students playing outside
Pre-Prep Reflections

Pre-Prep Reflections Week 14 2024

Dear parents,

Happy New Year! It is lovely to have the children back in school and to hear all about the excitement of the Christmas holidays. They have settled quickly and sensibly back into their routines, despite the constant rain, and we look forward to the first full week of 2024 when we return on Monday. Year 1 children were certainly very excited to have their first swimming lesson of the year this morning!

Welcome to new families

I would like to extend a warm welcome to new pupils Holly (Year 1), Ralph (Nursery), Teresa (Nursery), Nikola (Nursery) and Rose (Nursery) and their families, who join Exeter Pre-Prep School this term. We have a number of prospective pupils booked in for taster days this term and additional pupils starting after the Easter break. Our next ‘school in action’ open morning for prospective families will be held on Wednesday 7 February. As always, word of mouth through positive recommendation is our most powerful marketing tool, so please do share the date with anyone who you think may be interested in joining us.

Tree works

You will no doubt have noticed that a few of our lovely big trees didn’t fare so well in the recent stormy weather. Thankfully, the grounds team have been hard at work clearing up various branches and making everywhere safe. Two damaged trees towards the back of the site will need to be removed by tree surgeons next week. In the meantime, this area has been fenced off and, as an extra precaution, children will not be allowed on the sloped lawn until the work is complete.

Assemblies

This week in assemblies we have talked about New Year’s resolutions and our new spotlight virtue of ‘endeavour’. Today we looked at the Christian festival of Epiphany and Twelfth Night, which traditionally marks the end of Christmas – don’t forget to take your decorations down tomorrow if you haven’t already!

Next week

The nativity recording has now been edited and sent to me for approval, so I hope to be able to share this with you next week. I will also be holding my next coffee morning on Monday – see further details below. On Tuesday, I will be out of school all day to update my level 3 safeguarding and child protection training.

Have a great weekend!

Diary Dates

Monday 8 January – Head’s coffee morning

Tuesday 16 January – Exeter School open morning

Friday 26 January – Parent/staff quiz night TBC

Friday 2 February – Year 2 entrance assessments for Exeter School

Tuesday 6 February – Safer Internet Day

Wednesday 7 February – Open morning for prospective families

Friday 9 February – International Day

Monday 12 to Friday 16 February – Half term

Monday 19 & Tuesday 20 February – Staff INSET days (school closed)

Wednesday 21 February – Pancake races

Thursday 7 March – World Book Day

Wednesday 13 March – Spring Reviews issued

Friday 15 March – Science Day and Red Nose Day

Wednesday 20 March 4.00-7.30pm – Parents’ Evening

Wednesday 27 March – Easter Theme Day and parent drop-in

Thursday 28 March to Tuesday 16 April – Easter holidays

A list of term dates for the academic year 2024-25 is now available on the school website.

Year 2 Leadership Roles

Congratulations to our Year 2 pupils who have taken on the following new leadership roles for this half term:

  • Assembly Leaders: Louisa and Edward
  • Digital Leaders: Ollie, Alicia and Ali
  • Library Leaders: Rafe and Ben
  • Lunch Leaders: James, Ivy-Grace and Alexander
  • Playground Leaders: Serena, Toby, Joanne, Jeremiah and Olivia
  • Nursery Leaders: Charlie, Bel and Theo

Spare clothes

We are running out of spare uniform items in school for when children need to change clothes, such as when they have had a toileting accident. If you have any unwanted socks, underwear or uniform items that you would like to donate to the school for this purpose, we would be very happy to receive them. We do ask that all children, particularly younger pupils, have a change of clothes in a bag on their peg should they need it. If your child comes home in spare uniform items, we would be really grateful if you could wash and return them as soon as possible. Thank you for your support.

Head’s Coffee Morning

Mr Ayling holds an informal coffee morning for parents near the beginning of each term in the hall. This is an opportunity for parents to socialise and chat to the Head and to one another. If you would like to come, there is no need to book, just turn up after you have dropped off your child. You are welcome to bring your own lidded cup if you would like to, or these can be provided. The next coffee morning will be on Monday 8 January from 8.50am.

Nativity dress rehearsal 🌟

Nativity dress rehearsal 🌟 ...

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Pre-Prep News

Come along to our whole school open morning on Friday 24 January 9-10.45am to hear from the Head, have a pupil-led tour around classes in action and have your questions answered by our friendly admissions team.

Register your place here