8 minute read
Starting strong
Excellent facilities, small class sizes, outstanding teachers and specialised learning all add up to an exceptional early education
Choosing a school can be an overwhelming decision for many parents. It doesn’t matter how many glossy prospectuses, websites and schools guides you wade through, you may well still feel burdened by the decision. When nalising this choice, it might be helpful to identify what’s important to you and your family and select a learning environment that o ers the best t for your child. ree of the schools below are nalists in the pre-prep category of the Independent Schools of the Year 2021, this magazine’s awards campaign, while Yorston Lodge
Prep earned a nalist spot in the small school category. ey all richly deserve their place on these shortlists. e schools all have distinct di erences in their educational and wider o ering, whether it’s the level of attention they pay to pastoral care; the immersive learning programmes experienced by pupils; the nurturing environment where each child’s talents are identi ed; or new initiatives as a result of numerous lockdowns where parents have become more involved in the day-to-day life of the school…
Polam Pre-Prep, Bedford, Milton Keynes
in the heart of Bedford, Polam is a small pre-prep and nursery for children aged 12 months to seven years. e school prides itself on its home-from-home environment where every child is known by every member of sta with a distinct focus on pastoral care and wellbeing.
As part of the Cognita Schools group, Polam takes part in Cognita’s annual Global Be Well Day. From this, the school developed its own Week to Be Well, which then blossomed into dedicated mental health activities becoming part of the weekly timetable. With a wellbeing champion in school, as well as a mental health rst-aider, this reinforces the importance of pastoral care as the foundation that needs to underpin every aspect of education. With the appointment of a new headteacher a year ago, the school embarked on an immersive learning programme, transforming ordinary classrooms into themed, interactive learning spaces. Two rooms have since been completed: Discovery, a spacethemed IT suite, and Amazonia, a plant- lled rainforest room. Dressing classrooms with themed resources encourages the students to be absorbed and engaged, making their learning more purposeful – and of course, lots more fun! Having a unique, multipurpose space like Amazonia is a perfect environment to support wellbeing, s
Pastoral care and immersive learning will enhance preprep and prep education
providing the opportunity for meditation and mindfulness, imaginative storytelling and social activities, as well as speci c learning from the curriculum.
Polam’s nursery and pre-school, which feed into the pre-prep, have been judged outstanding in all areas for the past three inspections in a row. For the past two years the nursery has been working towards the Millie’s Mark accreditation (the gold standard in paediatric rst aid and acts as an indicator that the nursery goes above and beyond the minimum requirements to keep children safe). It was awarded Millie’s Mark accreditation in January.
Yorston Lodge Prep School, Cheshire
e Knutsford school empowers healthy, happy children in a nurturing school community, supporting pupils to
Yorston Lodge Prep pupils benefit from enriched outdoor learning
become lifelong learners, dedicated to achieving excellence in everything they do. Pupils’ creativity and curiosity are sparked, and each child’s unique talents are harnessed to support their development. Renowned for academic excellence, this year has been no di erent at Yorston, as 61 pupils secured their top choice senior schools.
In 2020, the school’s STEM-focused curriculum prepared pupils for the world ahead through engineering, coding and atomic theory.
Yorston Lodge’s STEM focus has been recognised by global tech manufacturer Siemens, which has provided hands-on support and resources for students. is year the school introduced its Little Einstein scholarships, focusing on children who showcase high levels of independence, creativity and critical thinking. Due to the reputation and popularity of Yorston, there has been a fantastic response – with 70 per cent of prospective parents requesting applications. Its pupils are ‘future ready’ and grow to their full potential as independent learners. Its values ensure pupils learn to be inquisitive and creative, support collaboration and con dently communicate, as well as think critically. rough these values Yorston Lodge nurtures respectful, committed global citizens that are responsible and informed. is future proof approach prepares pupils for the world ahead, armed with the skills, values and principles to thrive in the real world.
With a diverse mix of pupils, it prioritises a culture of
Yorston Lodge Prep o ers STEMfocused learning in a nurturing environment
inclusivity and children bene t from Japanese, French and Latin lessons, exposing them to new cultures and communities and broadening their view of the world outside of school. With a focus on wellbeing, the school utilises Sign4 Feelings & Behaviours, which encourages pupils to use sign language to express their emotions. All children are o ered yoga classes and outdoor learning which allows them to expand their skills by solving realworld issues, building self-belief, resilience and con dence.
Lochinver House School, Hertfordshire
Despite a year like no other, the all-boys’ pre-prep has remained committed to the school’s motto ‘Perstare Praestar’ (To Persevere, To Succeed). is embodies everything it has done, as the school hasn’t stood still. Determination has prevailed and it has continued to enhance its educational and extracurricular provision.
Responding to the national and international stage, the teaching sta has updated topics, giving boys an ageappropriate understanding of issues and impact. Examples include developing a new unit of work on the lives of Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole, incorporating the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the history of the NHS, the global pandemic, vaccinations and Black Lives Matter. With the announcement in late 2020 that travellers can apply for a series of dives to visit the wreck of RMS Titanic, a new unit of learning on this incredible vessel was written for boys, capturing their imaginations.
A new vertical team system was introduced, celebrating e ort, attainment and the demonstration of the school’s learning powers (collaboration, curiosity, focus, initiative, s
Lochinver House School finds strength in community
Boys at Lochinver House are encouraged to engage with new experiences
Specialist PE teachers are employed at Falcons Pre-Prep Head Liz McLaughlin believes good mental health is essential for academic excellence
originality, re ectiveness, resilience) and core values. Year two boys play an instrumental role as captains and vice captains, re ecting the importance of leadership opportunities, even at a tender age. Community, particularly amid these challenging times, cannot be underestimated, and through this provision the school fosters team spirit and that all-important connection.
Its Been ere, Done It scheme is a home-school partnership, and encourages boys to engage in and enrich their diet with new experiences, broadening their skills and outlook on life. Boys submit journals with photographic evidence, and on meeting criteria of the staged scheme, are awarded with certi cates and much coveted badges. is programme has been particularly important, as the boys have navigated through the lockdown periods, providing focus, purpose and a sense of fun away from screens.
Falcons Pre-Prep, West London
As an academic, forward-thinking school, Falcons tailors its curriculum to suit the needs of its students. From reception onwards, as a boys’ only school, the curriculum is full of high-interest topics to ensure maximum engagement and learning. For example, every spring term, the reception classroom turns into a mini Jurassic Park full of dinosaurs!
Specialist teachers are employed for PE, art, music and French. Music is an important part of life at the school with more than 50 per cent of students taking individual music lessons. One of the year two students recently passed his Grade 2 violin exam with distinction.
Headteacher, Liz McLaughlin, is a rm believer that academic excellence cannot be achieved without safeguarding the mental health of her students. e school has a dedicated SENDCo who works closely with all the students, ensuring that additional support is given when required. e children also have access to a counsellor on site, along with a therapy dog named Ziggy, who previously supported children at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
A number of new initiatives have been recently implemented. One is Parent Pop-ins via Zoom as a result of lockdown learning, when students bene ted from their parents overhearing how they were taught. Once normal school resumed, the school implemented Parent Pop-in sessions where lessons are streamed to parents live, so that they can maintain this level of involvement. ese are followed up with Parent Academy sessions on why and how students are taught a particular subject. e school’s ultimate goal is that each boy leaves at the end of year two to join a school where they’ll be enabled to be the best version of themselves.
