The Pre-Prep "A Great Place To Start"
The Pre-Prep department opened in 1995 and now has a pupil roll approaching seventy. It has been characterised by the happiness as well as the success of its pupils and enjoys a well-deserved reputation as a school that offers a wide, up-to-date exciting curriculum within a caring, ordered and above all friendly environment.
The school admits children from the age of three to seven and has its own fully equipped, purpose-built classrooms with experienced and well-qualified staff providing an excellent ratio of teachers to children.
We promote a holistic education where the spiritual, moral, social, physical and creative aspects of a child’s development are nurtured as well as the cognitive.
Since leaving the home environment is an important and exciting step in a young child’s life, the approach in the Nursery is to create a happy, settled atmosphere. As the children move through the school they are encouraged to think for themselves so they go into the main school with a measure of independence and a good foundation for future learning.
OUR AIMS
To promote self-confidence and a respect for others through a happy, secure and disciplined environment.
To develop a positive attitude to learning
To provide opportunities which inspire children to discover and cultivate their talents.
To foster excellence and quality in all areas of the curriculum
CLASSROOM ORGANISATION
There are six classes in the department:
One Nursery class
Two Reception classes
One Year 1 classes
Two Year 2 class
We aim to have no more than 16 children in each class and 12 in the nursery classes. There are assistants in each of the nursery classes and reception.
THE CURRICULUM
The school is a registered provider of “ Under Fives Education” and grants are available through the Government funded scheme. Up to the age of five, children work and play to develop skills in line with the DfEE’s Desirable Learning Outcomes.
Between the ages of five and seven all National Curriculum Key Stage 1 subjects are taught with the addition of French (Yr 1), Spanish (Yr 2) and Religious Studies.
The teachers continuously evaluate the children’s skills. There is formal baseline assessment at the age of five followed by Standardised Assessment Tests at the age of seven.
We encourage parents to take an active part in the development of their child through open and continual communication.
THE SCHOOL DAY
8.45 a.m. - 3.45 p.m.
4 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. ‘ after school ‘ (not Weds)
5.00p.m. tea for those supervised until 5.50p.m (pupils bring in their own tea)
After school clubs include art, tennis, drama, gardening, baking, computer club and sports club.
Ballet, violin and recorder groups are held at lunch breaks.
Individual music lessons can be arranged.
Swimming lessons take place on Friday morning for Reception and Years 1 and 2.
Gill Smith (Pre-Prep Head)
- Enjoys a well-deserved reputation for outstanding teaching
- Offers a rich, inspiring, up-to-date curriculum
- Provides a warm, caring, friendly and structured environment
- Nurtures the development of the ‘whole child’ with the important life skills
- Produces individual programmes to suit each child’s needs
- Fosters excellence and quality in all aspects of school life
- Promotes self-confidence and respect for others
- Develops a love of learning
- Provides opportunities for children to discover and cultivate their talents
- Small classes with teaching assistants (maximum 16)
- Parents are encouraged to take an active part in their child’s development.
- Teachers are continuously evaluating the children’s skills
- More value is placed on teacher assessment than formal testing
- Each child is made to feel special
Founded in 1885, the School is set in twelve acres of attractive grounds and gardens in the historic town of Sherborne which is well-served by road and rail links. The School has a long and distinguished history as a leading preparatory school in the south-west, and an enviable academic reputation as a feeder to many of England's leading public schools. Sherborne Preparatory School enjoys a close association with its two neighbours, Sherborne School and Sherborne School for Girls.