“Curiosity is the engine of achievement” LOWER PREP PARENT HANDBOOK
TERRINGTON HALL SCHOOL VISION AND VALUES
OUR VALUES:
Kindness We act with kindness always. It is at the heart of everything we do. We show children the power of kindness, encouraging them to act with empathy for each other, their community and our planet.
Confidence As we take our children on a journey of discovery, we make learning fun and light a spark in hearts and minds. We show how with every small step, we learn and build confidence in our own unique abilities.
Courage It takes courage to do the right thing. We act with integrity, showing the value of honesty and good character. We show how with courage, we can take calculated risks and are willing to have a go without fear of failure.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
As the world around us evolves, so do we. We encourage children to expand their minds, life experiences and skills, to build confidence and effect change, and for the future.
WELCOME TO THE LOWER PREP
Life in the Lower Prep is all about putting in the 'stepping stones' to pave the way from the small, cosy world of Pre-Prep to the big, wide world of Upper Prep and beyond. Our dedicated team of staff work closely together to provide a guiding hand throughout the children’s time in Years 3, 4 and 5, facilitating the transition to confident individuals, supporting where necessary and giving the children freedom to 'fledge their wings'.
Through a range of assemblies, timetabled enrichment activities, play areas, buddy pairing, sporting fixtures and House events, the children maintain a connection to Pre-Prep but are also prepared for upward transition by joining the Upper Prep children for an increasing number of activities, after school prep sessions and an exciting range of evening and boarding opportunities.
Each Lower Prep class benefits from their own Form Tutor and dedicated classroom for the majority of their academic subjects, creating a stable and comforting environment to return to. From Year 3 onwards, the children experience teaching from an increasing number of subject specialist teachers and begin to gain independence and freedom as they move around different areas of the school for specific lessons. We are inclusive in lessons, providing support where necessary and stretching and challenging learners when they are able.
In class, the Lower Prep children study a carefully tailored 'Discovery Curriculum' which allows children to access studies thematically, so an exciting text based in the Victorian period in English lessons might link to a study of the historical aspects of the Victorian era and geographical learning about Empire, with inventions and the Industrial Revolution studied in Science for example. This also enables us to follow the children’s own lines of enquiry and develop the skillset required for the children to be empowered to discover answers for themselves.
In this way, the organisation of life in the Lower Prep enables us to nurture the children in a way that gently develops their independence, knowledge of the world, learning skills, sense of self and life experiences. We aspire to develop children who are not only kind, confident and courageous, but also knowledgeable, inquisitive, adventurous and great team-players with a zest for life.
This handbook gives full details about every aspect of life in Lower Prep. It is a useful first point of reference to marry alongside any other information you will be provided with from the school website, SOCS calendar and your child’s form tutor. However, if you have any unanswered questions then do please ask.
The educational journey on which your child is about to embark upon in the Lower Prep is very exciting. We look forward to sharing it with you.
Mrs Rebecca Thomas Head of Lower Prep
TERM DATES
2025—2026
Term dates for 2025 - 2026 are as follows:
Michaelmas term 2025
Term Begins
Exeat
Half Term
Exeat
Term Ends
Lent term 2026
Term Begins
Exeat
Half Term
Exeat
Term Ends
Wednesday 3rd September
Saturday 27th September - Sunday 28th September
Saturday 18th October - Sunday 2nd November
Saturday 22nd November - Sunday 23rd November
Thursday 11th December
Tuesday 6th January
Saturday 24th January - Sunday 25th January
Saturday 14th February - Sunday 22nd February
Saturday 14th March - Sunday 15th March
Friday 27th March
Summer term 2026
Term Begins
Bank Holiday
Half Term
Exeat
Term Ends
Tuesday 21st April
Saturday 2nd May - Monday 4th May
Saturday 23rd May - Sunday 31st May
Saturday 13th June - Sunday 14th June
Wednesday 1st July
LOWER PREP FORM TUTORS
Your child will still have an allocated form tutor, working alongside our Lower Prep support staff.
Head of Lower Prep
Mrs Rebecca Thomas, Head of Lower Prep rthomas@terringtonhall.com
Year 3
Miss Libby Richardson, Year 3 Form Tutor and Girls’ Games lrichardson@terringtonhall.com
Year 4
Mrs Rosie Scott, Year 4 Form Tutor rscott@terringtonhall.com
Year 5
Mr James Denmark, Year 5 Form Tutor and Boys’ Games jdenmark@terringtonhall.com
Deputy Head Academic (Senior Deputy Head)
Mr Stuart Keens Skeens@terringtonhall.com
Deputy Head Pastoral
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Miss Rachel I'Anson Rianson@terringtonhall.com
Assistant Head Co-Curricular
Mrs Katie Cole Kcole@terringtonhall.com
COMMUNICATIONS
We have a genuine open-door policy at Terrington Hall School and parents are welcome to talk informally to their child’s Form Tutor as and when needed. You are always most welcome to make an appointment to meet staff at a mutually convenient time to discuss your child’s progress, achievements and well-being. If a more formal discussion is required with the class teacher, Head of Lower Prep, Deputy Heads or the Headmaster, a convenient appointment time may be made directly, via email. We do our best to accommodate any requests as soon as possible. To strengthen communication between school and home, a weekly newsletter, the “Terrington Trumpet” is emailed to parents via the office every Friday, giving news of the past week and reminders for the following week.
CONCERNS
In the event that a parent has a concern or complaint, the first point of contact is the child’s form tutor. If the Form Tutor cannot resolve the matter alone, the Head of Lower Prep will be consulted. In the event that the problem cannot be solved after speaking to the Head of Lower Prep, she will then arrange an appointment for you to speak with the Deputy Head Pastoral or Academic.
We work with a company called SOCS to provide a school calendar, a sports portal containing information about team selection and fixtures and our enrichment programme.
You can access all of these pages through the Parent Portal.
The Parent Portal is the 'Go To' place for key school information.
Password (confidential within the TH community) Terrington1921
Through Parent Portal, parents can access key school information including, the Sports Fixture Portal, SOCS School Calendar Parent Handbooks, Key Information, including uniform lists, the Enrichment programme and copies of Letters Home.
SOCS
The school calendar can be located here, giving you a full overview of events in school
The Sports Fixture Portal can be located here https://sport.terringtonhall.com/ This link gives you access to fixture information, including team selection, venue and timings.
Mr Huw Thomas Headmaster hthomas@terringtonhall.com
Mr Stuart Keens Deputy Head Academic (Senior Deputy Head) skeens@terringtonhall.com
Miss Rachel I’Anson rianson@terringtonhall.com Deputy Head Pastoral, Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Katie Cole Assistant Head Co-Curricular kcole@terringtonhall.com
Mrs Rebecca Thomas Head of Lower Prep rthomas@terringtonhall.com
Mr James Denmark
Year 5 Form Tutor jdenmark@terringtonhall.com
Mrs Rosie Scott rscott@terringtonhall.com Year 4 Form Tutor
Miss Libby Richardson
Year 3 Form Tutor lrichardson@terringtonhall.com
Miss Katie Hardy Head of Learning Support khardy@terringtonhall.com
Mr Nick Hyde Head of Sport nhyde@terringtonhall.com
Miss Claire Wainwright Head’s PA and School Office office@terringtonhall.com
Mr Oliver Sigsworth Boarding Houseparent boarding@terringtonhall.com
LOWER PREP – WHO TO APPROACH AND SITE MAP
Form Tutor – In the first instance this should be a parent’s first port of call for all academic and pastoral concerns.
Head of Lower Prep – If parents are unable to resolve their concerns with the form tutor, they should contact Mrs Rebecca Thomas
Deputy Head Academic – Mr Keens should be contacted for all academic matters unresolved by Mrs Thomas. For Senior School entry queries please contact Mr Keens.
Deputy Head Pastoral – Miss I’Anson should be contacted for all pastoral or Safeguarding matters that cannot be resolved by the form tutor or Head of Lower Prep.
Assistant Head Co-Curricular - Mrs Cole should be contacted for all cocurricular matters including music and sport that cannot be resolved by the Form Tutor or Head of Department
DAILY ROUTINE, SIGN OUT AND EXEATS
Children may arrive in Lower Prep between 8.15am—8.30am. If arriving earlier, children should join the boarders in the dining room. Parents are reminded to park at the front of the school when dropping off and collecting children.
Mon to Fri
School opens (pupils may enter classrooms) 08:15
1-3 (including assembly or church)
(first sign out option at 16:30)
(second sign out option at 17:30) 1630 - 17:30
(Years 5 - 8 only)
Games (main fixture) afternoons:
U9 (Year 3-4) Tuesday
U11 (Year 56) Friday & Saturday
Fixtures do occasionally take place on other days.
Parents wishing to take their child home immediately following a fixture should speak with the form tutor or team coach (this is usually not a problem)
COLLECTION TIMES
Children must advise their form tutor of their sign out time and chosen enrichment activity at morning registration (please record in the prep diary). If there is a need for this to change, please contact the office, 01653 648227 or office@terringtonhall.com.
Parents must inform the school if someone other than the parent is to collect the child and the child must know the person collecting. The same applies if an agreement is made with another parent. If dropping or collecting your child early/late please report to the main office where we will bring your child or return them to class.
PARKING
Parents of pupils in Years 3-8 are kindly requested to park on the front drive at drop off or collection times. Please ensure that the disabled bays next to the swimming pool are strictly reserved for Blue Badge holders only. Parents or carers collecting at 16:30 or 17:30 should wait outside on the square.
SIGNING OUT
It is essential that all children sign out when they are collected or leave for the bus in the evening. The Lower Prep sign out register is completed by a member of staff at the entrance to Lower Prep in front of the Dining Hall.
EXEAT WEEKENDS
Please note an EXEAT is when the school day finishes at 17:30 on a Friday and remains closed until the Monday morning. The May EXEAT also includes the Bank Holiday Monday.
COLLECTION DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
Due to safeguarding requirements, parents are not permitted to enter corridors unless accompanied. If you need to collect your child at an unusual time i.e. for an appointment, please collect your child from the Office in the Main House at an agreed time so they may be signed out correctly.
SIGN OUT PROCEDURES
Morning Drop Off
The School gates will be open from 08:10 until 08:30
If you require access to the site beforehand for Breakfast, please liaise directly with Mr Sigsworth
If you require access to the site beforehand for any other reason, please liaise directly with the relevant member of staff or the school office
SLT will welcome you each morning
Afternoon collection times:
The school gates will be open from 15.25-15.40 for Pre-Prep collection. PrePrep staff to oversee
The school gates will be open from 16.25-16.40 for Pre-Prep and Lower Prep collection. Duty staff to be allocated. Lower Prep and Upper Prep handover from form teachers in person from September 2025. Please be aware that some form teachers will be leaving promptly to run enrichment sessions at this point in time
The school gates will be open from 17.25-17.40 for end of school collections
All 17.30 collections to take place in the square from September 2025. Handover in person from the relevant member of staff who has led the enrichment session
Climbing frame
Parents will be able to access the site during the highlighted times above
Families are welcome to stay and play on the climbing frame during September and the Summer term between 15.30 and 17.30
Refreshments and a first aid kit will be available
To leave the site during periods when the gates are locked, families will need to exit via the school office
Toilets in the main house will be accessible via the school office
*Access to the site at all other times will need to come through the Main School entrance, via the School Office.
ABSENCE
We appreciate there will be special occasions and personal events during the year which clash with school dates. Therefore, we ask you to write to the Headmaster to gain permission for the absence, copying in the form tutor. Emails should be sent to office@terringtonhall.com.
ILLNESS
If your child is unwell and unable to attend school, we ask that you contact the school office and copy in the Form Tutor before 8.30am. Should your child be taken ill at school, he/she will be cared for and we will make every effort to contact you.
Should your child suffer from sickness or diarrhoea, it is school policy that they do not return to school for at least 48 hours after the last incident. It is very important for you to let us know if you have given your child Calpol or any other medication before coming into school.
If your child bumps their head, they will be checked over by a first aider and you will be notified of treatment given.
Accidents can happen. Small cuts and bruises will be dealt with directly at school by staff who all hold a current paediatric first aid qualification. In the event of a more serious accident which is likely to require advanced medical care, we shall endeavour to contact parents at work or home. If a parent or family friend (named contact) cannot be contacted, we shall arrange to have your child taken to a local doctor or hospital. In such cases, the child will be accompanied by a member of staff. In an emergency, an ambulance will be called.
MEDICINES
Medicines should be administered at home unless there is a special reason why your child may need to take them through the school day. If this is the case, medicine must be handed in to the office where Miss Wainwright will administer as required. Prescription medicine should be in the original packaging with the dispensary label attached and the relevant paperwork completed by the parent.
SUN CREAM APPLICATION
During the summer months, we ask that all children have a bottle of sun cream to be kept in school, that it is a suitable SPF, clearly labelled and indate.
WINTER WEATHER
During periods of extreme winter weather, such as snow and ice, the school will endeavour to remain open with any changes to the school day being communicated to parents via email or text message.
LOST PROPERTY
All clothing and stationery should be clearly labelled.
Children are taught to take care and responsibility for their items in school and we ask that they are all clearly named. Unfortunately, items do go astray. Therefore, if any items are lost, please send an email to the form tutor who will help to locate the item, looking in the lost property bins in the changing rooms and retracing footsteps, if it is an item of stationery.
POLICIES
There is statutory duty on schools to provide certain information to parents of current and prospective pupils. Terrington Hall does so willingly and encourages any parent to contact the school with requests for information or guidance. School documentation, including policies and guidance are a valuable source of information and we are pleased to make them available, either through the School office or on the School’s website.
UNIFORM
Uniform is an important part of a school’s identity. It reinforces who we are as a community and helps allow students to feel pride in their school. It also helps prepare students for life after school where many will have to dress smartly for work. All pupils are expected to take a pride in their appearance. They should be always wearing correct uniform. Our expectations for school uniform are nongender specific. Our pupils have the choice of what uniform they want to wear from the list provided and all uniform is available to people of all genders.
To help support our parents/carers, most of our school uniform can now be purchased from www.hardgear.co.uk/terringtonhall We are keen to minimise expenses and have reviewed our uniform lists. These can be locatedhttps://www.terringtonhall.com/about-terrington/parent-portal/
From September 2025, all pupils are expected to be wearing the new school uniform.
Naming Uniform
ALL items of uniform must be clearly named. Details for labelling can be found on the uniform lists. We endeavour to get the missing kit back to its owner however this is very difficult with unmarked clothing.
Hair, make-up and piercings
• Make up, including nail polish, should not be worn
• Pupils who have pierced ears may wear a discreet stud in one or both ears: these must be removed during PE lessons for safety reasons
• Jewellery is not part of our school uniform and therefore should not be worn. Pupils will be asked to remove any items of jewellery and these will be kept safe and sent home at the end of the day
• Extremes in hairstyle are to be avoided. Hair should not be dyed any nonnatural colour, i.e. pink, blue, green etc. Hair longer than shoulder length must be tied up.
Footwear (This is an important aspect of our school uniform)
Our school allows:
• All black, plain, leather, polishable shoes
• Plain, black ankle boots (in the Winter)
We do NOT allow:
• Trainers
• Canvas pumps
• Coloured or embroidered fashion shoes
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
At Terrington Hall School, we place positive mental health and wellbeing at the centre of school life. Our values, Kindness, Confidence and Courage, highlight the importance we place on supporting on every child’s wellbeing. We show the power of kindness in everything that we do, build confidence on our unique abilities and show how with courage, we can have a go without the fear of failure.
We aim to ensure positive mental health and well-being for every pupil, parent/carer and staff member. Our positive ethos is based on the understanding that all children need the foundations of positive mental health. As a result of this, we hope children will fulfil their potential academically, socially, emotionally and healthy, helping them to grow in confidence and participate in everything that goes on in the wider community.
Our buddy system helps to promote friendships, better support of learning, behavioural and social needs, and can foster a greater sense of belonging and a more inclusive school community. The Terrington Hall ambition is to equip young people so they can better deal with difficult circumstances in their lives, preventing them experiencing common emotional and mental health problems.
Wellbeing days are a good opportunity to bring awareness of the importance of mental wellbeing into schools. Classes are encouraged to plan wellbeing days, termly. The Deputy Head Pastoral oversees this.
Our peer mentoring programme has been evidenced as having a positive impact on the emotional health and well-being of children and young people. Peer mentoring can support children and young people by:
• enhancing social competence
• building security within the setting and the wider community by realising their worth as social beings
• improving attendance and educational attainment whilst developing friendship skills in a positive environment
WRAP-AROUND CARE
MEALS
All children have a cooked meal at lunchtime, served as a family style dining experience. If your child has dietary requirements, please discuss these with the Head of Lower Prep who will liaise with the Catering Manager. For those occasions where we are out of school for lunch such as trips and occasional matches, the school will provide your child with a packed lunch. The children are provided with a snack at morning break and also in the afternoon.
BREAKFAST
Breakfast is available to all children. Your child may arrive from 7:30am and will have breakfast before the start of the school day. For catering purposes, breakfast should be booked in with office@terringtonhall.com with 24 hours’ notice. Breakfast is charged at £6.60
TEA
Parents requiring childcare beyond the school day can make use of the tea service where pupils are welcome to have a freshly prepared tea at 5:30pm to 6:00pm. For catering purposes, tea should be booked in with office@terringtonhall.com with 24 hours’ notice. Tea is charged at £6.60
NUT FREE
Although we recognise that this cannot be guaranteed, Terrington Hall aims to be a Nut-Free school. Measures in place are to reduce the risk to those children and adults who may suffer an anaphylactic reaction if exposed to nuts to which they are sensitive. The school aims to protect children who have allergies to nuts yet also help them, as they grow up, to take responsibility as to what foods they can eat and to be aware of where they may be put at risk. We do not allow nuts or nut products in school.
BIRTHDAY CAKE
If you wish to provide cake to celebrate your child’s birthday, please pass on details to the form tutor to be checked for allergens. For pupils who do have an allergy, we will provide them with an alternative option when a celebration cake is brought in. We are a nut free school and do not allow nuts or nut products in school.
MINIBUSES
The school minibus service is a popular option for busy families. All of the transport routes use the school’s own minibus fleet and drivers, who are fully DBS checked and employed by the school.
Pupils using the buses are dropped off in front of the main school building on arrival and are signed out by staff to the relevant driver before being escorted to their bus at the end of the day.
Buses arrive in school at approximately 8.15am and depart at 5.30pm Monday to Friday, plus Saturday morning. Transport is charged on a per trip basis. Full details of the bus service, times and costs are available on request from the school office. Office@terringtonhall.com
Internet Enabled Devices
As staff and parents, we are all becoming increasingly aware of the societal challenges posed by mobile devices and in particular the influences that children are accessing as a result of social media.
As such, the boarding house and school residentials/overseas trips are device-free. We feel that this decision is very much in line with our ethos and values and of course with the changing approach of schools to this challenge.
National guidance is changing, and our amended policy very much considers the following concerns:
• Unnecessary distraction, disruption and diversion
• Online bullying
• Peer pressure and stigma associated with the ownership of expensive devices
• Access to inappropriate internet content
There are of course significant benefits which includes encouraging the pupils to focus on the trips, activities and events that they are participating in – whether that be during boarding evenings or on residential trips. It will improve the interactions with their peers, and develop valuable, skills like problem-solving, teamwork and importantly independence.
As such, we would be very grateful for your support in ensuring that the pupils do not bring any phone, gaming device, or internet-enabled device including watches with them on trips or to the boarding house. It makes a huge difference to the quality of their experience and will support our ethos of pupils throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the activity on offer.
BOARDING
Resident Boarding Staff:
Mr Oliver Sigsworth
Mrs Tori Sigsworth
Miss Katie Hardy
Boarding Houseparent
Boarding Houseparent
Assistant Housemistress
Boarding is often the part of the school that children look forward to the most.
We offer an exciting and varied evening activity programme and offer blocks of activities across each half term that encourage your child to progress and strengthen their skills in their chosen activity. We also offer special year group boarding nights once a term and occasional special boarding weekends, which give children the opportunity to take part in numerous activities and trips over both the Saturday and Sunday.
Boarding for the first time can be a little daunting so tours of the boarding house, along with the boarding handbook, are available from the school office.
Our boarding provision is flexible, and children may board for any number of nights during the term.
We offer -
• Full weekly boarding (Monday—Friday).
•
• Recurring boarding: one or more regular nights every week.
Flexi-boarding: one-off nights across the term.
If you are intending for your child to board then they must be booked into the Boarding House by emailing boarding@terringtonhall.com
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
REPORTING
Staff endeavour to make regular contact with parents either in person or via phone call/email, to keep you up to date with your child’s effort and attainment in class.
Parents are encouraged to make use of their child’s Prep Diary or email the Form Tutor to raise any minor concerns. Staff undertake to feedback either in person, email or via a phone call as soon as possible. This helps parents who are unable to visit the class teacher to keep in touch and allows parents to play a key part in their child’s learning, in turn offering staff invaluable extra knowledge of each unique child.
We know your child’s education and progress is important and over the year you will receive several reports indicating their attainment, effort and progress. There will also be opportunities to meet with your child’s teacher to review how they are doing with Parents’ Evening in the Michaelmas and Lent Term. You will also receive written reports throughout the year.
ASSESSMENT
Throughout the year, a variety of assessments are carried out by the class teacher including weekly mental maths and spelling tests, along with book quizzes. The children are always given general feedback on their performance as a whole and in some cases, targets to work on in specific areas.
CAT4 assessments are taken in the first half term, reading and spelling assessments are taken in the autumn and summer terms, and English and maths assessments also taken in the summer, giving a detailed picture of attainment and progress. Year 3 and new pupils to the school also take a dyslexia screener. Form Tutors may feedback to parents with relevant information.
Our assessments calendar is strategically placed to monitor pupil progress and outcomes and support the programmes of study that are in place.
The reporting cycle is then in sync with this assessment calendar, in order to keep parents informed and up to date of the progress of their child. This is connected to both academic progress and pastoral welfare.
The slight changes to our assessment and reporting cycles will also ensure a more streamlined approach to periods of teaching, assessment and then, in turn, reporting.
We are aiming to provide focussed and target-based feedback to the pupils, via the reporting system, in order to aid understanding and progress.
For additional clarity, we do not specifically report on internal end of unit assessments or standardised assessments, but teachers may discuss these through reports or at parents’ meetings. Exact dates of the parents’ meetings will be shown in the termly calendar and the weekly bulletin.
We encourage regular, ongoing and open dialogue between parents and form teachers regarding academic progress and the pastoral, well-being of the children.
Form tutors are always available to meet with parents to discuss children's progress. Please do not hesitate to contact.
A timeline of key dates is given below, for your information:
Lower Prep:
October: Half Term Progress Report .
November: Lower Prep Parents’ Evenings
December: End of Term Progress Report
February: Half Term Progress Report
March: Open Classrooms/ Parent Evenings (by arrangement)
May: Half Term Progress Report
July: End of Year full reports
TIMETABLE
Lower Prep Parents are sent a timetable at the start of the year outlining where lessons take place over the week. Termly or half termly topic guides will also be sent, allowing parents an overview of what your child will be learning about.
SPECIALIST TEACHING
We are proud to offer a broad curriculum. Lower Prep Children are taught in the main by their Form Tutor, with increasing time in other areas of the school and with the wider staff body as they move to Year 5. We dedicate time for swimming, PE, art, music, choir, drama, Latin (from Year 5), French and Spanish, all taught by specialist teachers in school.
READING AND SPELLINGS
In Lower Prep, children are encouraged to read an appropriate level of text to an adult as regularly as possible (ideally at least 20 minutes daily). Although we aim to listen to groups of individual readers during the school day (especially in Year 3), the time available for this reduces as we move through Lower Prep. It is therefore essential that good daily reading habits are maintained at home and increasingly independently.
Weekly, children are given 10 words to learn for a spelling test with bonus spellings to check that they are able to apply spelling rules in context. Additionally, we will also begin to test individual habitual spelling misconceptions or extension spellings as we feel children are ready to take on the challenge.
PREP DIARY
Children will be given a Prep diary at the beginning of the year. This may be used for non-urgent communication between home and school, as a reading record, and importantly, a way to for the children to record their prep and for parents to confirm pick up times and chosen enrichment activity. Please mark each day’s entry clearly 16:30/17:30/Bus etc. dependent on your child’s collection time each day and record if you would like your child to take part in a specific enrichment activity after school. Please also leave a written note if a child is to be collected by a friend/relative on a particular day.
PREP
Prep is set to reinforce and extend what has already been learnt in the classroom. The work may not necessarily be required for the next lesson; indeed, the teacher may give a week for completion of a given task. We believe small amounts of prep instil good practice for later life.
In Lower Prep, prep includes: daily spellings practice, timetables practice, daily reading, touch-typing and handwriting practice. There may also be tasks associated with individual or group reading. In addition, there may be prep associated with English, Maths and Discovery sessions and certainly languages prep, as children move up through the year groups.
Prep sessions take place within the school timetabled day and prep allocations vary according to the year group. There may also be ‘supported’ preps running with Miss Hardy. These are for children who need extra support with their preps.
LEARNING SUPPORT
Pupils at Terrington Hall are taught a wide-ranging curriculum within smaller than average, mainstream classes. Staff deliver high quality teaching with classwork and prep appropriately differentiated. Children are regularly monitored to ensure they are making progress to the best of their ability and challenged appropriately to ensure success is within reach. It is sometimes appropriate for children to receive additional support to achieve their full potential. Our learning support resources are centred around “The Hub” . As a base for Learning Support and Wellbeing, The Hub is a bright, welcoming classroom resourced with access to online intervention programmes, classroom support, and small group work. The SENCO and a part-time assistant work across the academic departments to provide and plan support for all children. Individual Lessons are by arrangement and in agreement with parents, SENCO and Form Teacher.
Learning support is integrated through the school from Nursery to Year 8 with a focus on the child as an individual. We believe in inclusion and seek to provide a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum that provides equal opportunities for all. For children who receive learning support, close communication between school and home is encouraged and parents are encouraged to meet with the SENCO regularly.
SENIOR SCHOOLS
One of the true strengths of Terrington Hall is its Independence and ability to help guide and support transition to the Senior School of choice. As you will be aware, pupils from Terrington Hall move on to a wide range of local and national senior schools. The options available are impressive and significant in number. With that in mind, we are keen to help you navigate this process with a view to helping secure a place at the right school for your child. One of the key aspects to this decision-making process is understanding the entry processes and connected application timelines. As such, if you would like to discuss Senior School options, please do book in a meeting with the Headmaster.
See below a useful list of the timelines associated with some of the popular destination schools. The list below is by no means exhaustive but it should be a good starting point to aid discussion. Both Mr Thomas and Mr Keens have strong working relations with many of these schools and are well placed to be able to support and guide your decision-making process should you wish.
If you are thinking of applying to a School on the list below, we would suggest an initial conversation at the start of Year 5:
Shrewsbury
Oundle
Uppingham
Radley
Eton
Winchester
If you are thinking of applying to a School on the list below, we would suggest an initial conversation at the start of Year 6:
Repton
Ampleforth
Sedbergh
Giggleswick
If you are thinking of applying to a School on the list below, we would suggest an initial conversation at the start of Year 7:
St Peter’s York
Fettes
Bootham
Scarborough
Pocklington
The Mount
Queen Margaret’s
Queen Ethelburga’s
Barnard Castle
POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR
Ready, Respectful and Safe are the three rules that underpin the behaviour we expect to see in school from all staff and children. We ask our students to embrace our school rules, Ready, Respectful & Safe, at all times:
*Be kind, polite and respectful
*Be responsible, organised and make good decisions
*Work hard and try your best
*Make the most of opportunities on offer at school
*Encourage others and be helpful
* Have fun!
We encourage our parent body to:
- Reinforce and support their child in adhering to the principles of Ready, Respectful, Safe
- Inform the school of any changes in circumstances that may affect their child’s behaviour
- Discuss any behavioural concerns with the class teacher promptly
- Ensure that their child has good attendance and punctuality
- Inform staff of any medical or other needs that may hinder their child’s behaviour
- Ensure that their child attends school in full uniform
Good behaviour requires close collaboration between parents, teachers and children. Parents should discuss the school rules with their child, emphasising that they support the rules. Attending parents’ evenings, parent workshops and developing positive relationships with school, helps to reinforce good behaviour. Teaching and learning cannot take place without sound discipline and parents should recognise that staff will deal with behaviour problems patiently and positively.
At Terrington, we use a system called ‘Class Dojo’ to award your child with good marks and praise. At the start of the school year, each child’s form tutor will email you with a link to the new Class Dojo ‘class’ . It is important that you respond to the link so you can be a part of your child’s class.
Managing Behaviour
Engagement with learning is always our primary aim at Terrington Hall School. For the vast majority of our learners a gentle reminder is all that is needed. Staff will deal with behaviour without delegating. Staff will use the steps in behaviour for dealing with poor conduct following the Positive Behaviour Policy.
STATIONERY AND EQUIPMENT
As your child begins their journey in the Lower Prep at Terrington Hall they will be expected to develop their organisational skills as part of the transition.
To help with self-organisation, the children each have a tray in their form room to store all their personal items and avoid having to take them home each day. It is important that the children are able to store the majority of their belongings in this drawer so we ask they have no more than two ‘ordinary sized’ pencil cases. It is essential that children are aware of the items they have in school and that they are clearly labelled so they can be returned if lost or misplaced. If items are lost, please send an email to your child’s form tutor who will help them to retrace their steps and hopefully find the missing items.
Stationery Required
3 x pencils
1 x fountain pen & ink cartridges (Year 5 upwards)
3 x blue handwriting pens eg. ballpoint/ rollerball/specialist pen (not Biro)
1 x transparent stiff ruler (ideally 30cm)
1 x rubber
1 x sharpener (ideally with holder for sharpenings)
1 x glue stick
1 x folders to organise spellings & prep
1 x green, orange and red pencil for self-assessment
We kindly ask that the children do not bring Tip-ex or permanent markers such as Sharpies into school.
A CHILD LED PROGRAMME OF DISCOVERY
With a high-quality text from the Wordsmith English Programme to launch each term’s Discovery learning, the topic content is chosen to complement the text and ensure curriculum coverage of core subjects such as history, geography, religious studies, IT and science. Some topics may be slightly weighted toward a particular subject focus, but the whole package is carefully planned to ensure full coverage across each year group.
A study which crosses subject boundaries allows for investigations that engage children's imagination. It also gives teachers opportunities to encourage active enquiry, taking initiative, and discussion and debate by children. Where certain topics do not allow for meaningful learning in particular subject areas, those lessons will remain as discreet subject teaching lessons with their own focus for the term. This is often the case for RS, science and maths for example.
Lessons are structured with the needs of every child addressed and we ensure that the use of technology and computing is incorporated into their learning. We also believe strongly that we should build up from the curiosity, creativity and confidence from the Pre-Prep and our Discovery led curriculum allows for a continued love of learning and encouragement of the big questions of ‘why’ and ‘what if?
Some recent discovery topics covered include:
*Ancient Greeks and the development of trade in the Mediterranean
*Polar Explorers
*Africa Land of Diversity
*The Rainforest
DEVELOPING A LOVE OF READING
At Terrington Hall, we are very proud to promote our love of reading as we recognise its importance as a life-long skill which allows the children to access the full range of opportunities they will be presented with.
All Lower Prep staff actively listen to the children read on a regular basis with more regular one-to-one reading continuing to take place in Year 3, moving toward greater independence and more in-lesson reading by Year 5. Nevertheless, Year 5 teachers will continue to ’check in’ with readers regularly. The children all become members of Accelerated Reader (AR) which allows us to encourage, monitor and develop their love and understanding of reading in line with their ZPD (zone of proximal development).
Once the children have completed a Star Assessment, they will be able to choose appropriate books from almost any source by checking the published AR Book Level. On completing their book, a simple online book quiz is taken to ensure the children’s comprehension is good and allowing us to guide them in their next choice.
Over the course of the academic year, the children’s reading progress is monitored closely and a strong relationship between children, parents and teachers is developed. The Accelerated Reader programme is designed to encourage independence of reading at the child’s own pace and immediate comprehension feedback is provided.
The school has a range of books both within the Lower Prep library boxes and within the main library, with teachers on hand to offer guidance in their selection. Those wishing to read books from home may do so as most of these will be on the programme unless very recently published or rare/out of print. Those books which are not on AR can simply be read for pleasure.
Streamed Guided Reading sessions within the form allow us to work on developing specific reading skills using a shared text with small groups of a similar ability, affording support and stretch alike.
A GUIDE TO SPORT IN THE LOWER PREP
Head of Sport:
Mr N Hyde nhyde@terringtonhall.com
For children in Lower Prep, physical education and games become an increasingly important part of the week with the children training as U8/9s, for Years 3/4, and then as U10/11s for Years 4, 5 and 6. Within games sessions, children are taught the skills, knowledge and understanding required to compete.
Games for Years 3 and 4 are on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and for Year 5 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Please see the kit list for the equipment your child will need.
All children are given the opportunity to represent the school in matches . If your child is chosen to play in a match, the details can be found on the SOCS portal.
If for any reason your child is not able to play in a match or is off sport, we ask that parents email the Form Teacher and coach.
The sports department aim to develop key physical literacy, and physical literacy underpins all sessions. We focus on inclusivity and fun, emphasising the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle. We offer a varied games and PE programme allowing the pupils to experience competitive and recreational opportunities.
PE and swimming sessions are either taught in class groups or in single sex groups (depending on the timetable). Games sessions are taught in multiyear groups, usually single sex.
Key Skills and Opportunities
Developing life skills:
* Fun
* Teamwork
* Resilience
* Communication
* Maintaining concentration/focus
Physical development skills:
* Balance
* Hand eye co-ordination
* Speed, agility and flexibility
* Game understanding
* Game specific skills.
Whilst fun and enjoyment are at the forefront of our teaching, we strive to improve each individual and team through detailed specific coaching.
The Lower Prep PE and Games programme:
Physical Education
Athletics (including cross county)
Fundamental movement and physical literacy
Games: Hockey Netball Cricket Rugby
A GUIDE TO MUSIC AND DRAMA IN THE LOWER PREP
Music and Drama plays an important role in education at Terrington Hall. Taught explicitly from the very beginning up to Year 8, the children are encouraged to view Music as a language which can be accessed not just aurally but also decoded visually. Important areas are the development of rhythmic and pitch skills through movement, percussion-work and singing. Pupils are taught to read and play from musical notation, unlocking a whole new world available to only a small proportion of society. Many children go on to learn to play a variety of instruments and develop their musicianship via our pool of peripatetic instrumental teachers. There are termly recitals and concerts allowing pupils to get used to performing for an audience. External music exams are held annually.
In the summer term, all the children in Lower Prep take part in a production with performances to parents and family held before the May half term. These plays are always a highlight of the year with the main speaking parts primarily going to Year 5, and Years 3 and 4 in supporting roles and the chorus.
Children in Lower Prep also form a Junior Choir. This is a weekly enrichment activity leading to performances to audiences out of school, in local care homes, the Terrington Hall Christmas Fair, as well as special assemblies throughout the year.
Many of the 'soft skills' which are acquired from the array of musical and dramatic performances here at school are an essential part of success in later life. They help to increase self-confidence and creativity and make public-speaking much less daunting. Music and drama fosters imagination and empathy, and regular live performances focus the ability to concentrate, communicate and work as part of a team. Most importantly, here at Terrington, we aim to provide the building blocks for a lifelong love of the performing arts.
INSTRUMENTAL LESSONS
Specialist tuition is available for a wide range of instruments with extra help, taster lessons and consideration given to beginners. Lessons are offered weekly during term time from a wide range of specialist instrumentalist peripatetic staff. If your child is interested in learning or simply trialling an instrument, please contact Mrs K Cole, Interim Director of Performing Arts, (copying in your child’s Form Tutor) in the first instance.
HOUSE SYSTEM
All pupils from Reception to Year 8 are welcomed into one of our three Houses - Castle, Forest and Moor. Siblings are always in the same House. The names and crests were chosen to encapsulate our enviable geographical position but also our values of courage, kindness, confidence and consequently, growth. We elect three Heads of School, each year, one from each House.
Castle represents the historical significance of the area, with beautiful monuments such as Castle Howard, Sheriff Hutton Castle and York Minster. It also signifies the courageous spirit and resilience which we foster in our pupils.
Forest represents the natural beauty of the area, with lush expansive forests such as Dalby Forest, and of course our hugely popular forest school. It also signifies the nurture and growth of the pupils while they are in our care at Terrington Hall.
Moor represents the breath-taking landscapes, first and foremost from our very own playing fields, but also those of the North Yorkshire Moors. It also signifies expanding of horizons, a mantra firmly at the heart of everything we do, which helps to build our pupils’ confidence.
The House system unites children in different year groups, enabling positive relationships with pupils across the school. It allows us to encourage friendly competition for a range of events including House sports, bake off, quizzes, debating, essay writing and much more. The House system is celebrated at the start of each academic year with our House Festival and again at the end with Sports Day. House assemblies are held every Friday morning, and celebrate achievement across all areas of school life.
CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMMES: TALL
At Terrington Hall, we believe in providing our pupils with a wide range of educational experiences. Our TALL (Terrington Adventure Leadership and Life-skills) award allows us to produce forward thinking, innovative, curious pupils who are not risk averse. It is a way to broaden their horizons, giving them opportunities beyond the curriculum to learn, grow and develop in the key areas of: teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, empathy and kindness and communication skills. It allows them opportunities to reflect and assess themselves and their progress.
The ‘adventure’ strand of the award encompasses a set of outdoor skills. From Year 3 upwards, we learn skills involving, but not limited to, knot tying and increasingly challenging map reading and route-finding skills. Our forest school provides an excellent opportunity to learn a range of skills, appreciate our local habitats or safely build campfires. We plant trees and hedgerows, fruit trees and vegetables.
We produce pupils who are leaders and who can take leadership roles on at school and beyond. Lower Prep pupils build relationships with the younger pupils in Pre-Prep, visiting them regularly and organising learning activities and events for them as part of our Buddy System. Pupils plan and organise stalls for school fairs, give assemblies to raise awareness for charities or carry out fundraising through cake stalls and other initiatives.
TALL allows us to give our pupils a developing ability to cope with anything life throws at them. We give them a range of life-skills from basic mechanical ones to life saving and first aid, to interpersonal skills. We aim to prepare them for adult life through giving them responsibility for, and ownership of, activities and tasks. They leave us with a growing awareness of the world around them and their place in it.
AD ASTRA—ACADEMIC STRETCH AND CHALLENGE PROGRAMME
All pupils are entitled to a curriculum and environment which meets their needs and enables them to flourish both academically and in terms of developing their character. Quality, differentiated, small class teaching across school facilitates this much of the time. Pupils with particular learning needs are catered for through our Learning Support programme. Stretching and challenging all pupils, including those who are particularly gifted and/or talented is the purpose of Terrington Hall’s ‘ad astra’ programme.
What is 'ad astra'?
‘ad astra’ , meaning ‘to the stars’, is Terrington Hall’s programme to promote and celebrate endeavour and achievement in academics. It is designed to stretch and challenge all pupils in a wide range of academic areas and to broaden the range of activities and subjects on offer to them. It draws together academic enrichments, competitions (both in school and external) and whole-school and House events.
Our ’ad astra’ enrichment offering is ever changing but has recently included activities such as chess, debating, coding, origami, French conversation and art history. We are always keen to add activities to the programme in which the pupils have an interest.
‘ad astra’ competitions are extremely popular and we look to put something on at least termly. Annual events include the House debating competition, Spelling Bee, Latin Vocabulary Challenge, a Big House Quiz and a Memory Challenge.
At the end of each term, pupils are also awarded bronze, silver and gold star pin badges for their blazers for exceptional effort and achievement in the ‘ad astra’ programme.
TRIPS AND RESIDENTIAL WEEKS
SCHOOL TRIPS
To enhance the Discovery curriculum, Lower Prep children are taken on a variety of curriculum-linked trips each year. Most trips are published in advance in the termly calendar and additional details are sent nearer to the visit date. Parents are asked to complete a ‘General Consent Form’ each academic year, which gives permission for children to visit the local area at short notice.
RESIDENTIAL
During the Summer Term Years 3, 4 and 5 will embark on a residential trip encompassing a variety of adventurous activities. The residential incurs an additional cost.
For Years 3 and 4, the residential usually involves two-nights away from home and three nights away for Year 5. In Lower Prep, we make use of specialist activity centres in the North of England with highly trained, experienced staff and excellent facilities and accommodation. Recent visits have been to Kingswood in Hexham, Bewerley Park at Pateley Bridge and East Barmby near Whitby.
