On Thursday, the children in Pre-Prep had a special taster session themed on the book “We’re Going On A Bear Hunt”. All the children, along with some new friends, got the opportunity to experience an afternoon in Reception, and thoroughly enjoyed exploring, creating and investigating all sorts of different activities based around the “Bear” theme. The children particularly enjoyed using instruments to accompany the story, making bear biscuits and even creating their own bear masks. Some of the children were especially good at impersonating the bear and I am sure the occasional roar could be heard from further away! All the children joined in beautifully and were keen to use the different equipment and facilities that they will experience in Reception.

In Pre-Prep we aim for an holistic approach, and therefore the majority of our work is cross-curricular. The first half term our topic is Homes. The topic will look at the different homes people live in throughout the world, as well as animal homes. After half term we shall be starting our Growth topic, which, due to the short term, will continue after Easter. Throughout the topic we will be looking at how we grow, as well as growing seeds and plants.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

This will continue to feature heavily as the children continue to adapt to the many changes, and responsibilities they now have within Pre-Prep. We will continue to encourage the children to take responsibility for themselves, their possessions and their actions.

On Wednesday 5th December, the children from Nursery and Pre-Prep performed a brilliant nativity in front of Key Stage 2 in the chapel. It was really good and, as always, very adorable! There were all the main characters of the traditional story, and then a few very amusing extras, like two fierce Roman soldiers (Rhys and Freddy) who came to Mary (Rose) and Joseph (John) and told them they had to go to Bethlehem for the census. Mary was especially smiley and the angel Gabriel (Schuyler) shone and danced very well down the aisle. There were also three very realistic camels (Connor, Werner and Hattie) with the three kings (Lucy, Sebby and Will J). Mrs Ongley and her percussionist (Sophie) played brilliantly. The excited nursery sung very well, and they were clearly enjoying themselves as much as we were. The scary things for us now is that the teachers now know how loud Early Years can project their voices!

Within Pre Prep we aim for a holistic approach, and, therefore, the majority of our work is cross curricular. The first half term our topic is Rhymes. The topic will include nursery rhymes, as well as traditional rhymes, and number rhymes. After half term our topic will be Celebrations, and we will be learning about Divali, All Saints, Bonfire Night, Remembrance Day, St Nicholas Day, and Christmas. We are planning our yearly outing to Miller's Ark Animals at Roke Farm to take part in the re-enactment of the Nativity during December, and of course there will be the highlight of the term, the children's Nativity production! This is going to be a very busy term for the children, and we will cover all areas of the curriculum.

Within Nursery and Pre Prep we aim for an holistic approach, and therefore the majority of our work is cross curricular. This term our topic is Animals. This is going to be an exciting topic for the children an will cover all areas of the curriculum. The topic will include minibeasts for the first two weeks, followed by three weeks of farm animals. After half term we will be learning about wild animals for the first two weeks, and we will cover pets for the final three weeks of the term. We have a visit arranged for May 10th, when Miller's Ark animals will visit, bringing with them a variety of friendly farm animals for the children to cuddle, stroke, groom and feed. We look forward to hosting our Fun Day on 16th May, our Teddy Bears' Picnic on 7th June, and our annual outing will be at the end of June.

The children of the Nursery and Pre-Prep department, along with their teddybears, had great fun at the Teddybears’ Tea Party. New children and their families, who are due to start next term, joined them. The children enjoyed a teddybear hunt through the woods, stories and a tea-party in the Convent garden.

Children, staff and parents from the Nursery and Pre-Prep department enjoyed a day at Marwell Zoo recently. Despite the rain nearly thirty children had fun visiting the animals and riding on the train. The afternoon brought the sunshine along with ice creams and a flurry of activity from the animals. A lovely way to end a busy term.

On the 9th December the children in the Pre-Prep, Reception and Nursery, together with some parents, visited the Miller's Ark animals at Roke farm.
As well as gaining hands-on experience of many of the larger farmyard animals such as pigs, cows, sheep, dogs, goats, the children were also allowed to interact the smaller inhabitants of the farm, the hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits. Following this they watched a re-enactment of the Nativity and finished the day with hot refreshments and a visit from Father Christmas.