Pre-Prep Reflections 1 May 2026

Diary Dates

4 May – Bank holiday (school closed)

7 May 5.30pm – Exeter School open evening

11 May – Year 2 cross-country event at Blundell’s Prep

22 May – Nursery, Reception & Year 1 trip to iTown

21-23 May – Devon County Show

25-29 May – Half Term

1 June – Staff INSET day (school closed)

4 June – Open morning for prospective parents

26 June – Whole school theatre trip (details to follow)

29 June – End of year reports issued

1 July – Transition afternoon

3 July 1.30pm – Sports Day

6 July – Year 2 trip (details to follow)

6 July 3pm – Informal parent drop-in

7 July 2.30pm – Summer showcase

8 July – End of term at 3.30pm

Term dates for 2026-27 are available to download from the school website.

Spotlight on Year 1

Year 1 have had a very busy and productive start to the summer term. In English, the children have loved looking at the story Peace at Last by Jill Murphy, and they each created their own version with new characters, locations and noises that kept Daddy awake. Mathematics has been all things multiplication and division; the children have been counting in groups, making arrays, doubling, grouping and sharing. Our new geography topic is ‘Our Local Area’ and we have been using Google Earth on the iPads to explore Exminster as well as identifying different types of homes. Next week, we will be going on a class walk around the village to see what we can identify along the way. In science, we have been learning about plants, making close observations and identifying their different parts and functions. ‘Be an Architect’ is our topic in art this half term. As well as learning about what an architect is, we have looked at examples of local buildings, and sketched examples of international architecture. This week’s focus has been inspirational architecture by the Austrian architect Hundertwasser; this wonderful artwork will soon be on display in school. In computing, we have continued to explore a digital keyboard when typing and we are learning about what all the different keys do. Year 1 have had a super start to the term and we are looking forward to lots more fun and interesting learning over the coming weeks.

Mr Lovett, Mrs Goodwill, Mrs Thomas and Mrs Higgins

Dear pre-prep parents,

I just wanted to say a heartfelt thanks for the amazing sponsorship that your children have raised in support of the NSPCC. It was lovely to go in and see the pupils this week with my medal and to share a few videos that I had recorded, which they thoroughly enjoyed. I don’t have the final total yet but I know Mr Ayling will share this once it has been counted.

I think my running days are now over but what a day it was, one that I won’t forget in a hurry.

With very warm wishes,

Mrs Van

Staff Update

Following my announcement last week of the appointment of Mrs Kalleigh Howe (pictured) as co-deputy head from September, I am pleased to share the staffing plan for next academic year:

• Year 1 will be taught by Mrs Lawrence-Jones, who returns from maternity leave in September, and the newly appointed Mrs Howe, assisted by Mrs Titchin and Mrs Tyler. Mrs Lawrence-Jones will be working Monday to Wednesday, while Mrs Howe will work Wednesday to Friday.
• Year 2 will be taught by Mr Lovett and Mrs Goodwill, assisted by Mrs Thomas and Mrs Higgins. Ms Richards will take over Mr Lovett’s teaching when she returns from maternity leave next February.
• Early Years staffing will remain unchanged, with Nursery being led by Mrs Dray and assisted by Mrs Wannell and Mrs Linton, and Reception being taught by Mrs Rickard and Mrs Smyth, assisted by Miss Adams.
• Mrs Lawrence-Jones and Ms Richards will resume their leadership roles as head of pastoral care and co-deputy head respectively, when they each return from maternity leave, and both will be working part-time for three days a week.

I am currently working on the draft timetable for next year and hope to have this ready for the transition afternoon in 1 July, when there will also be an opportunity for parents to ‘meet the teacher’ at the end of the day.

Mr Ayling

Family Society summer ball

The Family Society will be hosting a summer ball on Friday 5 June at Sandy Park.

Hope to see you there!

The Family Society”

Book now

Schoolblazer

Summer uniform is now available to purchase from Schoolblazer. Please note, there will also be a free delivery period from 29 June – 12 July. More information on the shopping and ordering process is available via here.

Visit the Schoolblazer website