Pre-Prep and Nursery Prospectus

PROSPECTUS PRE-PREP AND NURSERY

WELCOME

Our pupils love coming to school because they feel happy, settled and valued. These are the prerequisites of a meaningful education. From our Pre-Nursery upwards we offer a vibrant curriculum, full of challenges and immersive experiences. Our teaching follows a clear, structured progression based on current thinking on educational best practice and children travel seamlessly through the five year groups, arriving at the Preparatory School fully prepared for the next important phase of their learning journey. We plan our lessons to engage and stimulate our young learners, to nurture their curiosity at every opportunity. We look to create a love of learning and an intrinsic motivation to question and to want to know more. Our children feel valued as individuals and respond to our encouragement to have a go and test themselves. We make excellent use of our wonderful outdoor spaces through our forest school provision. Children explore and learn about the great outdoors throughout their time in the Pre-Prep, developing a love of nature and a broad set of skills that will help their future learning in countless ways.

Michael Williams HEAD OF PRE-PREPARATORY AND NURSERY SCHOOL

EARLY YEARS

Pre-Nursery and Nursery are where each child’s unique learning journey begins.

Our speech focused teaching techniques allow every child to express themselves using the knowledge they have built in class. Sharing stories and making links to books captures the children’s imagination and extends their language and vocabulary. Singing nursery rhymes and going on ‘listening walks’ around our beautiful site introduces them to early phonic education in immersive and creative ways.

The foundation of each child’s learning and development begins in the early years where they learn through guided play, exploration and discovery. The Pre-Nursery and Nursery classes follow the early years foundation

stage curriculum which focuses on communication and language; physical development; personal, social and emotional development; literacy; mathematics; understanding the world and expressive arts and design.

Specialist teaching takes place by qualified teachers, where children enjoy high-quality music, PE, forest school and the basics of computing during lessons. These activities develop particular skills outside of the classroom which furthers their development.

The Pre-Nursery and Nursery pupils also enjoy relaxing in yoga sessions, getting messy gardening or creating art work during the school week.

RECEPTION

We encourage the joy of learning, that children naturally have, through fun play. Examples of these stimulating experiences in Reception include dance workshops, afternoon tea with our whole school headmaster, real life experience caring for our duck eggs and a firefighter visit to name a few.

Our Reception classes have inspiring learning spaces, with an outdoor area allowing sensory education through the use of ride-on cars and bikes, as well as sand and water play.

Throughout the Reception year, pupils further study the early years foundation stage curriculum and advance onto lessons with specialist teachers for French and computing.

“THE TEACHING STAFF HELP YOUR CHILD ACHIEVE THEIR VERY BEST AND REALLY CARE ABOUT HELPING THEM GROW, THE CHILDREN MAKE WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIPS AND THE GROUNDS ARE SECOND TO NONE! DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!”

- PRE-PREP PARENT

YEAR 1

Year 1 have their own dedicated building for their learning. Both classes benefit from cosy reading corners, forest school adventures and technology learning via laptop provision. In Year 1 children have termly workshops or trips linked to their learning in school, for example exciting vistits to the London Wetlands Centre and Milestones Museum. As the children progress throughout the year, they develop a more traditional key stage 1 style of learning with a greater emphasis on independent class work so that they can unlock their limitless potential.

YEAR 2

In Year 2, children learn to take responsibility for their learning within their own specialist building. As they grow, we encourage independence and reward individual achievements. We believe personal success deserves to be celebrated and shared in order to build our pupils’ self-confidence.

The classes continue learning key stage 1 of the national curriculum, with observation and assessment being key to informing future targets for each child. This, combined with frequent communication with parents, enables school and home to work together for the all-round development of each child.

ENRICHMENT

Clubs

Learning doesn’t begin and end in the classroom. Our co-curricular clubs programme operates throughout the year and is run by specialist teachers, offering a wide range of activities to develop further communicative and physical skills. Here is what we currently offer from Nursery age upwards:

• Football/ball skills

• Chess

• Choir

• DibDab Art

• Lego construction

• Performing arts

• Spanish

• Dodgeball

• Multi sports

• Tennis

• Yoganory

• Dance

• Minecraft coding

• Junior Jump ‘n’ Jive

Trips

We instil a sense of adventure into all of our pupils and going off site enables this further. Visits to Wisley Gardens, Godstone Farm and the London Wetlands Centre immerses the children in their nature studies, while trips to Chertsey Museum and European Astrotech space centre helps to develop history and STEM interests.

Guest speakers

From firefighters to hedgehogs, we have many special guests visit the Pre-Prep and Nursery School throughout the year. Guest speakers not only engage the children in workshops, but they also inspire future career pathways from a young age, whether that is becoming an author or a zoologist.

Parents as partners

Alongside our fantastic parent teacher association community, we have many opportunities where parents are involved in the wider curriculum. We hold regular class assemblies, phonics workshops and forest school mornings for parents so that they can get involved with the learning process.

SPORT

Being limitless in potential is one of our core aims and this extends into physical education just as much as academics. In the spirit of this, pupils in the Pre-Prep and Nursery are exposed to all sports, allowing them to try everything out before moving on to more specialist activities in the Prep School. Our dedicated sports department focuses on team sports such as rugby, football and netball, as well as individual sports such as dance, tennis, swimming, athletics and gymnastics. Not only does this teach the children about healthy life style choices, but it also improves hand eye co-ordination, a crucial part of learning developement.

MUSIC

Music is the beating heart of the Pre-Prep and Nursery School. As it is such an important part of early years education, we aim to incorporate it into daily aspects of our pupils’ school life. Pupils love trying out different instruments during their two music lessons a week, as well as learning new songs in singing assemblies. This, combined with opportunities to perform at events, such as our parent assemblies and piano teas, aids with auditory processing and boosts confidence.

Our specialist teachers offer one to one peripatetic lessons on violin and piano in a bespoke music room where talents can truly flourish. We also encourage pupils to take part in music exams (we assess with ABRSM).

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Our computing curriculum seeks to equip students to use digital technologies to understand and engage with the world around them.

Pre-Prep pupils are taught by a specialist teacher in weekly lessons throughout the year. Here they learn the principles of computational language and how to use an assortment of hardware and software; from coding with Scratch and the latest robotics, to using both Windows and iOS devices.

Our robust and ambitious curriculum also ensures that students become increasingly digitally literate and are able to express themselves and develop their ideas further through information and communication technology in a broader sense. Children have the chance to use and apply their digital skills through our many opportunities to integrate technology across our wider curriculum.

There is a strong focus on developing their e-safety awareness so that, as they get older, they can safely navigate the online world.

The children also benefit from learning about habitats, the environment as well as space from an early age. A highlight of our STEM learning is the fun interactive experiments at the annual science fair.

FOREST SCHOOL

Our children benefit hugely from learning outdoors. In our forest school, children learn through first-hand experience and develop a broad range of skills such as perseverance, independence and responsibility.

The children’s initial interests and fascinations are explored through free play and games before introducing a variety of engaging activities. Stories around a campfire, bear hunts through the forest and making dens during forest school sessions are just some examples of our exceptional outdoor provision.

The acres of grounds behind the Pre-Prep and Nursery building are home to a whole host of wildlife. From deer, to fox cubs, to Chinese Mandarin ducks there is always something for the children to be excited by. Forest school sessions last two hours and take place weekly within the normal school day for Pre-Nursery, Nursery

and Reception classes. Year 1 and Year 2 also have outdoor education sessions where there is an appropriate link to their classroom learning, for example, Year 2’s science topic of habitats.

Part of forest school is teaching children about risks and how to evaluate them. The children are introduced gradually to learning about adding fuel to a fire as well as how to cook and make drinks using it. Climbing trees and using tools helps the children work off steam while building a new skillset. Under careful supervision, and by allowing children to take these measured risks, we help to prepare them for making choices when they are older and teach them to be actively responsible for themselves, their choices and their actions. They are also encouraged to contribute towards the environment through school gardening activities.

FAQS

HOW BIG ARE THE CLASSES AND WHAT ARE THE RATIOS?

In Pre-Nursery we have a maximum of sixteen per day in the autumn term as the ratio for two year olds is one to four. In the Nursery we have two classes with a maximum of sixteen children per class. Each class has a full time teacher and teaching assistant which ensures all the children receives the individual attention they need to thrive. In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 we have two classes with a maximum of twenty children per class. Each of these classes has a full time teacher and teaching assistant.

HOW ARE PARENTS COMMUNICATED WITH?

The Pre-Prep and Nursery use an online learning journal called Tapestry which enables parents to view personalised photographs of their child along with positive and informative teacher comments.

There is a parent drop in once every term, where parents and family are invited into the classroom to see the children’s work.

Mr Williams holds a talk every half term on topics such as phonics, maths, internet safety etc. so that the parents stay informed on how the children are taught and how they can help at home.

DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO DO ALL 5 FULL DAYS?

In the Pre-Nursery children are asked to do a minimum of two mornings a week. In the Nursery this is increased to a minimum of five mornings, although children in both these years are able to come for a maximum of five full days. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 come for five full days a week.

HOW IS THE SCHOOL DAY ORGANISED AND DO YOU PROVIDE WRAP AROUND CARE?

Drop off begins at 8:20am and the school day starts at 8:35am. A bookable early birds drop off is available from 8:00am for Pre-Nursery to Year 2. The day begins formally at 8.35am. There is a twenty minute break time in the morning. For those in Pre-Nursery and Nursery who are staying for half a day, pick up time is at 12:00pm before lunch. Lunch break is an hour and twenty minutes where the children are able to eat and play freely outside. Collection time is 3:15pm and there is an after school club which runs until 5:45pm where a hot meal is provided, a service which is available for all year groups.

CAN MY CHILD TAKE A NAP?

In the Pre-Nursery the children have a chance to nap after lunch, although this is not essential. We provide them with foldable mattresses and blankets to ensure their comfort. In our Nursery we do not provide napping facilities, but parents are able to pick up their child at 12:00pm, so they are able to nap at home if needed.

DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO BE TOILET TRAINED?

No, your child does not have to be toilet trained before joining the Pre-Nursery. We have changing facilities and the teachers work with the parents to ensure that they begin to use the toilet by the end of the school year. In Nursery we would like the children to be out of nappies, although we understand that the odd accident will happen.

CAN MY CHILD TAKE SCHOOL TRANSPORT?

In the Pre-Prep and Nursery children must be dropped off by an adult. Whilst we encourage parents to drop off at the door, we offer a drive-in drop off for anyone

who needs it from Reception upwards. Bus transport is available for pupils Year 3 and upwards.

WHAT HELP IS THERE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL OTHER EDUCATIONAL NEEDS?

Our dedicated IN team provide a range of support services for those children who either need additional support generally, ranging from group classes to one to one lessons weekly. We also have a speech therapist who visits the school once a week who can provide one to one sessions.

DO YOU STREAM THE CHILDREN?

We do not stream the children in Pre-Prep and Nursery. Throughout all lessons, the teaching staff make use of differentiation to support and stretch our pupils. There are many proven educational benefits of inclusive teaching at this age.

ARE THERE SPECIALIST TEACHERS?

We have specialist teachers for PE and games, music, forest school, French and computing. From Pre-Nursery upwards all the children will have PE, games and music with our teachers outside of their classroom. Nursery start learning the basics about computing and have access to computers for maths and English games. French is introduced in Reception.

WILL MY CHILD AUTOMATICALLY PROGRESS THROUGH THE SCHOOL?

Pre-Prep pupils will automatically progress into the Prep School. Great care is taken over the transition process for all of our pupils. Settling in sessions, buddy systems and moving up days all form part of transition. Year 2 parents are also invited to a special transition speech from the Prep School head, Mrs Hutton-Attenborough.

LITTLE FIR CONES

Claremont Fan Court Pre-Prep and Nursery School is delighted to offer a fun, engaging and interactive playgroup for children aged 18 months+ (babies also welcome).

Enjoy a hot drink and a chat with other parents/carers while your child plays in our fantastic forest school, including a mud kitchen (weather allowing). We offer high quality planned play areas such as sensory play, water trays, sand pits and imaginative play such as dress up to encourage children’s creativity and spark their curiosity. We also provide fine motor opportunities such as play dough and a weekly craft activity based on a nursery

rhyme, alongside gross motor activities such as soft play and access to our outdoor play areas with slides, trikes and a trim trail. When children are playing they are learning!

Come and join us on Wednesdays during term time from 9:15-10:30am. £3 entry. Visit our website to sign up: www. claremontfancourt.co.uk/pre-prep-and-nursery/little-fircones/