A key thing parents always want to know is – what will my child be doing all day? Here is a typical day, though no two days are quite the same.
Morning
From 7:30am | Breakfast Club is open for families who need an early start during term time. Children enjoy breakfast together with pupils from across the Preparatory School in the dining room before the day begins.
8am – 9am | Children are welcomed in by name, hang up their coats and bags, and settle into the room with free choice of activities while everyone arrives. We know how important this gentle start is, particularly for our two-year-olds.
9am – 11:30am | Teacher-led time, built around the week’s theme. Throughout the week, activities will focus on numeracy, literacy, understanding the world, expressive arts and design, and physical development.
Each week, children also enjoy a visit to the library, where they share stories and choose a book to take home. They also enjoy weekly forest adventures.
Pre-School will start swimming lessons in the autumn term, with a lesson once a week. As children get closer to Reception Class, learning and activities become slightly more structured to help prepare them for the next stage of their journey.
All day access to the outside areas. Whatever the weather, with the right clothing, we make the most of our outdoor spaces. We have beautiful grounds and woodland on our doorstep, and we use them every single day.
12.30pm – 1pm | Lunchtime. Children in Nursery enjoy their lunch in their classroom with their teachers. Pre-school children walk across to the college dining room.
It is a small thing that makes a big difference. Children learn how to carry a tray, sit at a table, use cutlery and talk to the person next to them. By the time they reach Reception, they are already familiar with the lunchtime routine and feel confident and comfortable.
Afternoon
Younger children who still need a sleep have one. Everyone else moves into afternoon activities, both indoor and outdoor. Everyone then has teacher-led time built around the week’s theme, alongside self-initiate play and free-flow outdoor play.
3.45pm | Tidy- up time and story time
4.15pm | Teatime in Nursery for families who need it
5pm | Self-initiated play and free flow outdoor play.
6pm | Pick-up time.
Please note – children have snack time in both the morning and afternoon.
Keeping you connected
You will always know about your child’s day. We use Tapestry, our secure online journal to keep you regularly connected with your child’s experiences, progress and development. Through Tapestry, we share observations, photographs and videos, creating a special record of your child’s learning journey and celebrating the important moments along the way.
We believe that strong partnerships with parents make a real difference to a child’s learning, development and happiness. That is why we place great value on open and regular communication and operate an open-door policy throughout the year. Whether you have a question, would like to share something with us or simply want to have a chat, our team is always happy to listen.
We believe in keeping you informed, involved and reassured every step of the way.
