Pre-Prep Reflections Week 28 May 2025

Dear parents,

Summer is well and truly with us and everyone has been enjoying the gorgeous weather this week. It was lovely to return to school today and hear all about what the children have been up to while I have been away, notably the arrival of some smart new play tractors for the Early Years outdoor area! Thank you to Ms Richards and the team for taking such good care of the school in my absence.

Assemblies

On Tuesday, Mrs Lawrence-Jones spoke to the children about our new pre-prep pupil code, which links to the school virtues and reminds children how they can be a good Exonian. The school council have been helping me develop the wording, layout and design for some time and we are looking forward to having it displayed in all classrooms this term. On Wednesday, Ms Richards continued our series of British Values assemblies with a focus on how we can show tolerance at school and in the wider community.

 

Year 1 trip

This morning, Year 1 set off excitedly in the minibuses on their trip to World of Country Life in Exmouth. The visit was linked to the children’s learning in history and science, with the highlight being a deer train safari! As always, the children represented the school brilliantly with their excellent behaviour and manners.

New uniform

As you will be aware, we are introducing a new uniform across all parts of Exeter School in September, supplied by a new online provider called Schoolblazer. We have now put together a uniform guide and an ordering information guide for parents that can be viewed below. While the current pre-prep uniform will no longer be available to purchase from Thomas Moore from this summer, please remember that children can continue to wear these items until September 2028.

Click here to view the new uniform guide  Click here to view the Schoolblazer ordering information

Sun safety

Now that the warmer weather is with us, please may I remind parents that it is helpful for children to come to school with sun cream already applied. Children are welcome to bring their own sun cream in, should they need to top-up, but they need to be able to apply this themselves and we therefore recommend the roll-on products. All children should also have a named sun hat (of any design) in school to wear outside, please. As the children are removing their jumpers more frequently, please can you double-check that they are named, so that we can return them to the right owner.

Next week

A reminder that the school is closed on Monday for the bank holiday. Next Thursday evening, I will be at Exeter School for their summer open evening, which starts at 5.30pm. Please do come and say hello if you are coming along for a tour.

I hope you enjoy the long weekend and look forward to seeing everyone back in school on Tuesday.

Mr Daniel Ayling

Jazz Supper

On Thursday 3 July at 6.30pm, the main hall will be transformed into an atmospheric jazz club where the audience can enjoy a light meal with wine and the relaxed atmosphere of the end of the school year. The concert will feature Swunk, Jazz Bank 1, Jazz Band 2, Swunkette, and more……

Ticket Prices Adult £12 / Child £8

This price includes a light supper and two drinks – please pre-book your place by Thursday 19 June.

Click here to book your ticket

Exeter Music Holiday School

Exeter Music Holiday School will be open over May half term and running workshops for pupils age 5-16, at Countess Wear Community School, with classes in music, drama, musical theatre, song and lyric writing, arts & crafts and forest school among others.

For more information and to book, please click here.

Parents can use the discount code IUZ542 to receive a discount on any bookings made by 7 May.

Diary Dates

Monday 5 May – Bank holiday (school closed)

Thursday 8 May 5.30pm – Exeter School open evening

Friday 16 May – Vision screening for Reception children

Monday 19 May 9.30am – Open morning for prospective families

Friday 23 May – Mrs Wannell’s last day before maternity leave

Monday 26 to Friday 30 May – May half term (school closed)

Monday 2 June – Staff INSET day (school closed)

Wednesday 18 June – Year 2 to watch production at Exeter Junior School

Tuesday 24 June – Year 2 trip to Paignton Zoo

Thursday 26 June – Year 1 trip to Middlemoor Fire Station

Monday 30 June – End of year reports issued

Tuesday 1 July – Transition Day

Friday 4 July 1.30pm – Sports Day

Monday 7 July 3pm – Informal parent drop-in afternoon

Tuesday 8 July 2.30pm – Summer showcase

Wednesday 9 July – Term ends at 3.30pm

Term dates for 2024-25 and 2025-26 are available to download from the school website.

Spotlight on Nursery

Nursery have been enjoying the sunshine this week by playing, exploring and making the most of our outdoor areas. This term, our topic is ‘traditional tales’ and our book of the week has been Jack and the Beanstalk. We have enjoyed sequencing the key events in the story and retelling it to our friends using stick puppets. In mathematics, we have been focusing on counting objects and recording numerals. The children have been working really hard, using their number rhymes to support their number formation. We also looked at the life cycle of a bean and particularly enjoyed growing our very own magic beans in our house teams. We are looking forward to watching the germination process. We will then plant the beans in our outdoor area so that we can continue to monitor the cycle and see how tall they can grow. The children are continuing to amaze us with the progress they are making and we are very proud of them all.

Mrs Dray and Mrs Wannell

Stars of the week

Nursery

Jack

For coming into school so beautifully and trying really hard. Well done!

Mrs Dray

Reception

William

For using great vocabulary in literacy this week. Well done!

Mrs Rickard & Mrs Smyth

Year 1

Bea

For completing some beautiful writing and settling so well into Year 1. Well done!

Mrs Lawrence-Jones

Year 2

Amelia

For amazing listening in class this week. Well done!

Ms Richards & Mrs Goodwill

House Point Totals

Devonport (red): 112

Bridgwater (green): 105

Brixham (yellow): 100

Bideford (blue): 99

News

Do you have a story or pupil achievement to share with our community?

If you have a couple of lines of information and a photograph that you and your child are happy to be shared we will try to post these at relevant times through the year.
Email our communications team
We’ve enjoyed our daily wellbeing walks after lunch this week for #mentalhealthawarenessweek @mentalhealthfoundation

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