Classroom
Pupils benefit from small class sizes, with qualified early-years teachers and assistants. We employ specialists to teach sports and exercise, music and drama to all.
OUR ACADEMIC PRIORITIES
Within our Pre-Prep, our academic priorities are:
- To promote pupils’ confidence and independence as learners through the more effective use of outdoor teaching and learning; and
- To develop pupils’ understanding and experience of our Pre-Prep as a reflective community through our charitable and voluntary work.
ABOUT OUR PRE-PREP CURRICULUM
We run numerous focus weeks to encourage innovative learning and engagement:
- Literacy Week – our pupils explore various aspects of reading and writing, writing newspaper reports, participating in poetry workshops and meeting a book illustrator
- STEM Week – our Senior School staff and sixth formers work with our Pre-Prep pupils on activities that bring science to life
Other curriculum events include Grandparents Day, Geography Day, World Book Day, sports day and skipping workshops.
Creative artwork plays an important part in our curriculum, while the colourful displays around our School create a bright and stimulating learning environment.
NURSERY
3+ entry (until September 2020)
OUR NURSERY CURRICULUM
Highgate’s last 3+ entry (into our Nursery) will be September 2020.
Our Nursery has two part-time classes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, staffed by a class teacher and two qualified early-years practitioners. We follow a Statutory Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, based around the seven areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
The three prime areas in the EYFS:
- communication and language
- physical development
- personal, social and emotional development
The four specific areas of learning in the EYFS:
- literacy
- mathematics
- understanding the world
- expressive arts and design
RECEPTION
4+ entry (from September 2021)
OUR RECEPTION CURRICULUM
From September 2021, entry to Highgate Pre-Prep will be at 4+ (Reception), rather than 3+ (Nursery). An additional class will be added meaning 20 extra children will join Reception in September 2021. From September 2022, around 60 children will be able to join Reception.
Full-time education begins in our Reception classes, which each have a class teacher and early-years practitioner to ensure pupils receive individual attention.
Our curriculum is designed to build upon knowledge and skills learnt in Nursery. Activities continue to be based around the seven areas of learning in the EYFS, with pupils encouraged to participate in both adult-led and child-initiated activities.
YEARS 1 AND 2 CURRICULUM
Our Year 1 curriculum is designed to extend our pupils academically, whilst ensuring breadth and balance in the activities on offer. From the start of Year 1, swimming is introduced and taught by specialist teachers from our Sports and Exercise Department. Pupils can also undertake individual violin and cello lessons.
In Year 2, our pupils consolidate all that has been taught before, whilst being introduced to new and challenging experiences to foster independent learning. We add chess and recorder lessons, and all pupils belong to our School Choir.