their own career paths and ‘Money Matters’, a club which promotes financial awareness and understanding.