Pre-Prep

A purpose built structure nestled in the 36 acre site, the Pre-Prep offers bright and attractive classrooms including interactive whiteboards and class computer. There are abundant play areas, allowing for stimulating learning. This is enhanced by our forest area where the boys can explore the natural environment, develop their physical skills and gain knowledge through independent learning.

Each class of twenty is staffed by an experienced teacher and a classroom assistant. The boys are taught by specialist teachers for Music, French and Games. The boys have access to a well equipped Library and ICT Suite on a regular basis. From Years One and Two the boys have a weekly swimming session at Merchant Taylors' pool.

Communication with parents continues to be vital. Parent consultation meetings take place three times a year and a written report is produced at the end of each term. Teachers are always available to see parents at the end of the school day; the Head of Pre-Prep is available first thing in the morning or at the end of the day.

Curriculum

Reception follows the six areas of the EYFS. Years One and Two (Key Stage One) follow a curriculum broadly based on the National Curriculum. Emphasis is placed on Reading, Writing and Mathematics. The boys experience Drama and public speaking through Christmas plays, poetry competitions and class assemblies. Other subjects, History, Geography, Circle Time and Golden Rules, and Science are cross curricular and topic based. Through our curriculum we aim to ensure that every boy reaches his full potential and feels happy, safe and secure.

Reception

Reception follows the six areas of the EYFS:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Communication, Language and Literacy
Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
Physical Development
Creative Development
Knowledge and Understanding of the World.

The phonic system used is Jolly Phonics. This is enhanced by a wide range of different reading books which support all levels and all types of readers. After the Autumn half term all boys read with one of the teachers every day, and a book or a list of sounds is taken home daily. Through the Jolly Phonics early letter formation is started and word building develops from this. Towards the end of Reception boys are able to write freely using phonics. In Numeracy the aim is to make the boys confident in recognising, counting, reading and writing numbers. This is achieved through practical experience, play situations and interactive IT work.

During the year the boys learning is topic based and enhanced by visits to places of interest such as the Grand Union Canal and the Science Museum. In addition visits from invited guests bringing with them items such as old cars and toys consolidate learning. The topics covered are Water, Toys from the Past, Transport and Living Things. A wide variety of craft activities enrich boys learning.

Physical Education is developed through dance, formal games lessons and gymnastics. All three are taught by our specialist PE staff. The lessons take place in the School Gym, the Norman Hall or on one of our many outdoor spaces. Fine motor skills are developed through outside play in the forest area and in our home corners which can be converted into places such as a Cafè, flower shop or doctor's surgery.

Music is taught by a specialist teacher . The boys have two lessons a week and in this time they cover singing and experience different musical instruments. These lessons take place in the school Music room. They contribute to a Harvest Assembly and produce a Christmas play as well as a summer assembly for the parents.

Year One

In Year 1 the boys are heard reading four times a week and are sent home with a reading book each night. Their independent writing skills are developed by looking at a wide variety of stories and poems. By the end of the year most boys are able to produce well structured and imaginative work independently. The Jolly Grammar scheme is used to introduce basic structures. They begin simple comprehensions and there is a weekly spelling test. By the end of Year 1 all boys are able to use cursive handwriting.

Larger numbers and more extensive mathematical vocabulary are encountered in our numeracy work. The boys become more confident in their approach to problem solving by using a variety of practical equipment such as bicycle wheels and matchsticks. A daily timed maths activity improves their understanding of number bonds. The boys explore 2-D and 3-D shapes, telling the time, money and data handling.

A topic based approach is adopted in History and Geography. We develop boys creative skills through extensive ICT and Art activities. Topics include the Great Fire of London, Rainforests and Dinosaurs which are enlivened by visits and workshops. Science is taught as a separate subject. Topics such as Ourselves and Electricity are covered. Boys spend the Summer Term exploring our extensive grounds, using magnifying glasses, measuring equipment and digging tools.

RE is taught each week. The boys hear stories from different faiths and are made aware of the spiritual and cultural diversity of our world. Discussion and empathetic work play an important role during these sessions.

Games, PE, Dance and Music are taught in the same way as in Reception but within each year group further development and differentiation takes place. The lessons are tailored to the age and ability of the year group.

ICT is taught weekly and takes place in the Pre Prep ICT suite. The lessons are linked to the topics covered. During these lessons each class is split into two groups so that boys can use computers individually. The aim of these lessons is to familiarise the boys with the computer and to improve hand eye co-ordination for example with mouse skills and keyboard skills. There is a wealth of modern computer programmes avaliable which are linked to all areas of the curriculum.

In Year One we expect the boys to read and practise their spelling list each night. They are also given a piece of homework each week. This may be a simple Maths or English sheet, or an activity based upon topic work.

Year Two

In Literacy boys continue to take a reading book home every day. Spelling and dictation tests take place weekly and the boys are encouraged to call upon spellings from previous tests during writing activities. Free writing is further developed as the boys are equipped with more mature vocabulary and a greater understanding of grammar and punctuation. Focus is placed on presentation and boys are encouraged to use more uniform, cursive writing. As reading skills improve, comprehension tasks become more varied and the boys begin to infer from the text. Each new term the teacher reads a class book and the boys follow from their personal copy.

Numeracy skills are further developed to promote independent learning. The boys are given opportunities to apply their mathematical knowledge in order to solve word-based problems. Adding and taking away using tens and units is taught and boys begin to understand decomposition techniques. Many boys move onto handling bigger numbers in the hundreds and thousands.

Many practical situations are set up to provide the boys with real life mathematical experiences. The boys continue to work with money, learning how to give change and handle larger coins and notes with improved confidence. As the boys become more aware of the concept of time in relation to their daily routine, they enjoy learning how to tell the time more accurately using digital and analogue clocks. They learn how to display information and interpret data from a variety of graphs and tables.

In the Autumn term the Science topic is Living Things and Our Environment; the boys get to spend some of their lessons in the extensive Forest Area. In the Spring term the focus on Materials and their properties and in the Summer term the boys study forces. Boys enjoy learning through experimentation and exploration. Outside visits from external specialist companies help consolidate learning.

Boys continue to study History and Geography through general topics. The Victorian period is studied in History, the boys enjoy dressing up and visiting Gunnersbury Park for a hands-on morning activity in a Victorian kitchen. The year ends with a topic on Journeys through which the boys get to learn about different cities around the world and their special features. Food from around the world is brought in and sampled at tasting sessions. In Science, Space and the Planets are explored in detail and the boys visit the Science Museum.

The stories and activities covered in R.E in Year One are built upon in Year Two with visits to local places of worship. Parents often volunteer to come in and talk to the boys about a special aspect of their own religion.

Games and P.E are taught in the same way as in Reception and in Year One but within each year group further development and differentiation takes place. The lessons are tailored to the age and ability of the year group.

In Year Two the boys are expected to continue to read and practise their spelling list for homework. They are also given a piece of homework linked to the week's spellings, a Maths sheet reflecting the concept being covered that week and a comprehension exercise at the weekend.

Pattern of the day

The Pre-Prep day starts at 8.30am and registration is at 8.45 a.m. Morning lessons are divided by a break at 10.25 a.m. when the boys are able to have a drink, snack and outside play. Lessons resume at 10.45 a.m. and carry on until 12.00 p.m. when the boys have lunch in the dining room link to school menu. Assemblies take place at 12.30 p.m. every day except Tuesday when it is Circle Time. At 12.45 p.m. the boys play on one of the many outdoor areas. At 1.30 p.m. the afternoon sessions commence and the boys go home between 3.00 p.m. and 3.10 p.m. There is a late room facility for boys who have brothers in the main school. There are after school clubs for Years 1 and 2 on Mondays to Thursdays.