Pre Prep consists of Years 1 and 2.

In the Pre Prep department, we work closely with the Early Years and Prep teaching staff to ensure a smooth transition between departments so that the children are confident and can thrive through their entire Glendower School journey.

In our school, we focus on the individual needs of every pupil, inspiring them to succeed across a wide range of enjoyable and stimulating learning experiences across the whole curriculum.
Our excellent teachers challenge and nurture young girls so that they can continue to flourish to their full potential.

English and Maths

The girls experience some aspects of these subjects every day. These lessons are taught by their form teachers and supported by a teaching assistant in each class.

In maths, we often use concrete resources when solving problems in our lessons. The girls often explore maths through practical activities, for example, by sharing fruit between friends, measuring objects with non-standard units and using coins to pay for their shopping. We encourage them to take risks and learn from mistakes in order to develop confidence and a good understanding of numbers, shapes and measure.

At Glendower, literacy is embedded in all areas of our curriculum.

In Years 1 and 2, the pupils continue to learn phonics using a full synthetic phonics programme, ‘Anima Phonics’. Our sessions include stimulating interactive lessons with engaging activities to provide a simultaneous visual, auditory and kinaesthetic approach to the development of early literacy skills. Anima Phonics is sprinkled with magical moments and memorable characters so that children leave school each day desperate to share their new phonic knowledge with everyone at home.

Our school prioritises reading and aims to foster a love of reading in all girls. The children continue to develop their vocabulary and comprehension skills by reading a wide range of literature. They are taught to read using a number of different strategies, such as making connections, inferencing and applying phonic knowledge. Girls are heard to read three times a week, including one-to-one and guided reading sessions.
To hone their writing skills, girls write with purpose, with an emphasis on content and presentation. A wide range of discussion, debate and collaboration opportunities encourages them to speak confidently and fluently.

Science

Science is practical and hands-on. Pupils are encouraged to explore and question their environment and are introduced to the important concepts of fair testing, planning and evaluating their experiments. We take full advantage of our central location, visiting local parks and the Science Museum.

Art and Design, Humanities and RE, PSHEE/RSE

In Art and Design, pupils experience a range of materials, experimenting with colour and different ways to express themselves. The girls are beginning to look at the techniques of various artists and develop their own styles. In our Design lessons, the process is as important as the outcome. Girls are encouraged to design their ideas and then modify them, learning different skills and techniques before completing their projects and evaluating them.

In Years 1 and 2, the girls are introduced to a new subject, humanities which contains history and geography. We are keen to impress upon the girls that history is not simply concerned with dates and famous people but about looking at change, the importance of the past and how it affects how we live today. Geography gives the girls an understanding of their environment, both local and global, and how the land affects our lives. They look at the impact of change on their local area and how they have a role in influencing the future.
In RE (Religious Education), the girls study and read various stories from different religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. They develop a strong, spiritual and moral ethos and learn to respect others and their beliefs, values and traditions.

In PSHEE (Personal, Social and Health and Emotional Education) and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education), the School supports lifelong learning about pupils’ physical, moral and emotional development. Through these lessons, we want to help girls develop positive relationships with their peers. Our main topics are Relationships, Living in the Wider World and Health and Wellbeing. We often refer to British Values and discuss the School’s Golden Rules. The school’s PSHEE/RSE scheme is purposefully flexible, so it can be adapted to deal with issues and situations throughout the year.

Specialist Subjects

In the Pre Prep department, we provide specialist teaching in drama, dance, gymnastics, games, swimming, computing, music and French. Glendower girls also have many opportunities to participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities before and after school.

Computing is integrated into all areas of the curriculum, and girls learn computing skills that support and enrich their learning. Skills include coding, using the internet safely to obtain information, manipulating text and images and looking at how tablets such as iPads can enhance learning across the curriculum. Our students have one dedicated lesson each week in the computing suite.

French is taught by a native speaker twice a week in each year group. The children learn to develop speaking and listening skills first through songs, rhymes, role-plays, puppets, games and storytelling. Girls then gradually develop their French reading through a kinaesthetic and fun approach.

Library

Every class has a weekly session in the library when girls can select books to take home. The selection includes well-loved classics as well as being constantly updated with new titles. The library (with the support of the GPTA) hosts author visits each year, an annual book fair, and we celebrate World Book Day.

Learning support

Teachers carefully track and monitor pupils’ progress throughout the school. In addition, our SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and/or Disability Coordinator) will assess pupils if it is felt that a girl may benefit from additional support. We work in close partnership with parents to tailor the necessary support to meet each child’s individual needs.
In Pre Prep, girls receive additional support either by participating in weekly Booster Groups or by one-to-one support in the lesson from a teacher or teaching assistant as appropriate for different lessons and activities.