Our school day
At the Prep School, the day starts with registration at 08:50 for all pupils and ends at 15:30 for the Lower Prep and 15:50 for the Upper Prep. There are many opportunities to extend the school day both before and after these core hours, through a wide range of activities, supervised homework sessions and Kim Club.
Arriving at school
The school coach system
We offer a number of coach routes to and from school, which are used by over 25% of our pupils. Parents who wish to make use of this service for their children should contact the Bursary.
Where space permits, one way only tickets are available, as are tickets for single trips (eg. for a friend coming home for tea). Parents are responsible for seeing their children onto the bus in the morning and for meeting them off the bus in the evening.
On arrival at the Prep School, the bus is met by a member of staff who ensures all children are seen through the Archway entrance. Lower Prep pupils are escorted to their classrooms.
At the end of the day, a single coach collects the children plus a Prep School member of staff and takes them to the Senior School where the other coaches are waiting. The teacher transfers each child onto the correct coach.
The coaches are owned and operated by Robinsons of Kimbolton and meet all current safety standards, including seatbelts that pupils are required to use.
Parking
The start and end of the school day sees a high demand for parking spaces. If you are able to share journeys to or from school, please do so. For safety reasons, please avoid parking on the grass verges outside the school car park.
On days when demand is particularly heavy (such as the beginning and end of term) and the ground conditions permit, the playing field gate is opened for overflow parking.
The car park is high risk for unaccompanied children so, unless you are using the drop off zone, please escort Upper Prep children at least as far as the Main or Archway entrance. Lower Prep children should not use the drop off zone UNLESS accompanied by an older Upper Prep sibling. Parents should not park in the drop off zone at any point.
Dropping off
The school operates a drop off system in the morning. Children are highly resilient and thrive when afforded independence; they are capable of entering school buildings on their own, completing routine housekeeping tasks and organising their personal effects successfully without parental support.
Teachers are always on hand to support where necessary. When dropping off, Lower Prep pupils must be accompanied to the Lower Prep gate. Staff will be present should parents wish to say goodbye at that point; parents may alternatively accompany their child to the classroom’s external door, where a member of staff will receive them. Upper Prep children are encouraged to be dropped off at the drop off zone and enter via the Main or Archway entrance. Members of the Senior Management Team are always available at all entrances to meet and greet children and parents.
Daily routine
Registration
Pupils should aim to be at school for 08:45, ready for registration in the classrooms at 08.50, with form tutors.
Years 3-6 pupils should confirm to their form tutors each morning who will be collecting them after school, and whether or not they will be taking part in after-school activities or Homework Club.
Break time
During break, children in the Lower Prep are offered fruit plus milk or water whereas the older children may bring to school a healthy snack (no sweets, crisps, chocolate, glass bottles, cans or fizzy drinks).
As there are several children at the school with allergies, we discourage the sharing of snacks and have a strict no nuts policy. Children in Y1 and Y2 and the Upper Prep are expected to bring a named drinking bottle from which they can drink water during lessons; there are several water fountains available around the school.
Lessons
For the Lower Prep, there are four teaching sessions per day of varying duration, with multi-subject or cross-curricular content.
In the Upper Prep there are six lessons per day, each of 50 minutes’ duration. English and mathematics, the core subjects, are taught as far as possible in the morning, when children are at their most productive.
Assemblies
Whole school assemblies take place during the week, after break, as do Lower and Upper Prep assemblies, House meetings and singing practice.
Lunchtime
The catering staff cook lunch on site and offer a choice of meals, including vegetarian and salad options, all of which are nut-free.
The children are overseen during lunch by supervisors and teaching staff and are encouraged to select balanced meals.
Lower Prep pupils eat lunch from 12 noon; Upper Prep children follow them from 13.00. At first, Reception children may need help selecting their food so staff are on hand to assist them.
The staff sit with their pupils and encourage correct table manners. Should children select food that they find they do not like, they are helped to choose something else. It is essential that school is made aware of any food allergies.
Collection at the end of the day
The school day ends at 15.30 for Lower Prep when the pupils either go home or stay for activities until 16.05. At 15.30 children are handed over to parents via the classroom firedoors which, for Y1 and Y2, open onto the rear playground.
Parents access this via the wooden gate to the side of Aragon House. We will not allow your child to be collected by anyone other than a parent or guardian unless you notify us beforehand (in person or via email / phone to the School Office).
Lower Prep pupils who are not collected by 15.30 are transferred to the Film Club until 16.05 and to Kim Club (charges apply) thereafter. If you anticipate being late, please let the School Office know so that we can reassure your child that all is well.
Years 3-5 pupils who are not attending Homework Club/activities are dismissed at 15.50 and should be collected from the Courtyard. Year 6 pupils will be dismissed via the main entrance forecourt. Congestion will occur if parents wait in the Archway area.
If your plans change and you collect your child early, please let the member of staff supervising his or her activity know so that we do not initiate a search party!
Pupils are instructed not to pass through the Archway without an adult escort.
Children enjoy a short break in the ‘top yard’ prior to joining their activity or Homework Club. Children who are unexpectedly not collected will be sent to Homework Club.
At 17.00, pupils finishing activities generally meet their parents in the Courtyard and those in Homework Club are collected from the classrooms. If not picked up as planned,
pupils are taken to Kim Club, which runs until 18.00, and their parents charged accordingly for the additional afterschool care.
If you are delayed unexpectedly, please let us know so we can pass on a message to your child. End of term arrangements may differ.
