The Pre-Preparatory Department follows the guidelines of the National Curriculum in the basic subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. We exercise our independence to modify the curriculum, to add to and enrich it.
Our purpose is to educate the whole person and as well as the basic subjects the children study French, Humanities, Technology Skills, Music, Art, Drama and Physical Education (including swimming in P2 and P3).
The small classes enable the staff to monitor closely each child's progress.
The ethos of the department is that we emphasise the importance of friendship, sharing, understanding and kindness. We motivate the children by giving them praise - for example reward stickers and 'Pupil of the Week' certificates. Children can also earn 'Golden time' celebrated in a weekly 'Golden assembly'.
The Pre-Prep School Day
8.50 School day begins
9.55 Assembly
10.10 Morning break. Playtime followed by juice and biscuits.
11.50 Lunch with a member of staff sitting at the head of each table to instil good manners, followed by play time.
2.00 Play time.
3.30 The normal school day finishes.
Whenever possible English and Mathematics lessons take place during the mornings but on Wednesdays the children in P2 and P3 go swimming at the Southern Pool in Castletown. P.E. kit comes to school on Monday and goes home on Friday.
Children in P3 are able to attend at least one after school activity a week. The activities are held from 3.45 to 4.30 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The activities are voluntary and free of charge, however a fee is charged for the optional extras of dance lessons and private individual lessons during the school day in Speech, Dance & Drama and Music.
There is an after school crèche available in the Kindergarten every night. There is a charge made for this. Please telephone Kindergarten to make arrangements.
Pre-Prep School Routine
Every child in Pre-Prep reads to their teacher three times a week. Reading books are changed daily and each child is expected to read at home to an adult every night. Please use the Reading Record Book and Reading Folder to send any messages to your child's teacher. Information to you from the school will be in the Reading Folder. Reading is an important part of the pre prep. Each child reads daily from either a shared or individual text.
For safety and insurance reasons no child should be at school before 8.25 am. Children who come by coach will be met and escorted to the Pre-Prep building. At 3.30 pm you should collect your child from the school. Children who travel on the coach will be supervised and then put on the coach.
We have a resident school matron. If your child is hurt at any time they can obtain first aid from matron. For any bump to the head (even very slight) you will receive a note from matron. Also if your child feels unwell and is given any medication then a note will be sent home. If your child has any allergies or health problems please notify the school.
Homework.
Although there is no official homework at this stage boys and girls do take home spellings, tables and reading books from an early age. It is of considerable value if parents can listen, help, where appropriate and liaise closely with the class teacher.
In P1 every child is encouraged to read to an adult every night. Please remember to use phonics. Say the sounds not the names, of letters. In the summer term the children are given ten words to learn on Monday and have a spelling test on Friday.
In P2 the children continue to read every night and learn key words.
In P3 the reading and spellings continue. Also the children learn some multiplication tables and have a written test every Friday.
Parents can also help their children in the following ways:-
always write in lower case letters never in capitals
play counting and word games
say nursery rhymes
read a bedtime story |