Pre-Prep

Welcome to Hoe Bridge Pre-Prep! Children aged rising three to seven may spend up to five years in the Pre-Prep before moving onto the Prep school. Whether they start in Twigs, our pre-Nursery class, Nursery or Reception we ensure that every child has a very happy start to their school life. From Twigs to Year 2 our 12 classes of children are busy from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave at the end of the day, and even beyond that if they go into our after school club. Our qualified and dedicated staff work hard to create the fun, warm and vibrant atmosphere that you feel the minute you walk through the door. Our aim is that each child will achieve his or her full potential; academically, socially, artistically or in sport; through a well structured and stimulating programme of work.

Our children skip into school; they are confident and proud to be part of Hoe Bridge.

Code of Conduct

Our school is unique in its atmosphere. We have a lot of fun with the children and are often involved in whole school projects such as A Trip Around The World, the Election, Mardi Gras, History Week, Art Week, Red Nose Day, the list goes on. This atmosphere is created by all of us and is based on mutual respect.

Our Hoe Bridge Way is our code of conduct which outlines our principles of learning, teaching and being. It describes how we

• work hard
• share
• look after property
• listen
• are honest
• are kind and helpful
• are gentle
• say sorry and move on

and throughout the day children, and adults, follow this code. Children know that their efforts will be recognised and appreciated and for that reason they strive to do their best. They are rewarded for personal best achievement both in the class and publicly across the school. Our weekly Work of the Week awards are just one of the ways we reward children and they all look forward to Friday’s assembly to hear who has been awarded each week. We know how much the children love the school by their responses to our work – we are often inundated with things to put on our display tables brought from home or found out over the weekend or holiday.

Class structure

The Pre-Prep comprises five year groups; our classes are named after trees. Classes have a maximum of 20 children; there are two Nursery classes and three classes per year group from Reception to Year 2.

The classes in each year group follow a planned programme of work together with activities differentiated for each child’s needs. Children may work in small groups with those of similar abilities and often the groups will be made up of children from the other classes in the year group.

Staffing

Our staff are well trained, experienced and committed to the well being of all the children in their care. In the Nursery there are two teachers and three Nursery Nurses, in Reception each class has a teacher and a full time assistant, in Year 1 each class has a teacher and an assistant every morning and in Year 2 there are three class teachers and two assistants who share their time between the three classes. In addition there is a floating assistant who works in both Years 1 and 2. Music and Games are taught by specialist teachers.

The Curriculum

Our Nursery and Reception classes form the Foundation Stage of learning. The children have great fun working both indoors and out. The curriculum is designed to cover the six areas of the Early learning Goals; Communication, Language and Literacy; Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy; Knowledge and Understanding of the World; Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development; Creative Development.

In Years 1 and 2 children build on their early skills to become fluent readers and writers using their skills in their Topic work to investigate and research; using Information Technology and their quick mental arithmetic skills to solve problems. They become increasingly independent in their work confident to present it orally or in written form to the rest of the school. The children love learning French from Year 1 and they develop their inter-personal skills through the Personal, Social and Health Education programme.

Year 2 children are prepared for the move over to the Prep school by spending an increasing amount of time there. They have lunch in the Prep school every day and have an additional weekly sports lesson with the Prep staff. Every term they have a sample lesson in Art, Design Technology or Music and in this way they become familiar with the Prep school whilst still enjoying the security of the Pre-Prep. When they move in the September of Year 3 they do so with barely a backward glance! We never forget any of our children however and follow them with interest as they progress up through the Prep and onto their senior schools.

Our Day

Whilst there is no such thing as a typical day at the Pre-Prep – every day is different and full of fresh challenges – we do have a daily routine which all the children know really well. Generally the day starts with an assembly when we all gather together to discuss a topical issue or listen to a story from the Christian or other religion. All the assemblies have some relevance to the children and will be thought provoking and interactive. Each theme for discussion lasts at least one week giving the children time to think about the issues, to respond to them and to build on their knowledge and understanding.

At playtime there is so much to choose from it’s difficult to know where to start - the bikes and scooters or the sandpits; the monkey bars or a run on the meadow; basket ball or football; stilts, hoops or skipping; a quiet read in the summer house or a spot of gardening? The children are certainly never at a loss for something to do but should they find themselves feeling like that there is always the Friendship Team, three Year 2 children, who will scoop them up and find someone or something for them to play with. Playtime is mid-morning – after a snack of milk or water, homemade biscuit or fresh fruit - before and after lunch with a short break in the afternoons for the youngest children. It is well supervised by the staff who will join in with the children’s games, but perhaps not on the monkey bars!

Each teacher will devise her own timetable around subjects like Music, PE and Games and much of the children’s academic work will be based around their current Topic. The subject areas each have a section on this website but for the children the day flows and one subject area links in with another. For example in a Topic on Transport the children may conduct a traffic survey (maths and ICT), look at inventions and timelines (history), look at maps and co-ordinates (geography and maths), read non fiction books (English), write a hot air balloon adventure story (English), study sea travel and boat design (science and design technology).

At lunchtime the children sit on tables of up to 12 children with a teacher or assistant to serve them. A hot meal is served at the table – a favourite is chicken pie with mashed potatoes and vegetables – but the children may also choose from the salad bar where they will find jackets potatoes, tuna mayonnaise, sweetcorn, lettuce, tomatoes, coleslaw and a hot vegetarian option. There is also homemade soup and bread. For dessert the choice may be sponge and custard at the table or a choice of fresh fruit or homemade yoghurt on the salad bar.

At the end of the day the children will enjoy a coming together with their teacher and the rest of the class as they follow a story or discuss what they have achieved that day.

Contact with Parents

The stronger the link we have with our parents the better will be the experience of school for all of us especially the children! We are more than happy to see any parent before or after school and of course we have daily contact with one another as the children arrive and are collected from school. There are termly Parent’s Evenings when there is an opportunity to see a child’s work and discuss progress with the teacher. The children’s progress is carefully monitored through a variety of assessments - some observational others more formal – and the teacher will keep you informed of your child’s development. Our annual Information Evenings explain the programme of work for the year and brings together all the staff and parents of each year group over a glass of wine. The video of the children working and playing in school and shown on these evenings is a must see!

Crocs After School Care

Crocs After School is held daily from 3.20 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. during the school term for children in Reception Years 1, 2 and 3. Children booked in will be picked up from their classroom by a member of Crocs staff and taken to the Nursery building; it is also possible to pick up children from after school activities. During snack time children are asked what they would like to play so the appropriate toys and games are set out to support their needs. Children can be picked up at any time, but must always be signed in and out by a parent or guardian.