Nursery at work

E-Prospectus

Educational policy: methodology

Teaching in the younger children's classes (Nursery & Reception) incorporates the Early Learning Goals, as laid down by the National Curriculum, and incorporates elements of the Montessori method. Systems and apparatus developed by other educational methods are also provided to aid the child's natural progress. The equipment at Prospect House is the result of many years of experienced observation of children and has been carefully designed to meet the needs of our children. Both the Montessori apparatus and other teaching resources provide practical preparation for the future and are sufficiently absorbing to ensure that younger children generally prefer using them to playing with toys.

The syllabus of Years 1 to 6 reflects the requirements of the National Curriculum and of future senior schools. All children enjoy the benefits of a broad and balanced curriculum with a thorough grounding in mathematics, literacy and science. Additional subjects include history, geography, French, ICT (information and communication technology), music, PE (physical education), Art, DT (design and technology), PSCHE (personal, social, citizenship and health education), drama, dance and RE (religious education). From the Nursery onwards, the children have the benefit of many specialist teachers. The school is very well staffed and in Years 3 to 6 the children are taught in small ability sets for mathematics and literacy. This enables the teachers to focus very closely on the learning needs of pupils in these core subjects. Children are regularly assessed using both standard and non-standardised tests and in Year 2 and Year 6 they also sit the national assessments known as SATs (Standard Attainment Tests). Our results in these tests are invariably excellent.

Prospect House has a broadly Christian philosophy but religious education is non-denominational and the children study the major world faiths.