Discover...
The Hive &
Infant School
HEAD OF HIVE, INFANT & JUNIOR SCHOOL, MRS ALICE TAYLOR
The energy held within Clifton High School is apparent as soon as you step into the School grounds and with that, we trust parents and children will sense the buzz and love of learning. Our homefrom-home approach in these years is the key to us offering excellent pastoral care and academic teaching with a qualified teaching body that encapsulates development on all levels.
The youngest children demonstrate curiosity and eagerness to learn as they explore the wealth of interesting activities provided to them.
The continued support pupils receive enables them to develop a strong level of resilience, and they grow in confidence as they move through the School.
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ISI Report, 2023
As Head of The Hive, Infant and Junior School, the pride I personally feel on entering a younger learner’s classroom, is exhilarating; I watch the children grow in their capabilities, take ownership over their exploration skills from such a young age whilst collaborating so productively with each other. Our broad curriculum choices excel at enhancing enquiry and collaboration skills, constantly servicing and adapting to individual needs and abilities whilst gently directing children in their progress. It is this merging of insightful and expert teaching of each child, together with the wealth of opportunities available to them as pupils at Clifton High School that builds upon solid communication, confidence and progress.
Clifton High School is an inclusive and culturally diverse environment that thrives on change and challenge. Our belief is that by offering a nurturing
and supportive safety-net approach to learning, pupils are able to understand that there is no cap on their enthusiasm and growth. Their love of nature and adventure is actively encouraged and is as much a part of their School day as their engagement in the traditional classroom setting. I find that it is often their success in outdoor pursuits, sporting, musical and creative endeavours that help them to become mindful academics, willing to take risks and step out of comfort zones.
Our pupils are the true ambassadors of Clifton High School. They are the joy and life of the community and what makes our School such a special and wonderful place to belong. Their individual brilliance is the gateway to our teaching as the children excel on all levels, creating a School that speaks volumes in the wider world.
I invite you to visit us, to see our Infant and Junior School as well as to talk to our current children about their School experience. We are confident that you will discover happy and engaged individuals that express a real zest for life.
AIMS & VALUES
Our Aim
Clifton High School aims to Realise the Individual Brilliance of each and every child. We believe that the most authentic way to achieve this is by offering a well rounded, bespoke education, delivered by staff who grow to recognise each child’s gifts to offer them unique opportunities to shine.
Our Values
CURIOSITY
The bedrock of any school is when curiosity is embedded into the learning structure. At Clifton High School, our children are educated to be informed individuals. They develop the ability and knowledge to apply the art of questioning and debating that builds confidence in themselves to explore the development of new and independent ideas.
EMPATHY
Consideration of alternative perspectives directly relates to the formation of relationships with one another. As a School, we aim to foster empathy in our children, allowing them to appreciate a world based upon human interaction and nature. Our embedded pastoral system equips them with the ability and desire to change the world in positive ways, maintaining a foundation of kindness throughout their life.
LOVE
Relationships are enhanced when the value of love, for oneself and others, is achieved. We encourage children to believe that love for others directly equates to an inclination of prioritising personal wellbeing. Effectiveness is heightened when individuals develop the confidence and resilience of self-love. Loving the natural world, feeling passionate about the outdoors and nurturing a desire to preserve our planet for future generations are lessons constantly celebrated within the School.
DIRECTION
Collectively, Clifton High School’s values direct children to aspire and achieve in the education that they receive, beyond the parameters of a standard curriculum. We actively encourage children to strive for ambition through a commitment and dedication to accomplishing their personal goals, all of which provide direction, purpose and drive motivation.
School Life
As an all-through School, it is important that all our youngest to our oldest pupils and their families are engaged in our wider community and School life. Annual events including Christmas celebrations, performances, assemblies, prizegivings and concerts provide a vibrant social scene that our parents and children alike, look forward to being involved in.
The Hive P
IN THE CLASSROOM
The Hive Curriculum
The Hive Pre-School nurtures children in a wellbeing focused environment. We offer firstclass, intuitive teaching to ensure that every child transitions to Reception with confidence, an inquisitive nature and an excitement for learning.
The Hive governs the latest Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum which places a strong emphasis on exploration, investigation, discovery and problem-solving. During this first stage of learning, our experienced teaching staff primarily observe how children play, taking into account their interaction with activities and ask them appropriate, thought-provoking questions to foster the expansion of deeper thinking skills. With these components being considered, teachers are able to adopt pedagogy that creates learning opportunities whilst developing and challenging an enquiring mind.
Our Holistic Offering
Small class sizes and time devoted to each individual child allows teaching staff to build upon relationships that develop their emotional, social and physical needs through subconscious learning. Each child is appointed a key member of teaching staff that closely tracks, monitors and follows their educational development and interests so that relevant activities can be administered.
The Hive’s provision of a safe and happy environment is vital in a child’s overall welfare and learning development so, not only do they feel secure, but they also see themselves as valued members of their class and year group.
No stone is left unturned when it comes to identifying the necessary provisions required for individual children. We work closely with parents to establish their child’s specific speech and language needs which are carefully reviewed on an on-going basis. We offer intervention from an experienced Enhanced Learning Department who provide an additional level of support, when necessary, to create bespoke programmes that cater for the needs of these children.
The environment in which our teachers and teaching assistants work is one of mutual respect and understanding. Their sole aim is to provide all Hive children with security and confidence in the hands of their high quality care, promoting a strong self image as well as celebrating their achievements during these early years to reinforce self-confidence as they transition into the Infant School.
The Details
Our Hive Pre-School welcomes children after their third birthday, offering families to opt for either a year round provision, or term-time only option. We are open from 8:00am - 6.00pm with all meals and snacks provided during the day, and included in the School fees.
infant scHool
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
A Day in The Hive
Learning in The Hive is an ever-evolving process and one that takes many forms. The varied days and activities are designed around themes of individual interest to include:
• Swimming
• Dance
• Climbing
• Construction
• French
• Coding
• Tennis
• Disco Dough
• STEM
• Music & Beat
The Hive Sport
• Role & Pretend Play
• Conversation & Communication
• Gymnastics
• Growing & Cooking Food
• Storytelling Yoga
• Food Exploration
• Hygge
Our Hive children benefit from an array of sporting opportunities embedded into their School day, all of which are conducted by qualified professionals.
This year, we are proud to expand upon our extensive Swimming Programme, introducing swimming lessons to The Hive. The children visit our on-site pool and specialist teachers help them develop water confidence and skills.
The Hive children are welcomed participants in our annual Sports Day at our off-site sports complex, Coombe Dingle, which is a facility the School shares with the University of Bristol. They join our wider community to partake in many fun races and proves to be a highlight for the children and their families.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Infant School Curriculum
The Infant School is the official start of a child’s academic journey, with the changes and progress made throughout these pivotal years laying the integral foundations for both their personal and educational development. The latest Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum which Clifton High School governs places a strong emphasis on exploration, investigation, discovery and problem-solving which is reinforced through our Adventure Programme and regular community-driven trips.
Children seamlessly transition from the Pre-School environment into Reception and instinctively thrive from an increase in independence. Our bespoke curriculum encourages a responsive approach to learning. It offers a range of subjects and opportunities that are designed with individual needs and interests in mind as they progress, achieve and participate in focused and structured lessons with the goal of preparing them for what awaits in Years 1 and 2. Alongside this, the Infant School follows a twoweek timetable, creating and establishing a routine and schedule that is reflective of their future academic years. We believe that by equipping them with a love for learning and confidence in knowledge, there is no ceiling to their accomplishments.
Each child is supported in small classes sizes of no more than sixteen children. Our highly qualified and experienced teaching body observe their interaction with activities, foster the expansion of deeper thinking skills and create stimulating learning opportunities to develop and challenge an enquiring mind. Lessons are tailored to realise each child’s individual brilliance.
Clifton High School is mindful of combining excellent pastoral care alongside academic teaching to reinforce the sense of security our Infant School children feel as valued members of our School community. We are committed to promoting a high level of adult supervision alongside Year 2 playground buddies that offer their invaluable peer support. Our Senior School pupils also visit the Infant School classrooms to read with the children on a weekly basis which strengthens and stimulates camaraderie.
The holistic, wellbeing approach a Clifton High School education offers our young learners extends to their families. Teachers and teaching assistants welcome the input and interaction of parents with respect for the value their involvement affords in the dynamics of our Infant School community. Regular written reports, meetings and an open-door policy ensures that any issues to a child’s welfare or academic progress is quickly realised.
We recognise and celebrate all children’s achievements, identifying individual provisions. If we feel progress is not on target, we connect with parents to identify the areas that may require careful consideration utilising the intervention of our experienced Enhanced Learning Department to create a bespoke learning programme.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Adventure Programme
The Adventure Programme provides our children ample opportunity to explore the great outdoors, take on thrilling challenges and broaden their appreciation for the nature.
• Visits to the Mendip Activity Centre, where children try introductory outdoor pursuits sessions like canoeing, climbing and bush crafts.
• Set within our own woodland area, or at our offsite Forest School, sessions are led by teachers who engage children in outdoor activities such as nature studies, art, and creative writing.
• Beach School is where art, design, construction, science, and drama unite in this unique beach setting.
• Farm School exposes children to animal and crop farming at Lowerstock Farm near Langford.
• Trips to Belmont Estate, where children delve into educational programmes centred around rewilding, sustainability, conservation and the wonders of nature.
Sport
At Clifton High School, we place emphasise on a healthy, active lifestyle with the significance of sports integrated into School life. Alongside on-site physical education and swimming lessons, we offer weekly activities such as Games at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex for our Year 2 pupils and Tennis lessons instructed by the University of Bristol’s professional coaches.
Co-Curricular
The Infant School’s Co-Curricular Programme is tailored to the needs and interests of our younger children, providing them with the opportunity to explore this important aspect of School life. Clubs include Construction, Drama, Playdough, and Drawing, Ballet, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga and Mindfulness and Taekwando.
Clifton High School’s close links with the Mendip Activity Centre, Belmont Estate and Farm Link provides a well-curated, bespoke outdoor educational experience, tailored to enrich the learning journey of every child in our Infant School. These include:
Facilities
Clifton High School is located on one single site, a component integral in maintaining a sense of community in an all-through School. We are conscious to introduce and integrate our young learners into whole School community life that values the role they play.
The Hive and Infant School children also share the greater School environment as a space for their learning. The state-of-the-art equipment, spacious and light classrooms within historic buildings are surrounded by green spaces that collectively nurture creativity and critical thinking. These are complemented by children benefiting from our Music Rooms, Art Rooms, Libraries, Theatre, Science Laboratories, STEM room, IT Suites, Design and Technology Rooms, Main Hall, modern Dining Room, Multi Use Games Area, Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, Climbing Wall, Forest School and the ever popular outdoor climbing frames. Coombe Dingle, the off-site sports complex shared with the University of Bristol offers Year 2 upwards pupils an additional outdoor environment in which to thrive.
Classrooms
The Hive Pre-School classrooms are housed in one of our charming Victorian Buildings offering an array of independent rooms including a kitchen and dining room with an adjoining exploration area for busy play incorporating an indoor climbing frame. A quieter, calmer space acts as a mindfulness classroom affording our youngest children the necessary space to relax.
The Clifton High Infant School classrooms are intentionally designed to include creative and learning spaces that are large, bright and airy to engage children in practical and interactive activities, encouraging a growth mindset and a love of learning.
The Hive and Infant School Admissions
Transition into the Early Years Curriculum at Clifton High School marks the beginning of new experiences and opportunities for children to embark upon a journey of personal and academic development that will shape their future.
The Hive welcomes children to join after their third birthday and due to the more bespoke nature of entry at this young age, we invite families to book an individual tour to see The Hive on a typical School day.
Closer to the time of entry, children who have secured their places will be invited to attend an Assessment Morning. This enables a positive experience ahead of starting The Hive as well as for staff to informally assess each child to ensure they are meeting age-appropriate milestones.
Reception Class is the first point of entry into the Infant School. Children from our Hive Pre-School will automatically be allocated a place into Reception, joining in the September after they turn four years of age. External families applying for entry into Reception are invited to an Infant Open Morning and a Stay and Play Morning which allows the children time to experience our School. This is also an opportunity for staff to informally assess children to ensure they are meeting age-appropriate milestones.
For external entry into Year 1 and 2, children will be invited to a Taster Day where they can meet new friends and experience a typical Clifton High School day. The class teacher will spend relaxed one-to-one time with them so to assess their abilities in English and Mathematics.
Upon registering for a place within The Hive, Infant and Junior School, our Admission Team will request a confidential reference from each child’s current Nursery, Pre-School or School setting, with prior permission from the family. For those families applying for a place in Year 1 or Year 2, we will also request a copy of each child’s most recent school report.
The next step is for our Admissions Team to send out offers of a place and invite children to attend Settling-In Sessions during the Summer Term, ahead of all children starting in September. T
