Devonshire House Lower School Booklet

LOWER SCHOOL (4+)

Devonshire House

From Nursery age through to Common Entrance for senior schools, children receive an excellent education in a safe, warm and happy place.

No more worries about your child’s first year at school. Our qualified teachers make learning fun and intriguing using our spacious grounds and on-site Forest School area. Children learn how to love and care about the environment. They understand how to navigate the world better.

would like to extend a warm welcome to Devonshire House Lower School and I am very much looking forward to welcoming your family to our bustling and vibrant building. We believe that parents shouldn’t have to choose between academically rigorous and pastorally nurturing schools; their children can have both here. Children learn as much from studying bugs in our Forest School area as they do in the classroom. The great outdoors are critical to a child’s development and at Devonshire House, we ensure that the children spend as much time outdoors as possible.

Mr. Keighley-Elstub Head of School

hope you will find that this information booklet will answer many of your questions and give an insight into the daily life of the Lower School.

THE CURRICULUM

Devonshire House Lower School is composed of Reception Year 1 and Year 2.

The Reception classes follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.

The Prime Areas of learning and development are:

Learning in Year 1 & 2

Each class has a Form Room in which their Form Teacher delivers the following subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHEE) and Art.

Additional specialist subjects taught by specialist teachers include French, Drama, Technology, Physical Education and Music.

Progress Tracking

The Specific Areas of learning and development are:

Staff carefully support and observe each child, keeping track of their interests and progress

The School provides regular feedback at Parent Evenings and Open Doors events each term and with reports twice a year We are also available to schedule meetings with parents to discuss progress or raise a concern at any time.

Photographs of children’s activities are regularly uploaded on Children’s Online Learning Journals (Tapestry) for Reception classes and on Firefly for Year 1 & 2 classes. These help the easy, trusting dialogue between home and School.

With a clear focus on wellbeing, your child will grow in confidence , self-belief and resilience during their years in the Lower School.

Enjoying daily the therapeutic benefits of nature in our outdoor learning areas, children benefit from our tailored personal, social and emotional development program to reflect, learn and grow as individuals and as part of their wider world.

The School collaborates with Place2Be , a children’s mental health charity. Working with pupils, families and staff, they provide mental health support through one-to-one and group counselling.

In Reception your child will take their first steps towards developing a deepened understanding of mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills . In the following years, they explore operations , fractions and geometry through a combination of real-life contexts, practical, fun group work and individual tasks.

Harbouring a love of books is at the heart of our literary learning. Your child will follow a structured phonics programme which will allow them to develop the skills needed to access books and read independently

They will also learn to apply this knowledge to write , allowing them to express their ideas and thoughts in a variety of meaningful ways.

Children have access to class libraries and the Reading Hut for choosing a variety of books and start exploring their individual reading interests.

Pupils leave the School as confident, resilient young people who have a strong self-esteem and a well developed understanding of how to improve their own learning.

ISI Inspection Report

Your child will take part in singing assemblies with the specialist music teacher, as well as music lessons every week, introducing them to basic musical concepts Pupils have the opportunity to perform in concerts several times a year and share their skills during assemblies.

Music Technology

Technology is taught by a specialist teacher once a week from Reception and is fully integrated into the Curriculum Children improve their proficiency in using iPads , while staying safe online They also learn how to create stop-motion videos and how to code

Physical Education

PE is formally delivered by specialist teachers every week From Year 2, children have the opportunity to take part in team sports and competitive matches both internally and against other schools during Games once a week at the famous Stone X Stadium off-site.

Drama

From Year 1, Drama is taught once a week for children to develop specific drama skills such as hot seating , thought tracking , improvisation and role playing Stories and drama games provide them with practical experience that they can apply through two performances each year to showcase their talents.

Language Acquisition

French Your child will have one session of French per week with a native French speaker. During these fun, interactive and immersive lessons, your child will learn to greet each other in French, say number names, colours, parts of the body and family members , to name a few topics. They will learn through song, dance, and games, and will experience cultural French traditions along the way!

The Lower School is priviledged to have its very own Forest School area where our qualified and trained Forest School leader will teach all pupils throughout the school year.

Forest School aims to provide a fun, natural environment where children can develop in a holistic way spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, socially, physically and communicatively.

The children enjoy a delicious, nutritious lunch, prepared daily on-site by Chef Owen and his team. All dietary needs and allergies are catered for and the children eat their lunch in the hall with their friends. A selection of fruit and homemade desserts are also available every day. The children are provided with a biscuit and fruit snack each morning.

All of our lunches are prepared daily on-site.

Forest School is led by the interests of the children who will take part in risk-taking activities and accumulate outdoor skills.

Your child will encounter 'active learning' in the outdoors.

Our Lower school is located in a Victorian House with lovely grounds and gardens including a playground for weekly PE sessions, and a Forest Area where children can learn about the Natural World and its science. They can grow vegetables and plants, learning to love and understand nature and its miracles.

Although Senior Schools seem a long way from now, choosing the right Prep School is the first step to ensure the future of your child. The School has an exceptional track record and Devonshire House pupils have achieved over sixty scholarships in the last five years. We prepare them for the school that is right for them, and our experienced teachers will help support your child at every step of the way. It may be that another Dukes school is suitable for your child. If so, we are happy to advise and recommend them. One of the benefits of being part of the Dukes Education family is that we can offer priority entrance to your child who will not be required to sit the 11+ entrance assessment for their selected Dukes senior school.

Transition to Middle School

A glimpse into the Lower School’s life…

Throughout the year, children will take part in a variety of activities and events such as;

-The Christmas Performance

-The Carol Service

-The Summer Concerts

-Sports Day

-Disco Night

-Drama Workshops

-Visit from a Petting Farm

-Various fundraising events

Examples of trips:

-Highgate Woods

-The Science Museum

-Brick Education

-The Postal Museum

-Willows Farm

-Royal Air Force Museum

-Hampstead Heath

-The Little Angel Theatre

-The Jewish Museum

-Wallace Collection

-London Zoo

-Central Gudwara

Khalsa Jatha

-Golden Hinde

-St Paul’s Cathedral

During the Summer Term, Year 2 pupils spend two days in our Middle School site where they have a chance to explore their future classrooms and the specialist rooms - Arts studio, Science lab and Technology room.

Entry to Reception

Entry into Reception (4+) from our Nursery School is automatic. New children can also enter Reception in the School year following their fourth birthday.

Entry to Year 1 & Year 2

Most children joining the School do so into the Nursery School (Acorns & Oaks) or Reception. However, at times, there are vacancies to join later.

Children quickly settle into the classes they join, which are full of joy and learning. The Devonshire House approach helps children set out happily on their journey of knowledge, achievement and fulfilment.

For entry to Year 1 and Year 2, pupils are invited for a Taster Morning which includes taking part in literacy and numeracy lessons. Contact our Head of Admissions: Helen Ridard on 020 7435 1916 or admissions@dhprep.co.uk