Smiling pupils throwing autumn leaves in the air

Pre-Prep Reflections Week 7 November 2025

Dear parents,

Welcome back to the second half of the autumn term, and a very warm welcome to Nathan, Ottilie and Robin who started in the Nursery class this week. There has been lots of firework-related learning taking place this week, as well as great excitement about playing with the abundance of autumn leaves outside!

Visitors

On Monday afternoon, we hosted Exeter School governors and senior leaders for an education committee meeting in the hall. These meetings take place every term and we try to host one per year here at the pre-prep. The children were extremely respectful and courteous to our visitors! We were delighted to see Mrs Lawrence-Jones and baby Marlowe on Wednesday afternoon. Both mum and baby are doing well, and Mrs Lawrence-Jones couldnโ€™t believe how much the children had grown up since she has been away. And this afternoon, both Mrs Van and Mr Bone came over to say hello to everyone.

Tapestry

Thank you to those of you who got in touch with us about difficulties accessing Tapestry, our online learning journal for Early Years, last week. This issue has now been resolved and please rest assured that it was nothing to do with online security. If your child is new to the school, we will be setting up your accounts shortly. Please let me or Mrs Rickard know if you have any further issues.

Poppy appeal

Thank you for your support with the poppy appeal this week. The children have been full of excitement to buy and wear their poppies and wristbands. Our remembrance assembly will take place on Tuesday 11 November and we will once again be attempting a minuteโ€™s silence with the whole school! Former pupil Ali, now in Year 4 at the junior school, will be returning to us to do a special assembly about the history of the poppy next Thursday. Poppies and wristbands will be available to buy from my office until the end of the day on Tuesday.

Entry to Year 3 parent information meeting

Following on from last year, we will soon be holding an information meeting with Exeter School about entry to Year 3. This will be in the school hall at 2.15pm next Thursday, 13 November. All Year 2 parents are welcome to attend and there is no need to book. Leah Hardy, Head of Lower School at Exeter Junior School, and Liz Williams, Director of External Relations, will be coming over to speak about the 7+ assessment morning and transition arrangements for pupils progressing to Year 3. There will also be an opportunity for parents to ask questions.

Next week

Next week is anti-bullying week across most UK schools and we will be joining in with the celebrations throughout the week – please see the article below for further details. We are also holding interviews for a visiting music teacher on Monday afternoon. I look forward to sharing the outcome with you in due course, with a view to relaunching individual piano lessons in January.

Have a fantastic weekend and enjoy the fireworks!

Mr Daniel Ayling

Diary Dates

10 November – Odd Socks Day

13 November 2.15pm – Entry to Year 3 parent info meeting

14 November – Children in Need Day (non-uniform)

19 November – Autumn reviews issued

26 November 4-7.30pm – Parentsโ€™ evening

11 & 12 December 2.30pm – Nativity performances

15 December – Christmas pantomime

15 December 3pm – Informal parent drop-in

16 December – Christmas jumper day

17 December – Christmas disco

18 December – End of term (early finish at 12 noon)

 

Spring Term 2026

5 January – Term starts

30 January – 7+ assessment morning (Year 2)

13 February – International Day

16-20 February – Half term

23 February – Exeter School EdFest (school closed)

24 February – Staff INSET Day (school closed)

25 February – Open morning for prospective families

27 February – Spring reviews issued

4 March 4-7.30pm – Parentsโ€™ evening

5 March – World Book Day

20 March – Red Nose Day

25 March 3pm – Informal parent drop-in

1 April – Easter assembly and end of term

Term dates for 2025-26 and 2026-27 are available to download from the school website.ย 

Spotlight on Reception

This week, we began our new topic, โ€˜Out at Seaโ€™. We have enjoyed sharing the story The Snail and the Whale and have linked much of our learning this week to snails. In expressive arts and design, we learnt about the artist Henri Matisse and studied his famous artwork, The Snail. The children then used collage to create their own beautiful snail-inspired pieces. In phonics, the children have been practising writing words containing our new digraphs, and have been independently using sound mats to support their writing and letter formation. We have been really impressed with the childrenโ€™s mathematical skills this week. They used Numicon to create snail shell pictures and compared groups within five. The children also counted accurately to ten and recorded numbers, using a number track to help with number formation. It has been wonderful to celebrate Bonfire Night together. The children enjoyed creating digital firework art for our classroom display and learnt about firework safety. Finally, weโ€™ve started preparing for our nativity performances, which the children are very excited about. Donโ€™t be surprised if your child comes home talking and singing about Christmas – it wonโ€™t be long now!

Mrs Rickard, Mrs Smyth and Miss Adams

Anti-bullying Week

Next week is anti-bullying week across most UK schools, starting with Odd Socks Day on Monday 10 November. This is all about raising awareness and celebrating our unique differences. If the children would like to wear a pair of odd socks to school on Monday, we would love to see them – the louder, the better!

There will be special assemblies and activities taking place throughout the week, culminating in Children in Need Day on Friday 14 November. As usual, this will be a non-uniform day to raise money for the charity. The suggested donation is ยฃ1-2 and the children will not be expected to change for PE lessons, so please bear this in mind when choosing outfits! Thank you for your support.

Nativity costumes

Our Christmas nativity performances will be taking place on Thursday 11 December and Friday 12 December at 2:30pm. If your child is in Nursery and does not attend on a Thursday and/or Friday, but you would like them to take part, you are welcome to bring them in for one or both of the performances. Please just let Mrs Dray know, so we can ensure correct staffing levels. The children would need to arrive at school by 2.15pm and go straight to their classroom to get into their costume.

Costume requests have been posted on Tapestry and stuck into the childrenโ€™s reading records today. We are very flexible with costumes and happy to help with ideas or sourcing items if needed. We also have some costumes and accessories in school. We would be grateful if costumes could be in school in a named bag by Friday 5 December.

Ms Richards
Deputy Head

Stars of the Week

Nursery

Oliviaย 

For growing in confidence and always coming into school with a smile on her face. Well done!

Mrs Dray

Reception

Luna

For the super progress she has made with her name writing. Well done!ย 

Mrs Rickard & Mrs Smyth

Year 1

Max F

For his amazing focus and ideas in science this week. Well done!

Ms Richards & Mrs Goodwill

Year 2

Tedย 

For returning from half term with such a positive attitude towards learning and for working hard, especially on improving his handwriting. Well done!

Miss Wheller

Head's Star

Ella B (Year 2)

For being amazingly kind, caring and helpful in her first week as a Nursery Leader. Well done!

Mr Ayling

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
Please encourage your child to bring in some money to buy a poppy ahead of #RemembranceDay on 11 November. #poppyappeal

...

2 0
Itโ€™s great to be back at school! ๐Ÿ

...

16 0
Happy half term from Ruffles and everyone at Exeter Pre-Prep! ๐Ÿงก

...

10 0
Thank you for all the wonderful harvest donations which have now been collected by @westbankdevon for their community larders in #Exminster and #Starcross ๐ŸŒฝ

...

8 0

3F Field Day at Beer Caves Quarry - 10 Oct 2025

CCF RN U5 Field Day Haven Banks - 10 Oct 2025

CCF M5 U6 Recruit Training Field Day Woodbury Common - 10 Oct 2025

15A vs Ivybridge - 9 October 2025

Hockey 1st XI vs Blundell's - 9 Oct 2025

Rugby vs Sherborne and TBGS - 8 October 2025

Whole school open morning - Tuesday 18 November 9am

Come along to our whole school open morning where you’ll be able to hear from our Acting Head, experience the spaces you’ll thrive in, chat to staff who will be there to support you and be toured by our pupil ambassadors.

Click here to register your place