Building a ‘can do’ aura around each child. Sutton Valence School. Since
1576.
PREP SCHOOL PROSPECTUS
Sutton Valence School. Since 1576.
At Sutton Valence Prep, we make the most of the huge cognitive, physical and developmental leaps in early childhood, and in doing so we make the most of the talents and early promise that your child has.
NURSERY
We are extremely fortunate to be in a beautiful, rural setting that provides copious opportunities for your child to learn, play and grow, both outdoors as well as within our well-equipped and spacious classrooms.
Parents know that children grow in lightyears – they know that whilst Spiderman is an exciting film for a six year old, Spiderman for a five year old is a career opportunity.
Parents also know from what they see every day at home that their child actively wants to do well and to succeed in whatever they are doing. We will grab hold of the desire to master activities of all sorts and, from the outset, build an aura of ‘can do’ around each child.
MUSIC
All children are encouraged to develop and extend themselves musically, with great care being given to ensure the best choice of instrument for each child. Our teachers adapt their lessons to suit the needs and learning styles of the individual and will prepare children for solo and ensemble performances, as well as graded exams as appropriate.
No matter what area of Prep School life, in the Nursery, in the classroom, on the sports pitch, in the gym, in the Forest School, the library, tending to the guinea pigs, they will be encouraged, even gently pushed, to be the best they can be.
For the explorers. Since 1576.
We also know that whilst no two children are the same, they all have the capacity to learn, to develop skills, to have fun but also to be shy, to lack confidence, to worry. The balance of challenge and care here helps all children to thrive.
ACADEMIC
We pride ourselves on providing outstanding learning opportunities for all children. Wellqualified, dedicated and experienced teaching staff deliver a vibrant, diverse and challenging curriculum, with favourable staff to pupil ratios and superb facilities that allow the children to make excellent academic progress.
Through our latticework of staff focusing on your child we get to know their hopes and fears, their talents and quirks – we start to know them like you, their parents, know them. Once we have grasped what makes them tick, we can develop their roots, deep roots like the trees they come to love in our Forest School.
CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
There is always a buzz of excitement around the School as the children rush off to their afternoon activity. They can be seen clutching musical instruments, art materials, ukuleles, tap shoes and golf clubs as they head off to the extensive variety of activities provided.
This is the beginning of stability, self-confidence and self-esteem that can last a lifetime.
Learning to fly. Since 1576.
Our academic results in preparation for senior school, usually Sutton Valence
Senior but it can be another top school, are consistently good. This is not achieved by force-feeding our pupils. It is achieved by firing their young interest and imagination in all kinds of subjects. Our excellent teacher : pupil ratio allows us to do this very effectively.
You will see even young children begin to take responsibility for their own learning, simply because learning is fun.
For example, throughtout the whole School we encourage a culture of, ‘Why don’t you?’
Here are just a few: pack your own holiday bag, write a shopping list with prices, make a time capsule to dig up in a year, write a newspaper article, go on a bug hunt and draw the bugs, collect and identify leaves from six trees, learn to juggle.
Our parents and pupils find the ‘Why don’t yous?’ immensely rewarding because what we hear, we forget, but what we do, we know. If we want our children to learn happily in the classroom, it is essential they play happily outside it.
For the intrepid. Since 1576.
A key contributor to happiness here is our Forest School – a fantastic resource. We see time and again that it is when the children do not think they are being ‘taught’ that they learn the most – knowledge about nature but also practical and social skills.
(Can you tell an oak leaf from an ash leaf? Why do bluebells grow under beech trees? Can you light a fire in the rain?)
FOREST SCHOOL
Our pupils love to don their wellies and waterproofs for exciting adventures and learn all about the outdoors. With woodland stools and logs, a fire pit and a canopy of trees, it is a wonderful place to cook over fire and explore everything from bugs to bluebells.
Then we have our Owl, with its Hoots and Superhoots. These are awards. They are totally entwined into our intricate daily curriculum of academic achievement, development of social skills and values, as well as acquiring simple, straightforward, useful knowledge! They are awarded for good performance in our Learning Powers.
These are an important feature of the school and each ‘couplet’ forms the focus of one half term:
– Independence and Initiative
– Empathy and Reflexion
– Tenacity and Bravery
– Curiosity and Originality
– Flexibility and Collaboration
– Observation and Excellence
ENRICHMENT
The enrichment activities offered enable children to work in collaboration as a part of a team, exercise leadership qualities and develop a wide range of skills that enhance the learning they carry out both within, and out of, the classroom.
For good sports. Since 1576.
The Learning Powers are equally applicable in our extensive Sports Programmes. One of the reasons for our success is quite simply that we place more emphasis on teamwork than on winning or losing. And we have first class sports facilities across both the Prep and Senior School sites.
No one is ever left on the bench – games are for all. Playing sport and general fitness is a lifetime benefit, to have it is a gift, to not have it an everlasting bugbear.
Of course all of this that happens daily at our school is not magic, although that is often how parents describe the effect on their child. It is a cliché nowadays to say that childhood should be an adventure. Perhaps the magic comes in making sure that it is!
Sutton Valence School: building a ‘can do’ aura around each child.
Sutton Valence School
Prep School
Church Road
Chart Sutton Maidstone
Kent ME17 3RF
+44 (0)1622 845200
enquiries@svs.org.uk
SVS.ORG.UK
