Pre-Prep
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 School Day
The School day runs from 8:15 am to 3:30 pm, with the option to attend co-curricular clubs until 5:00 pm. Relaxed after-school care is also available during the week between 3:30 and 6:00 pm (5:00 pm on Fridays). Prices for extended day activities can be found here.
Reception curriculum
Children join Reception in the year they turn 5. They learn through child-initiated play and teacher-led learning. The curriculum is divided into 7 main areas building on the Nursery core provision of Communication and Language, Physical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) and adding specific learning in Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World and Expressive Arts and Design. We also place strong emphasis on the growth of social skills, fostering self-belief and independence.
Class sizes are small, and Teaching Assistants support break-out groups in phonics and maths. Pupils have specialist lessons in French, PE, Music, Dance, Swimming (in our indoor heated 25 m pool) and Forest School every week. Our qualified Forest School Leaders help enrich our pupils curiosity and resilience for outdoor learning and love for nature. Classrooms have direct access to outdoor learning spaces and dedicated play areas.
Year 1 and 2 curriculum
In Years 1 and 2, children continue to build on their strong foundations through hands-on learning and a more formal academic approach. Practical exploration remains at the core, ensuring learning is engaging, purposeful and developmentally appropriate.
Children receive weekly specialist lessons in French, Music, PE, Swimming and Forest School and dedicated teaching in ICT and group instrumental lessons (violin, ukulele, recorder, drums and pBuzz).
As classes are small, averaging around 14 per class, pupils receive the highest quality teaching and plenty of individual support and challenge. Skills such as independence, confidence and empathy are a core part of the curriculum, helping prepare our Pre-Prep for life in our Prep School.
Trips to local destinations in Years 1 and 2 include Gray's Farm, Beale Park, the Living Rainforest, and Oxford Story Museum. Every pupil will perform in a Christmas Nativity, the Harvest Festival, and Easter Assembly, and take part in annual events like the mini-Dolman, Progressive Games and Sports Day.
A 'one school' approach
Pre-Prep benefit from all our School's outstanding facilities - from the Performing Arts Centre to the new Design and Innovation Hubs - and make weekly visits to the Library, dining rooms, science labs and climbing wall. They are very much part of the 'whole school' and encouraged to feel at home in their surroundings.
Holiday camps throughout the year
Multi-activity camps hosted by our external partner, Next Level Camps, are available to children aged 4-14, throughout the year, alongside our in-house Nursery camps for children under 4.
