Classes and Curriculum

Children usually start at the New School, in the first term after their 3rd birthday and leave when they are 7 at the end of the Summer Term. There are four classes, one class for each Year Group.

Class 1

Class 1 is where our nursery aged children are based (3-4 years old). In this class, the week is divided into 10 sessions (2 per day, morning and afternoon) and we offer a flexible programme through the week. Some children join us for two sessions initially and then take on more sessions as they become more confident. Some are ready to stay for a full day right from the outset. By talking with staff on a daily basis, parents can see how their child is responding and we can then vary their time at school accordingly.

In this class, we offer a range of activities which aim to encourage learning through play. Our children are given plenty of opportunities to play both indoors and outdoors, exploring the world around them. Our shelves are packed with stimulating toys, books, and practical teaching aids that help our children grow in confidence and quickly settle into enjoying school life.

We are guided by the government's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) programme and all children have an individual learning record and activities planned to support their individual developmental needs.

Class 2

Class 2 is for our Reception age children (4-5 years old). At this age, children are expected to attend school full time, and attend all sessions.

In Class 2, our children consolidate their learning in Class 1, building on initial sounds and developing reading strategies. By the time they leave Class 2, the children will be confident at forming letters ( using the cursive script), be able to recognise and use numbers and be reading from a range of book schemes.

At this age, the children's creative activities are used as a vehicle for learning and they are gradually introduced to our topic based approach. Emphasis is also placed on the development of kind and caring behaviour and personal achievements are often celebrated by the whole school.

Class 3

Children in Class 3 are 5 - 6 years old and are now beginning to develop greater independence. During their time in this class, they will begin to write more freely and read with greater fluency from a more challenging selection of reading scheme books. By the end of Class 3, the children will have developed some sound spelling and reading strategies using Phonic systems such as Jolly Phonics, and will have learnt a few simple times tables. Our topic based approach is used to stimulate our children's learning at this age with topics ranging from Art and Artists to Journeys Around the World.

Class 4

Class 4 children are age 7 and are often preparing to take the entrance tests for local selective independent schools. Although we have a 100% pass rate in gaining places for children in the schools of their choice and numerous scholarships each year, we work hard to ensure that the children themselves are unaware of any pressure that their parents may be feeling and we focus on building on the foundations which have been put in place during their time here. The children also look forward to the additional roles,responsibilities and privileges they enjoy from being 'top of the school' for the year, all of which nurtures their confidence before moving on together.

Again, topic based work is at the heart of our approach and in this year, children thrive on being given additional responsibilities around the school, such as being librarian or a summerhouse monitor. At the end of the summer term we say a sad farewell to our children and wish them every success at the school of their choice. Many of them transfer together which makes the transition as smooth and secure as it is possible to be.