Welcome to Pre-Prep
Nursery
We are delighted to welcome children from the age of three to our Nursery, a bright, inviting space designed to inspire curiosity and creativity. With its own bathroom facilities and direct access to a safe, enclosed playground, our Nursery encourages learning both indoors and outdoors. Children can attend full days, mornings, afternoons, or a flexible combination to suit your family’s needs.
Our Pre-Prep
The Pre-Prep department sits within the grounds of the Prep School located in a purpose-built building with its own hall and outdoor area for learning and play. We welcome children aged 3 to 7 years with provision for two classrooms in each year group. Our small class sizes with a high ratio of teachers to pupils is something of great value. This enabling environment provides the best learning experience for our children, promoting curiosity, creativity and a caring approach in all we do.
A distinctive quality of our Pre-prep is that while they have their own bespoke facilities, they also have full access to the rest of the school. For instance, from Year 1 the children visit the Art block for those lessons, enabling a far greater range of experience. Whilst the form tutor remains the primary teacher, specialists are used for Art, Music, Games, French and ICT.
A range of school trips are enjoyed which complement the school curriculum with a generous helping of fun. These can be local trips, to the cathedral for example, or further afield on the school minibuses to Brownsea island. Every experience is designed to stimulate a love of learning and the school’s core values of Curiosity, Courage and Compassion.
In the Pre-Prep department we ensure that every child has the opportunity for enjoyable challenge. The chance to explore opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom and a chance to fulfil their potential. We place the same value on our outdoor learning environment to allow children to have equality of opportunity in their learning both inside and outside. Across the school site we have a range of places to learn and play including an adventure playground, dingily dell, large playing field, pond and woodland play equipment.
From the Early Years (Nursery and Reception), to Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2) the children play, eat and learn together. The interaction between the year groups is just one of the qualities of an all-round education at Chafyn Grove. Each Friday, the whole school – from Reception to Year 8 – celebrates the week’s accomplishments together in assembly.
Homework is introduced in Year 1 and includes spellings to learn and a practical task each week, and daily supported reading is encouraged. There is a weekly swimming lesson for each class in Pre-Prep in our own pool for half of the year, and year round for Years 1 and 2.
STRUCTURE OF THE DAY
Most children have a school day between 8.30 am and 3.30pm. However, wrap-around care is available from 7.30am till 6pm. This itself can be extended or broken down as detailed below.
| Breakfast Club | 7.30 am – 8.00 am |
| Early Care | 8.00 am – 8.25 am |
| Registration | 8.25 am |
| Lessons and Activities | 8.30 am – 10.50 am |
| Morning Snack Time | Towards end of first session |
| Playtime | 10.50 am – 11.20 am |
| Lessons and Activities | 11.15 am – 11.55 am |
| Lunch | 12 pm |
| Play-time | 12.30 pm – 1.20pm |
| Lessons and Activities (including snack & short break) |
1.20 pm – 3.00 pm |
| Assembly | 3.00 pm – 3.15 pm |
| End of Day / Story | 3.15 pm – 3.30 pm |
| After School Club | 3.30 pm – 4.40 pm |
| Later stay club | 4.40 pm – 5.30 pm |
| Supper | 5.30 pm – 6.00 pm |
FAQs
DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN OPEN DAY TO VISIT THE SCHOOL?
No – please call 01722 333423 and speak to Claire who can arrange a meeting with the Head and a tour of the school.
WHAT IF I CAN’T TAKE MY CHILD TO SCHOOL? DO YOU HAVE BUSES?
Yes – we have our own bus routes and also share buses with Godolphin which cover a range of areas. Please call the office for any details.
CAN MY CHILD COME EARLY OR LEAVE LATE FROM SCHOOL?
Yes – children can arrive from 7.30 am for Breakfast Club. Classrooms are open from 8.00 am. After School Activities run from 3.30 pm to 4.40 pm and After School Club runs from 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm followed by Supper until 6.00 pm.
DO YOU HAVE ENTRY TESTS INTO THE SCHOOL?
No -there is not an entry test into the Pre-Prep.
MY CHILD HAS “LEARNING DIFFICULTIES”, CAN YOU CATER FOR THIS?
Yes – we have a Learning Support Department and a Pre-Prep teacher responsible for learning support and together they will work closely with form teachers to ensure children finding any aspect of school difficult (or too easy!) will have additional input where necessary.
MY CHILD IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT, WILL THEY BE STRETCHED AT CHAFYN?
Yes – we teach every child as an individual and differentiate work appropriately to either support or stretch a child.
DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER FOR MY CHILD TO START AT CHAFYN?
No – children can join Chafyn at any point of the school year and are helped to settle into the new routines.
MY CHILD HAS A FOOD ALLERGY/SPECIAL DIET. CAN THIS BE CATERED FOR?
Yes – Chafyn Grove is a nut-free school and caters for a wide variety of food allergies/special diets.
IS THERE A PARENTAL NETWORK?
Yes – each year group has two parent reps who will welcome you into the school community and help you with any questions you may have. The social side is catered for by the Friends of Chafyn Grove (FCGS), who organise events during the year. You would be very welcome to get involved. The ladies in the office are always available to answer any questions.
MUSIC LESSONS?
Music lessons are available from Year One and for a variety of instruments. Individual lessons are timetabled throughout the week, with the slot regularly changing to avoid your child missing the same lesson.
HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE IN A CLASS?
Our aim and preference, is not to exceed a total number of 18 pupils in classes; most of our classes have a round twelve children in with an equal balance of boys and girls.
WHAT DO THE SCHOOL FEES INCLUDE?
The fee includes everything apart from certain aspects of learning support (which will be subject to the school’s current policy for learning support), occasional trips, individual music lessons, squash and tennis coaching, After School Club, Breakfast and Supper Club and any After School Activity taken by an outside agency.
WHAT LANGUAGES DO YOU TEACH?
In Pre-Prep all children will learn French.
DO YOU SET FOR SUBJECTS?
In Pre-Prep, children are taught in mixed ability form groups with differentiation in all subjects used when appropriate.