The new school year has started very well indeed, with children and staff returning excited about the year ahead and the many wonderful opportunities for learning which it will bring. The children now seem well settled into their new classes, and teachers have been enjoying getting to know their new pupils over these first few weeks of the term.

It’s a great joy to now have the use of the school’s splendid creative and performing arts centre, with all Mrs Ongley’s music lessons, nearly all Mrs Hillier’s drama and even some prep school art making very good use of these superb facilities. The centre has reinvigorated the arts across the prep curriculum, and there will be many opportunities to explore links between the arts and other curriculum areas in the terms ahead, as well as emphases on creativity, individuality and the pursuit of excellence in the arts and across the curriculum.
We continue to strive to be the best we can be, looking at development in every aspect of the school’s life. In Early Years we’ll be exploring ways of developing greater independence in learning, something continued further up the school as we gradually extend the support for subjects through our Moodle Virtual Learning Environment, building on last year’s successful pilot.

Our PE programme goes from strength to strength under Mr Hoffman’s guidance, with increased numbers of fixtures and the return of swimming to the upper prep timetable and extra-curricular programme after too many years’ absence. Our PE not only helps lay the foundation for healthy lifestyles but also contributes much to the formation of our pupils’ characters. The extracurriular programme has expanded, with a number of new clubs this term, such as discovery science, treble recorder, digital arts and photography. Our programme of trips and visits continues to grow, with a Year 6 visit to Paris just one of the highlights of the year ahead.

None of this would be possible, of course, without your continued support. I was delighted to hear how much the children had enjoyed their varied summer holidays, and it was a pleasure to see so many of you at the prep curriculum evening and last week’s transition evening. I do hope as many of you as possible will be able to join us for the Harvest Festival on 14th October.

Safety and Security

After a comprehensive review of safety and security arrangements throughout the prep school, I’d like to make parents aware of a number of changes to our practice made over the last few weeks.

Nursery and Pre-Prep children now wait until Reception children have been taken down to the corridor door before coming to the Early Years gate for collection.

The Early Years gate has been replaced with a beautiul, tall gate, with a lock operated by push-button at adult level; an additional gate is to be installed further along the Early Years corridor, and an electronic lock has been fitted to the playground door. Could parents please be vigilant in closing these gates and doors behind them.

Breakfast Club has been relocated to Mrs Love’s classroom, with additional supervision cover in place. Please be aware that Breakfast Club does not commence until 8:00 am; similarly After School Care closes at 5:30 pm, by which time all children should have been collected.

Mr Hoffman is not on duty in the playground until 8:35: please stay with children until this time, or alternatively bring them to Breakfast Club, where they will be supervised until Mr Hoffman arrives.

Please could all parents collect their children from the playground (or Early Years gate); we no longer consider it appropriate for children to be collected from the car park. Could parents of children in Years 5 and 6 who would prefer their children to walk home please write to me.

I must also ask parents to refrain from bringing dogs, however cute or adorable, onto school premises.

Miles Berry, Head of the Prep Department