Amanda Owen - The Yorkshire Shepherdess Opens Rossall School’s State-of-the-art New Pre-Prep and Nursery Provision

- The Yorkshire Shepherdess Opens Rossall School’s State-of-the-art New Pre-Prep and Nursery Provision

With the highest pupil roll in the School’s history, Rossall has opened a fantastic new Nursery and Pre-Prep to cope with the unprecedented surge for demand in places.

The stunning new facilities have been designed by Rossall School’s own Head of Design and Technology, Lee Hodgetts and students in the Senior School have contributed to some elements of the design. The original building was constructed in the early 1990s but burgeoning numbers meant that a radical redesign was needed to ensure bright contemporary learning spaces reflective of the School’s commitment to inquiryled learning.

The striking design of the interior spaces embraces much of the latest thinking in terms of classroom design. The provision of a technologically enriched environment is complemented by the free flow of spaces that fully exploit the beautiful natural landscape within which the building is situated. Headmaster, Jeremy Quartermain states that,

‘Our ambition was to design a building that would provide young children with a wonderful space within which to learn and play. Lee’s creative response to the brief that we provided has resulted in the creation of a building that undoubtedly has the ‘wow’ factor. Most importantly our pupils and their parents have fallen in love with its many unique features such as the bespoke purpose built play equipment. Rossall is an incredible community and today marks the summation of so much hard work and dedication upon the part of our staff. Throughout lockdown, our support staff have been our absolute heroes, and this building provides a tangible expression of their love and dedication to our community. In particular, I should thank Andy Edwards for his spectacular creations’.

The Nursery, which now includes a baby room, currently has a waiting list and regularly receives rave reviews across a range of media platforms. 2021 will see a record number of pupils enter the School’s Reception Class. Parents are drawn to the wonderful environment which includes a School petting farm (Graeme’s Garden) and both a beach school and a forest school. The emphasis upon wellbeing and the provision of a holistic curriculum is reflected in every aspect of this new building. It is clear that the provision has resonated very well with current parents. One parent commented, ‘the staff in the Nursery and Pre-Prep have always been amazing but these new facilities provide such an excellent environment. The sheer variety of activities on offer means that we are confident in the knowledge that Rossall is providing the very best possible start in life for our children’.

Amanda Owen stated that she was honoured to open the new building and enjoyed meeting the children in the Pre-Prep School. Amanda presented prizes at the Prep School Prize Day and her observations on childhood resonate with much of the philosophy underpinning the curriculum in the Prep School.

Rossall School has had a bumper year of success which has been capped by outstanding academic results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and being shortlisted (twice) in the Independent School of the Year awards.

Prep School Headmaster, Matt Turner concludes that, ‘Our purpose is to provide the very best possible start in life for all of our children. The strength of our provision, coupled with the warmth and kindness of our staff, is why we are viewed as the nursery and school of first choice for families across the Fylde and in this part of Lancashire’.

The Nursery and PrePrep welcome visitors all year round and families that would like a private tour of the new facilities should contact Lisa Rhodes, Prep School and Nursery Registrar E l.rhodes@rossall.org.uk www.lancmag.com

NURSERY PREPARATORY SCHOOL SENIOR SCHOOL SIXTH FORM

ROSSALL.ORG.UK/OPENDAY