Woodhouse
Pre prep
Prep School
Pre Prep
Winterfold’s outstanding Pre-Prep department is full of life and fun activity, providing a gentle and purposeful introduction to the world of formal education. Everybody takes a special interest in the well-being of our youngest children, who are helped to settle in by staff and older children alike.
Opened in 1992, the Pre-Prep is now well-established and flourishing in purpose built classrooms. The children have their own adventure playground, plus supervised access to the main school facilities such as the heated swimming-pool, Sports Hall and theatre, and to the 40 acres of grounds. For all that we like our children to be busy in the classroom, we do not forget that childhood is a precious time in young lives, and passes all too quickly. A full curriculum should be balanced by time to enjoy their childhood.
Classes
Classes are small with a low pupil/teacher ratio, so that we can give the children as much individual attention as possible. We aim for an early grasp of the fundamentals of verbal expression, reading, writing and mathematics, following the National Curriculum to Key Stage 1.
Boys and girls learn to care for others and to communicate their own feelings and ideas with confidence. Their natural sense of curiosity is encouraged and nurtured by interactive teaching and fun learning games in a secure and happy environment.
Computers are used in all classrooms as an aid to learning. Art, craft and drama are an integral part of school life, as well as all aspects of music. Dancing, gym, games and sport are also included and Ballet, Woodwork, Violin, Horse Riding and Speech and Drama are offered as optional extras for the older children. Some children also attend Prep-School activities such as Judo Club.
The School Day
The School Day starts at 9am, although some children take advantage of our pre-school care service and arrive as early as 8am! Staff are in classrooms from 8.40am and children may arrive from this time onwards. The morning session lasts until 12 noon when the children have lunch. Afternoon work starts again at 1.15 and lasts until 3.15. After school care is available until 6.00pm if required.