2 students stood under a tree
Pre-Prep Reflections

Pre-Prep Reflections Week 24 2024

Dear parents,

 

It has been great to be back in school full-time this week, after spending a couple of days up in Leicester last week at the IAPS conference for pre-prep heads. The theme this year was ‘courageous leadership’ and we enjoyed a host of inspiring speakers and practical workshops on key topics, including artificial intelligence, equity, open-ended play and the transition from Early Years to Key Stage 1.

Staff update

Today it was lovely to welcome Mrs Smyth back into school to do some cover for us. While she is currently on maternity leave, Mrs Smyth will be doing some ‘keeping in touch’ days over the next few weeks before she returns to work officially in July. Until then, Mrs Pike will continue to lead Forest School sessions on Thursdays. Mrs Rickard, our new Reception teacher, joined Mrs Martin so that she could meet parents and hear about the progress of each child in the class. Mrs Rickard will be back in school to teach the class on Monday while Mrs Martin visits her new school.

Parents’ Evening

It was good to catch up with many of you at parents’ evening on Wednesday night. I hope you found the meetings useful and that you came away with clear targets to help your child with the next steps in their learning and development. Thank you for your support in helping us make sure that everyone’s appointments ran to time!

This week’s assemblies

On Monday, I revisited the topic of Christian saints’ days with the children in assembly and then talked about St Patrick’s Day, which was last Sunday. On Tuesday, the children enjoyed sharing their knowledge of the Islamic festival of Ramadan with Miss Rose, who is an RS specialist at Exeter School, as well as being Assistant Head (Character). Yesterday was World Poetry Day and I had the pleasure of sharing my favourite poems with the children. Year 2 also treated us to a rousing performance of a poem they have been learning in their English lessons this week, and lots of children chose to write poems of their own at playtime!

Red Nose Day

Following our non-uniform day and sales of red noses in school, the total amount raised for Comic Relief this year was £172.20, which is a new record! Thank you for your generosity and support.

Job vacancy

We are currently advertising for a part-time lunchtime assistant to help set up, serve food and clear away every day from 11.15am-1.15pm. The role is available from May half term on a permanent basis. If you know of anyone who may be interested, please do share this link with them. The closing date for applications is this coming Monday. We are also holding interviews for our new school administrator on Monday morning. Mrs Smyth will be teaching Year 2 while Ms Richards and Mrs Goodwill help me with interviews.

Next week

I can’t believe next week is the final week of the spring term! We finish on Wednesday at the usual time. Please note that Art Club will not be running on Wednesday, as we will be using the hall for Mrs Martin’s farewell tea party, but Multi-sports Club and Late Room will be running. On Tuesday, we will be trying our best to ‘run a marathon’ for charity throughout the day, so all children will need to wear PE kit and trainers to school.

Wishing you all a relaxing weekend.

Mr Daniel Ayling

Diary Dates

Spring Term 2024

Tuesday 26 March – Charity Fun Run

Wednesday 27 March – Easter Theme Day

Thursday 28 March to Tuesday 16 April – Easter holidays

Summer Term 2024

Wednesday 17 April – Summer term begins

Monday 22 April – Head’s coffee morning

Tuesday 23 April – Year 1 and Year 2 RE trip

Friday 26 April – Whole school theatre trip (afternoon)

Thursday 9 May – Exeter School open evening

Thursday 16 May – Open morning for prospective families

Saturday 18 May – Devon County Show

Friday 24 May – Staff INSET day (school closed)

Monday 27 to Friday 31 May – Half term

Saturday 15 June 1.00-4.00pm – Family Society summer fayre

Wednesday 19 June – Transition Day (TBC)

Friday 21 June – Sports Day (TBC)

Wednesday 3 July – Year 1 fire station trip

Monday 8 July 3.00pm – Parent drop-in

Tuesday 9 July 2.30pm – Summer showcase

Wednesday 10 July – Summer term ends at 3.30pm

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

Spotlight on Year 1

In mathematics, we have been continuing our learning about money and how we can make different totals. In science, we enjoyed conducting an experiment, predicting and testing which materials would be suitable for an umbrella. For our wellbeing lesson this week, the children worked well to complete a mindful scavenger hunt. They took their time to observe and we enjoyed identifying the nature we could see in our school grounds. The children have also been working hard in English lessons with their writing and we have been very impressed with the presentation of their work this week. To conclude our nurturing nurses history topic, we have been comparing the lives of two different nurses. The children have remembered some brilliant facts about Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole. Finally, we have been rehearsing the lines for our Easter poem and we are very much looking forward to sharing this with our visitors next week.

Miss Lawrence, Mrs Thomas and Mrs Tyler

Too ill for school?

Please may we remind parents that, although it is usually fine to send your child to school with a mild respiratory illness, including general cold symptoms such as a minor cough, runny nose or a sore throat, children should not be sent to school if they have a temperature of 38°C or above. Please use this helpful guide when you are deciding whether your child is too ill for school: NHS ‘Is my child too ill for school?’ guidance.

Lisa Barlass (Exeter School Nurse)

 

Easter Theme Day Reminder

We are looking forward to our Easter Theme Day next Wednesday 27 March, the last day of the spring term. The children will spend the whole day off-timetable in their house teams, taking part in Easter-themed activities. We would like to invite parents to come in at 3pm for a special Easter assembly, where the children will share some of their learning with you. This will be followed by a tea party in the hall in honour of Mrs Martin, as this will be her final day at Exeter Pre-Prep School. There is no need to book. We hope you will be able to join us and, if you would like to bring a nut-free cake to share, please feel free!

Charity Fun Run

A final reminder that we are planning to hold a charity fun run event next week on Tuesday 26 March to raise money for our friends at Westbank in Exminster. We are going to try to run a marathon collectively, with all children and staff running laps of the school grounds throughout the day, weather permitting!

Children could either be sponsored per lap or for the total distance they accumulate. This will be recorded on a certificate and sent home at the end of term. Forms were sent home last week so that the children can approach family and friends for sponsorship over the Easter break. We will then aim to collect the money at the beginning of next term.

Please can we ask that all children come to school in the PE kit and trainers next Tuesday, so that they are ready to run! They will also need a water bottle in school, as usual.

Thank you for your support.

Mrs Wannell

Charities co-ordinator

Theatre Trip

All parents should have received a letter by email yesterday about our upcoming whole school theatre trip. This year we have booked to see The Lion Inside at Taunton Brewhouse Theatre. The trip will take place on the afternoon of Friday 26 April 2024. If you have not already done so, please complete the e-consent form here by Tuesday 16 April, the final day of the Easter break, so that we can confirm final numbers with the theatre. Thank you.

 

Family Society Summer Fete

If you would like your own stall at the fete, please click on this link to book.

 

Fete

Easter Holiday Club

Our friends at Westbank Kidzone in Exminster are running an Easter Holiday Club again this year for 3-11 year olds. Please see the contact details in the flyer if you are interested in booking a place.

 

Stars of the Week

students showing their star of the week certificates

Nursery

Hettie

For sitting and listening beautifully on the carpet and trying so hard with her reading! Well done!

Miss Adams

Reception

Joshua

For being confident to write independently using interesting vocabulary. Well done!

Mrs Martin

Year 1

Evie

For trying so hard with her handwriting and presenting her work neatly. Well done!

Miss Lawrence

Year 2

Bel

For the excellent progress she has made with her reading, and for always trying her best with everything she does. Well done!

Ms Richards & Mrs Goodwill

Head's Star of the Week

Rafe (Year 2)

For writing his own super poem yesterday at playtime for World Poetry Day. Well done!

Mr Ayling

Lunchtime Tidiest Table Award

Congratulations to Year 1!

Nativity dress rehearsal 🌟

Nativity dress rehearsal 🌟 ...

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Pre-Prep News

Founders’ Day 2024

Junior school interhouse cross country

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