Pre-Prep Reflections Week 17 January 2026
Dear parents,
What a week of weather we have had! I hope the flooding has not caused too much disruption for you all. It was lovely to see a bit of sunshine this morning, and hopefully next week’s forecast rain won’t be quite as extreme.
Visitors
Yesterday, Mr Lovett popped in to say hello to the Year 1 children before he officially starts teaching them after half term. We also had a visit from Mr Bone yesterday, and this morning Mrs Van impressed us with her recently acquired juggling skills before the children got down to work! We also welcomed Steve Manktelow from the RSPB into school yesterday afternoon to talk to the children in Years 1 and 2 at Forest School about local bird life.
Staff update
Congratulations to Ms Mulchrone on her new job as an Early Years Room Leader at Happy Days Nursery, based at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. We are grateful to Harriet for helping to care for the Nursery children over the past few months and we certainly won’t forget her beautiful rendition of O Holy Night at the nativity performances! Mrs Wannell will be returning from maternity leave after half term to work alongside Mrs Dray in the Nursery class on Mondays to Wednesdays. We look forward to welcoming Mrs Jennie Linton to work on Thursdays and Fridays in the Nursery class, also starting after half term. Mrs Linton is a qualified Early Years practitioner with over twenty years’ experience in a range of settings. Miss Adams and Mrs Linton will continue to oversee Early Birds and Late Room. Ms Mulchrone’s last day will be Friday 27 February.
IAPS district meetings
On Tuesday, after a long drive through the floods, I spent the day at Hazlegrove Prep School in Somerset with other prep school heads from across the south west who are members of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS). We meet once a term to discuss a range of topics, take part in professional development training, and to have a tour of the host school. This is always a great way to share good practice and refresh our ideas. Thanks as always to Ms Richards for leading the school in my absence.
7+ assessment morning
Well done to our Year 2 children who took part in the 7+ assessments for Exeter School this morning with calm enthusiasm. Pupils from other schools will be taking the same assessments tomorrow morning at Exeter School. Parents will be informed by email of the results, which are unlikely to be shared before Wednesday 11 February.
Family Society events
We are holding our annual quiz night on Friday 27 February from 6.30pm. A fun, relaxed social event open to all pre-prep, junior and senior school parents and staff, the event is held at Exeter School and we would love to see you there! Tickets are £5 per person and everyone is welcome to bring their own food and drink. Teams are up to 8 people per table and anyone who wishes to come can be allocated to a team if necessary. Please book your places on the Family Society website by clicking here. And don’t forget to sign up for the Family Society summer ball which takes place on Friday 5 June at Sandy Park – scroll down for full details.
Next week
I will be out of school from Tuesday to Thursday next week on an ISI inspection in Hertfordshire. Ms Richards will be in charge of the school during this time, supported by Mrs Rickard as deputy safeguarding lead.
Wishing you all a restful and restorative weekend.
