Progress Tracking

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.

ISI Inspection Report

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.

Subjects

Music

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.

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!

Language

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.

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

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.

Facilities

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.