and supporting every pupil begins with self-esteem, honesty, fairness, integrity, respect for oneself and respect for others”
AVON HOUSE PREP SCHOOL
As Head Teacher at Avon House Preparatory School, I am delighted to welcome you and your family to our School. We have had the privilege of educating children from the Epping Forest area for nearly 100 years. I believe we give pupils the best start in their educational journey, aiming to provide opportunities for Ambition, Curiosity, Creativity, Independence, in and beyond the classroom.
Avon House is a jigsaw puzzle where all elements fit together to ensure your child’s journey is full of opportunity. We strive to achieve academic excellence beginning with firm foundations presenting pupils with opportunities to create memorable experiences during this first phase of education.
We are a community where pupils are valued as individuals and encouraged to demonstrate their own unique personalities both in class and beyond. We appreciate the strong working relationships we have created with our parents to ensure that pupil outcomes are robust in all facets of school life. Preparation for 11+ is an integral part of how we have built our curriculum and enrichment programme to ensure all pupils are well prepared for the next stage of the academic journey.
Strong pastoral care adds immeasurable value to the success of the pupils and allows us to celebrate and support every child. The well-being of your child is a fundamental part of school life and our Well-being Centre gives pupils space to reflect and talk to others in a calm and inviting space. As a UNICEF Gold School, we enjoy the benefits this brings in developing pupils with a strong moral code and a desire to make a difference to the world.
I would welcome the opportunity to show you around our School so you can discover for yourself that Avon House Preparatory School is the right place to educate your child for these formative years.
Amanda Campbell Head Teacher
ESTABLISHING FIRM FOUNDATIONS
Pupils start their learning journey in the Pre-Prep Department. The classes teach a topic based curriculum which allows pupils to explore and achieve in a creative manner.
The youngest learners at Avon House Preparatory School are nurtured in our Foundation Stage classes. Here they follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum in a vibrant and engaging environment which is adapted to the needs of the individual pupil. The children experience a wide range of outdoor activities that spark their curiosity, building lifelong happy learners.
In Key Stage One, we integrate the topic based learning with the new National Curriculum to provide a challenging and engaging approach. Differentiated learning allows us to continue to tailor the learning journey to each child’s needs and enables every pupil to fulfil their potential and become an independent learner.
“Avon House has a real heart for helping my child to develop and grow in a happy, welcoming environment.”
EYFS PARENT
BUILDING TOWARDS THE FUTURE
Pupils in the Prep Department enjoy a rich, diverse curriculum, skilfully delivered to ensure optimum engagement and motivation.
Encouraged and supported every step of the way, Prep pupils quickly develop the ability to be reflective and adaptable. We offer them a broad and dynamic curriculum, coupled with high quality, motivational teaching, in a nurturing and caring family environment. Our School has a well-deserved reputation for excellent pastoral care and we value highly the success and wellbeing of each and every pupil.
Our forward-thinking programme of study is based around the National Curriculum but moves with the changing times and we introduce new ideas and initiatives on a regular basis. In Years 5 and 6, pupils are invited to take part in our 11+ Exam Preparation programme before school to refine exam techniques and prepare for 11+ and independent school examinations.
We deliver an experience that gives every pupil the chance to explore and reach their true potential and become independent, resilient, confident and well-rounded. As they leave at the end of Year 6 they are thoroughly equipped for their transition.
LEARNING INDEPENDENTLY
The Hub is a space for all pupils to engage in STEAM subjects. STEAM links curriculum areas together that require collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving – providing a platform for pupils to express themselves independently.
By combining traditional subjects with artistic disciplines, STEAM encourages an interdisciplinary understanding of how these connect and can be applied to real-world challenges and problems. Pupils engage in hands-on projects that require them to draw on prior knowledge and skills from all multiple STEM subjects. Our lessons and extra-curricular clubs allow pupils to actively explore, question, and innovate in order to gain skills for the future
Below are the skills that we aim to promote through the STEAM subjects:
SCIENCE – Foster curiosity, promoting critical thinking, ask questions, observe, and explore the environment.
TECHNOLOGY – Develop a mindset for the future
ENGINEERING – Build skills to construct
ARTS – Creat with your senses in a variety of mediums
MATHEMATICS – Build and develop skills in calculation, critical thinking and problem solving
“What has stood out the most is how genuinely nurturing and flexible the team has been. They didn’t try to fit him into a mold; instead, they adapted their approach to meet him where he is. Whether it was giving him a bit more attention in certain moments or adjusting routines to better suit his needs, their efforts have been nothing short of exceptional.”
PARENT TESTIMONIAL
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Our Co-Curricular activities provide pupils with a wealth of opportunities to pursue their interests or try something new. We encourage each pupil to increase their confidence and self-belief while cultivating new abilities which may develop into lifelong skills and interests and which encourage them to take on new challenges.
In the Prep Department the bespoke “Plume of Feathers” programme develops our pupils’ capacity to explore life skills through a number of challenges culminating in a Gold Feather award.
“The opportunities available to our children are vast despite the size of the school. There is great access to co-curricular activities, after school clubs, music and sports allowing our children to pursue their own unique skills.”
AHS PARENT
Technology for us is an important part of the school curriculum and offers our pupils the opportunity to explore a digital world safely and securely. By incorporating digital learning into our curriculum, our pupils learn valuable skills which can be used in everyday life.
We recently joined in partnership with The Woodford Wells Club which is situated to give easy access from the playground and is available to all pupils at the School. Every pupil receives a Junior Membership with the club that offers the opportunity to play six sports and provides modern facilities and a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
The natural environment outdoors at Avon House is an exciting place for pupils of all ages.
Learning outdoors is not just fun but uses the natural environment as a dynamic resource to enhance academic performance, physical and mental well-being, social skills, and environmental awareness. It promotes hands-on engagement, creativity, and problemsolving, fostering deep connections with nature and building resilience, self-esteem, and a lifelong love for the environment.
“Learning outdoors is not just fun but uses the natural environment as a dynamic resource to enhance academic performance, physical and mental wellbeing, social skills, and environmental
It allows children time away from the confines of the classroom, helps to increase engagement and develops a wide range of skills such as team building, communication and problem solving. We are incredibly lucky to have fantastic
DEVELOPING THE WHOLE CHILD
By using the principles of Character Education, we have an intentional approach to developing the whole child. Through a combination of teaching, modelling and embodying our school values, in addition to building pupil’s emotional literacy, we provide a platform for pupils to understand and develop their own character.
Our extra-curricular and residential provision, along with our engagement in the local community ensures that we provide experiences and opportunities for pupils to deepen their understanding of themselves, the wider world and the importance of their involvement in it. The combination of all these factors, as mentioned in a recent inspection report, that our Character Education programme supports pupils in transitioning from Year 6 into Year 7.
We recognise that a child’s well-being and mental health is important as they journey through these important years of school life. The Rainbow Room offers a calm and nurturing environment where children can access additional support for their learning, build social and emotional skills, and confidence. We are dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing of our pupils is a priority. Led by the Deputy Head Pastoral, we have a strong Pastoral Team, including a school counsellor, and four House Leads who are in place to support the social, emotional and mental health needs of all pupils, so they achieve their full potential.
The general wellbeing of pupils is monitored daily by all staff who come into contact with them, to provide early support and interventions to prevent barriers to learning. Developing trusting relationships between adults and children is key to what we do. We want our children to be able to develop their emotional intelligence alongside all other areas of development, so they can thrive and grow – making the right choice,
‘Asking for help isn’t giving up, its refusing to give up’
“I have been given opportunities to play in teams and make my school proud.”
YEAR 6 PUPIL
FOSTERING FAIR PLAY
Everyone, regardless of ability, is encouraged to participate in and enjoy sport. Throughout the School, pupils are given opportunities to gain and develop skills in a variety of physical disciplines.
In the Pre-Prep Department, skills are developed through multi sports sessions both in and outdoors where pupils engage in team and individual activities.
As pupils transition through the School, these firm foundations are built upon and fostered. Pupils participate in seasonal sports both on site and through the use of local sporting facilities. Our partnership at Woodford Wells Club offers our pupils access to facilities on a regular basis and allows them to become Junior members within the club. Swimming is an essential life skill and instruction is given to all Prep pupils at a local swimming pool once a week. Pupils represent the School in individual and team pursuits both locally and at national level.
HITTING THE HIGH NOTES
Music is a key element of the curriculum. Each year all pupils are given the opportunity to perform in a musical production and an assembly.
Performance assemblies give pupils the opportunity to display their music and drama talents in a performance environment. Pupils take part in major school events including the Christmas Christingle and carol services. The school choir perform outside of School at events and to local community groups.
“The children are a delight to listen to and lift the spirits of those who come to listen to them.”
LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUP
Many pupils across the School take individual music lessons in piano, drums, violin, saxophone, clarinet, recorder, guitar and singing which not only increase self confidence but also develop music theory skills.
ADVENTURERS ON A JOURNEY
Class and school day visits are a key element of school life. They support the curriculum and activities carried out in class to add depth and broaden pupils’ understanding. These visits to places of interest are an excellent way of generating fresh enthusiasm for key topics and take place on a regular basis to a variety of exciting and stimulating destinations, adding to the enjoyment of education.
“Our residential visits are so exciting as we get to be away from home!”
YEAR 4 PUPIL
As the pupils go through these formative years, residential weeks also form a vital part of their growing independence and resilience to cope with being away from home such as our annual ski trip and our Year 6 outward bound adventure. These exciting ventures offer the pupils the chance to build self-confidence and work as part of a team under the watchful eyes of experienced, enthusiastic instructors, standing them in good stead as they embrace the challenges of senior school life.
CATCHMENT AREA
CHIGWELL
BUCKHURST H ILL
W OODFORD GREEN
W OODFORD
“Avon House Preparatory School provides a nurturing environment that treats each child as an individual and allows them to thrive. Our child has quite literally skipped through the gate into school each day and we have proudly watched her gain in confidence, maturity, understanding and knowledge.”
