Hilden Oaks independent preparatory school is situated in the historic town of Tonbridge in Kent and provides a happy, secure and rich learning environment for boys up to age 7 and girls up to age 11.

From Kindergarten through to Prep the children at Hilden Oaks thrive on a balanced curriculum designed to promote academic achievement, self-confidence, independence, co-operation and a high standard of behaviour.

With small class sizes and dedicated staff the pupils are treated individually, developing their natural abilities and achieving their full potential.

Beyond the classroom pupils are given the opportunity to develop new skills and take part in many activities including sports, drama, music, numerous clubs and school outings.

The school prides itself on its caring family atmosphere where the children are happy and keen to learn. This can be fully appreciated by a visit to our school in Tonbridge, Kent.

We look forward to welcoming you to Hilden Oaks preparatory school and hope you enjoy visiting our website.

Our Pre-School Department enables children to be included and benefit at a very early age from all that we have to offer.

The children in our Pre-School are part of a happy and secure learning environment which continues into the Foundation Stage.

We guide the children through the transition into school life in a close partnership with our parents. This relationship, together with the daily routines and plenty of activity and play opportunities, gives children the very best possible start to their school careers.

The entry age is flexible at Hilden Oaks and we can plan days or part days to suit both you and your child. Children may arrive from 8am each day and facilities are available until 5.30pm.

The Pre-School Department is located in Acorn House which has step-free access to both floors from outside and it's own secure outdoor play and exploration area.

Our Nursery for babies from the age of 3 months opened in September 2007.

Our professional staff ensure that the youngest members of your family have a home-from-home at Hilden Oaks.

Morning, afternoon and late sessions are available for babies to suit your needs.

The Nursery is located on the lower floor of Acorn House.

The Transition sessions are where the Foundation Stage starts at the age of three. As its name implies, Transition guides children through the time before their full-time education starts in Reception. The aims of the Foundation Stage are that, through a well-planned and resourced curriculum, learning will progress so that all children have the opportunity to succeed in a caring and structured environment.

Hilden Oaks is co-educational up to the age of seven with parallel classes, which are not streamed in any way.

The Pre-Prep Department comprises Reception and Years 1 and 2. Here, children are starting full-time school life and build the foundations for success as they progress.

In the Pre-Prep Department, the Foundation Stage continues in Reception. This prepares the children for Key Stage One of the National Curriculum which follows in Years 1 and 2.

The Reception children start school full-time and are gradually introduced to a structured day.

The Foundation Stage curriculum is organised into six areas of learning:

- Personal, social and emotional development
- Communication, language and literacy
- Mathematical development
- Knowledge and understanding of the world
- Physical development
- Creative development

These early learning goals have 'stepping stones' of progress to guide the children at their own pace. The goals are in line with the objectives in the framework for teaching literacy and maths so that the children have a solid foundation for progression to Year 1

In Key Stage 1 of the Pre-Prep Department, the friendly but disciplined environment enables the children to develop reading, writing and number skills in a practical, visual yet formal manner.

The importance of presentation of work is emphasised so that it becomes a natural way of working. Emphasis is on individual tuition, and the forms are kept small to achieve this objective. All children are encouraged to discipline themselves to work independently.

Everyone is taught to read fluently. Basic sentence construction is emphasised so that this can progress into story writing.

The four rules of number, investigatory maths and multiplication tables are included in the syllabus.

Science, art, music, physical education, computing and drama are taught both by the form teachers and by additional specialist staff.

The boys leave Hilden Oaks at the end of Key Stage 1 and the girls progress from this point in the single stream classes of the Preparatory Department. Where year-group numbers are larger, the girls are split into smaller groups for teaching.

All Key Stage 2 pupils have bright, airy classrooms located in the recently built Salmon Building where they have easy access to Science, Art and ICT facilities.

In years 3 to 6 the strong foundations laid by the Pre-School and Pre-Prep departments are built upon and the girls follow an enhanced National Curriculum which helps in the preparation for the selection procedure to State Schools at 11+ and for Common Entrance to Independent Schools.

In Key Stage 2, specialist teaching in French, games, music, swimming and ICT is continued, and specialist science and art teaching is added to the curriculum. This ensures a greater depth of knowledge and further enriches the educational experience of the girls.

The emphasis in the Preparatory Department is on helping the girls prepare academically, emotionally and socially for Senior School life. They are encouraged to be independent, organised, thoughtful and to have confidence in their own abilities.

Year 6 play an integral part in the social development of the other children in the school. In their role as Monitors and peer mentors they support and encourage the younger children and are vital role models to them.

As Librarians, the girls help our Librarian to ensure the smooth running of our well-stocked Library and give freely of their break times to ensure that this facility is at its best at all times.

Everybody in the Preparatory Department is given the opportunity to represent the School on the sports field. Matches against other schools are held regularly and much enjoyed by all participants.

The Trustees of Hilden Oaks School wish to encourage girls age 7 (National Curriculum Year 3) with high academic potential to attend the school.

To this end, a limited number of means-tested Academic Bursaries will be offered to girls whose parents would not otherwise be able to afford the full cost of school fees.

The selection process for girls entering Year 3 in September 2007 is now complete.

Parents interested in this scheme for girls entering Year 3 in 2008-2009 should, in the first instance, contact the school office.