Hymers Hessle Mount: Pre-School to Year 2 - 2022/23

HYMERS HESSLE MOUNT

Pre-School to Year 2

Welcome to Hymers Hessle Mount. Here we provide a safe and nurturing environment as our young children embark on the first stages of their learning adventure.

With bright, modern classrooms, engaging teachers and teaching assistants and a rich programme of learning and exploration away from the classroom, Hymers Hessle Mount offers the very best start for local children.

Children can join us from their third birthday into our Pre-School, booking to attend the entire week or just on certain days. From Reception through to Year 2 we have two classes for each year group with class sizes of a maximum of 20.

We are proud to be able to offer a rich and varied curriculum for our pupils including regular swimming lessons for pupils in Year 1 and Year 2, music lessons and outside learning environments including our onsite woodland area and games field.

My staff and I look forward to welcoming you and your family to Hymers Hessle Mount.

Mr Andy Copeland

Interim Head, Hymers Hessle Mount

Taking their first steps…

Pre-School

Purposeful play features strongly in good Pre-School education.

Through observations of children’s learning and interests, staff are guided in the selection of materials and equipment to ensure that, during their play, children encounter the learning experiences that suit their needs. This allows children to be creative, explore and investigate materials, to experiment, problem solve and reason. We also plan cultural topics to raise awareness of different cultures and traditions.

Children in the Pre-School will regularly integrate with the rest of the school including lunch times and the Friday Assembly. After their time in the Pre-School the children will be fully prepared to make their next steps into the Reception year.

Mr Andy Copeland

Interim

Hymers Hessle Mount

“We know it is important for children of all ages to experience a broad and rich curriculum, and have the opportunity to develop interests at an early age.”

“I am passionate about teaching. I believe that school should be nurturing, exciting and most of all great fun.”

“It felt like a natural progression to move on to Hymers from Hessle Mount.”

MATT

Head of Hymers Hessle Mount

We hold our children’s hands until they are ready to run

Reception

In Reception the curriculum is delivered using a mixture of child-initiated play and adult-led activities. We plan topics based on the children’s interests and adapt the classroom environment accordingly.

Each day consists of exploring language, literacy, phonics, maths and key topics in the morning and a more creative, playful afternoon. Outdoor learning is very important to us in Reception. We have a dedicated woodland area which we visit weekly to offer the chance to take learning out of the classroom. Information about what the children have been learning and achieving is shared with parents at regular intervals, through our online learning journal, Tapestry. Reception children also have the opportunity to take part in some co-curricular activities.

Year 1

In Year 1 we have regular individual reading time, phonic sessions, and engaging fun English lessons. Writing is also taught through a range of engaging topics. Children will learn the mathematical skills of number, place value, calculations, shape, position and direction, measure and problem-solving. We have filled our curriculum with practical, handson lessons, incorporating outdoor learning which is woven throughout.

The Year 1 curriculum also offers trips, special visitors and events which help enhance the children’s early learning and development. In addition, children have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

The Year 1 children receive weekly homework, along with spellings and times tables. We provide children with daily reading books and we encourage parents to read with their child every evening.

“Having been through Hessle Mount as a child it was lovely to return to work at their Summer School and many happy memories came flooding back.” DIYA

Year 2

In Year 2 reading and Maths feature in the school day. We promote a love of reading through reading with the children regularly to help develop the children’s key comprehension skills. Our maths curriculum is designed carefully to ensure that our children deepen their knowledge and skills and can master them in exciting ways and at greater depth.

In Year 2 we broaden our curriculum with a variety of high-quality learning experiences and trips for our children. The children continue to benefit from our woodland areas where they can explore the natural world.

The children enjoy music lessons in Year 2 as they learn to play the recorder. Those with particular musical interests are given the opportunity to learn the piano, violin or cello.

Each week the children are set English and Maths homework, along with spellings and times tables. We encourage parents and guardians to support their children to read regularly at home.

On Monday mornings all Year 2 pupils will travel by bus to the Hymers College site for a swimming lesson. Following this they will have a break/play time with the Junior School pupils. The children will then have a music lesson in the Rutter Room before returning to Hessle Mount for lunch. This weekly session at Hymers allows the children to become familiar with the Hymers College site, meet teachers from the Junior School and make friends with pupils in the older year. This will allow a seamless transition from Year 2 to Year 3 for these pupils when making the next steps in their Hymers journey.

Our School day…

7:50 - 8:30am Before school care provision

All pupils can be dropped off at school any time in this window at no extra charge.

8:30 - 8:45am Main drop-off window

If they are not attending our before school care provision, all pupils should arrive at school in this window.

8:45am School begins

All pupils must be in school by 8:45am.

11:45am - 1pm Lunch for Pre-School & Reception pupils

Pupils can either enjoy a hot lunch at school or bring a packed lunch.

12:15 - 1:30pm Lunch for Year 1 & Year 2 pupils

Pupils can either enjoy a hot lunch at school or bring a packed lunch.

3pm End of school day for Pre-School & Reception pupils

After-school care is provided free of charge until 5:30pm. 3:15pm End of school day for Year 1 pupils

After-school care is provided free of charge until 5:30pm.

3:30pm End of school day for Year 2 pupils

After-school care is provided free of charge until 5:30pm.

5:30pm School closes All pupils to be collected by 5:30pm.

OurVision for Hymers Hessle Mount

Appoint permanent Head of Hymers Hessle Mount

Invest in facilities around the site including a purpose-built kitchen

At home time, all children will remain with their teacher until collected by the appropriate parent or guardian, Any child not collected 5 minutes after the stated leaving time will be taken to after-school care. Children in after-school care have plenty of opportunity to play and relax in a caring atmosphere.

Upgrade of existing Pre-School and Reception classrooms including adjoining an covered outdoor learning and play space

Develop the curriculum with additional child-centred teaching resources

Invest in staff to ensure the highest quality of educational provision for young children

Hymers Hessle Mount

Co-curricular at Hymers Hessle Mount Moving up to Year 3

As well as ensuring our pupils get the very best start in their academic education, we are also proud to offer even our youngest of pupils a rich and varied co-curricular programme of activities.

Games lessons are taught by a trained PE specialist on our games field at the front of school and include sports such as tag rugby, football, hockey, netball, cricket and athletics.

The staff at Hymers Hessle Mount will contribute to a co-curricular programme of activities that will change on a half-termly basis. This will allow the children to experience a range of activities throughout the year. Examples of activities will include: sport, singing, French, lego, arts and crafts and many more...

We offer music lessons to our pupils at Hymers Hessle Mount, provided through our Director of Music at Hymers College so that those musical skills transfer smoothly through to Hymers College when the pupils join.

Meanwhile our sunken garden, woodland area, trim trail and allweather play area also offer our pupils lots of opportunities to play and explore outside of the classroom, helping to develop their social skills as they play with their peers.

When children start Year 3 they begin a new Key Stage in the school curriculum. This is a natural opportunity for our Hymers Hessle Mount children to transition to our Hymers Junior School site for Years 3 to 6.

They will do so without the need to sit an entrance assessment.

We support all Year 2 children in making this transition to the Junior School as smooth as possible.

We hold a number of events during the Spring and Summer Terms for Year 2 children to help them become familiar with the Junior School and meet children who are already at the School.

These events include:

Dedicated Open Morning at Hymers Junior School

‘Meet your Buddy’ day

Orientation day

Induction day

New Parents’ evening

Through all of these opportunities, and others, we hope that by the end of Year 2 all children will feel ready and excited to start Year 3 at the Hymers Junior School site.

“All the friends I made at Hessle Mount are at Hymers, I feel lucky to have life-long friendships.” GAURAV