Pre-Prep
The two main stages of our Pre-Prep Department are Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery & Reception) and KS1 (Year 1&2). During playtime, all children from Nursery to Year 2 have the opportunity to play in the same shared area. Our outdoor area in Pre-Prep is a very safe, stimulating and rural setting that provides lots of space to run around in and apparatus for playing on.
Reception (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Children begin their school careers in Reception with our nurturing staff who ensure that they feel welcome and cared for, and as a result pupils quickly get used to the more formal school routine and the new learning environment.
The two Reception classrooms are designed to be fun and inviting with a wide and changing range of stimulating activities to encourage curiosity and engagement. We also have a large, covered outdoor learning area for the children to explore. Our Reception children are given daily opportunities to explore and investigate in free-play situations alongside their more formal teaching. Washing and toilet facilities are easily accessible for the children and they enjoy healthy snacks and lunch together. Playtime takes place outside in the playground, whatever the weather conditions.
Most lessons are taught in the Reception area. They have Music, Singing, French, Tennis and Swimming taught by specialist teachers. A weekly session in the Wild Wood provides a wonderful Forest School experience with the children getting close to nature. To further enhance our curriculum, we also often take the children on outings to local places of interest. Reception attends Pre-Prep assemblies and occasional whole-school assemblies and gatherings as part of the wider school community and it is lovely to see them enjoying interacting with the older children.
Our small class sizes enable children to receive individual attention and each child is valued and respected as being special. We foster positive relationships between home and school by welcoming parents in and having the staff available each day to discuss news, welfare, or education. Organisational skills are encouraged so that children undertake personal responsibility and independence.
Reception Enrichment opportunities
Reception children are welcome to participate in the Pre-Prep Enrichment programme which runs after school each evening from 3.20pm – 4pm, booked in advance at the start of term with your child’s teacher. After-school clubs include activities such as Dancing, Bushcraft, Drama, Ball skills, Construction, Mindfulness, Yoga, STEM Challenges and Sports Club. Additional optional activities are also arranged for Saturday mornings between 9.30am and 12.30pm. These activities include a sporting session, either swimming or ball skills/football on the school fields, followed by a craft or cookery session. Saturday Mornings are booked via the parent portal by the Wednesday before that Saturday. The wide variety of activities on offer through our Enrichment programme are designed to ensure all pupils have the opportunity to try their hand at or develop skills beyond the normal academic, artistic and sporting curriculum.
After School Club for Reception (4-6pm)
We can provide care for children between 4pm and 6pm each evening through our After School Club. This can either be pre-booked at the start of every term or on an ad hoc basis by emailing your child’s class teacher. There is no additional charge for this provision for children in Reception. These sessions are held in the Pre-Prep buildings with our older children (up to Year 2) and a sandwich snack is provided at 4.45pm.
Years 1 & 2 (KS1)
Our younger children receive a broad-based education. Our aim is that the children develop positively in an atmosphere of mutual respect. They receive praise to assist in their successful progression and to build their self-confidence. Appropriate behaviour is fostered through a structure of positive reinforcement. Pupils are taught in small classes by highly qualified teachers with excellent support staff. All of our pupils are taught the core subjects of Literacy, Numeracy and Science and a range of foundation subjects. Alongside this, specialist lessons in Spanish, Music, Art, Swimming and Tennis add an extra dimension to their weekly timetable.
The secluded rural environment of the school provides a safe and protected setting for the children to play and explore. Cundall Pre-Prep is a very happy place, full of energetic, confident and kind little people eager to learn and explore.
Year 1 and 2 follow a structured timetable. Most lessons are classroom-based within the Pre-Prep building; however, the children do move to other classrooms in the Main School building for Art, Music, Sport (PE), and Swimming and across to our natural woodland – Wild Wood, for outdoor learning.
Classroom based curriculum lessons are Maths, English, Science, Topic, Information Computer Technology (ICT) (we have Chromebooks for every child in Pre-Prep), PSHE, RS, Spanish and Singing which are both led by specialist Singing and Spanish teachers.
Extra-Curricular and enrichment choices are available from 3.20 – 4pm each day. Activities vary from term to term and include: Sport, Bookworms, ICT, Swimming, Mindfulness, Parachute Games, Bush-craft, Art, Hockey, Netball, Horse Riding Yoga and lots more!
Year 1 and 2 children have the opportunity to swim twice a week in our heated pool and also enjoy taking part in the whole school fun run in January and the Chocolate Cake Race in March.
After school club is available from 4-5pm and 5-6pm. Breakfast club is also available from 7.30am. Early club is booked in advance but it is available from 8.15am.
Strong Values
In KS1 we try to promote independence and organisation as much as possible, e.g. children are encouraged to independently dress/undress for playtime, sport, swimming and Wild Wood. They are aware of their timetable and order of lessons, what they need, etc., so they can take more ownership of being prepared and organised, promoting forward thinking and planning. We have a Pre-Prep Pupil Voice meeting each half term.
PSHE lessons are vital for understanding relationships, caring, sharing, working together, being responsible, rewards and consequences, having positive attitudes, healthy living/eating, celebrating diversity, dreams and goals etc.
Lunch is in the dining hall from 11.30am and all Pre-Prep children dine together. Table manners and etiquette are promoted from a very early age.
Trips & Social Events
Cundall Pre-Prep celebrates Harvest Festival, Nativity, Theme days, Seasonal events and has two school trips per term. They also have the opportunity to join the whole school beach day to Beadnell Sands and the winning House trip.
Additionally, every year Yrs 1 and 2 go on a school trip in the Summer Term where all Year 2 children are ‘buddied’ up with a Year 3 child so that when September comes, they have an immediate friend and point of contact. During the Summer Term, they also have a Summer Party on the school grounds and other social contacts within the Summer Term. Our Year 2 children feel happy, confident and ready to face Year 3 once they leave Pre-Prep.
