Pre-Prep: Reception, Year 1 & Year 2
The September after their fourth birthday, our Nursery children move up into Reception where they are joined by a number of external applicants who are joining St. Helen's College for the first time.
In our pre-prep classes we have generous staff to pupil numbers, with a ratio of 1:8 in Reception and 1:12 in Year 1 and Year 2, assisted by extra floating staff in all classes where necessary. This means that the children can make rapid progress in their learning, as well as having lots of fun!
The pre-prep is very much part of the whole school and takes part in all of the whole school events such as the annual Speech Competition, Sports Days, charity days and themed curriculum days.
In Reception we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and most children achieve the highest points on the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile.
Throughout our pre-prep classes, core subjects are taught by class teachers, who take primary responsibility for each child's pastoral care and development. Reception and Year 1 children have specialist teachers in Drama, Spanish, Music and PE/Games. In Year 2, when they transfer to our Upper School site, the children also begin to have art lessons in our wonderful art studio, taught by our specialist art teacher.
The curriculum is very vibrant thanks to our dedicated and creative staff, who teach educational skills in a playful way. Teaching develops throughout Reception to become more formal in Year 1 and Year 2. We have interactive whiteboards in every class, along with special computing and IT resources and weekly computing lessons. Children have access to a well-stocked library and wonderful outdoor play and discovery areas.
There are opportunities for children to take part in co-curricular clubs and activities and to take individual music tuition, and we have Lower School Choir for pupils in Reception and Year 1 and Junior Choir for children in Year 2 and Year 3.
Daily Life
- Our School Day
- Pre-School
- Pre-Prep: Reception, Year 1 & Year 2
- Prep: Years 3, 4, 5 & 6
- Co-curricular Opportunities
- Wraparound Care
- School Meals