Pre-Prep
Prince's Mead Pre-Prep, for children aged 4 to 7, offers a truly exceptional start to a child's educational journey, where academic ambition goes hand in hand with a happy, well-rounded childhood.
The Early Years
We believe that during those first precious years of schooling, children learn best through play, child-initiated learning and first-hand experiences.
Research has shown that when children are playing, they are nearly always problem solving, investigating or engaging in various forms of self-expression. A child who has experienced the excitement of finding things out for themselves is learning to take risks, to persevere and to become an independent learner.
In order to make their play meaningful we plan opportunities for the children to learn new skills that they will want to reinforce independently and we intervene with appropriate questions in order to encourage progression and development.
Key Stage 1
In Years 1 and 2, Key Stage 1, we adopt a 'topic' approach to learning. A new topic is introduced every half-term and all subjects are linked to the topic in some way. This enables pupils to apply their skills and transfer their knowledge from one subject to another, helping them to make connections whilst increasing their confidence, interest and motivation when learning.
All pupils in Pre-Prep are encouraged to develop individual interests, explore, ask questions and have ownership of their learning journey in order to provide them with every opportunity to reach their potential. Our overall aim is to build each child's self-esteem, confidence and independence to ensure they have the best possible start at Prince's Mead.
ISI Inspection 2023
“Children in the EYFS make rapid progress as a result of a happy learning environment that both inspires and recognises individual needs and potential.”
First Minibus Pick Up
7.25am
Early Morning Arrival
8.00 - 8.25am
Registration
8.25am
End of School Day
4.10pm
After School Clubs
4.10 - 5.10pm
Late Bus Departs
5.20pm
The School Day
The Prince's Mead school day starts at 8.25am and finishes at 4pm. Wraparound care to extend the school day is available from first minibus pick up at 7.25am to late minibus departure at 5.20pm.
Pre-Prep pupils may arrive from 8am and enjoy story time before registration begins. Following the end of the school day, there is tea-time club or a wide variety of co-curricular after-school clubs to choose from which extend the day until 5.10pm.
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Leadership Opportunities
School Council
Each term the pupils vote within their forms for one pupil to become their representative on the School Council. Each form representative has to attend weekly meetings of the School Council where they bring forward ideas for changes to school life. For example, new play equipment, new book requests for the library, or new lunchtime clubs.
Council members also get the privilege of managing the School Council stall at the PMA Summer Fete to fundraise for charities that the pupils have voted for at the start of each year. In previous years they have sold 'grow your own' sunflowers from the seeds harvested in Gardening Club and provided face painting.
Green Team
Our Green Team leads the annual Environmental Review and creates a whole-school Action Plan, enabling everyone to play their part in sustainability. Their efforts have helped Prince’s Mead achieve the highest level of Eco-Schools accreditation: the prestigious Distinction award.
Pastoral Care
& Wellbeing
At Prince’s Mead, our aim is to provide the highest quality pastoral care throughout the school and maintain an environment where each pupil can succeed in every aspect of their education as well as to flourish and thrive as an individual.
We have a dedicated Pastoral Care Team, led by our Deputy Head of Pastoral and the Head of Wellbeing who work closely with our Matron, and the ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant).
From the moment a child joins us we want to ensure they flourish and feel a sense of belonging within the Prince’s Mead family.
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Sport
At Prince's Mead we place a strong emphasis on sport and physical activity as an integral part of our pupils' development. We believe that encouraging participation in sports not only promotes a healthy lifestyle, but also builds important life skills such as teamwork, discipline, determination, and leadership.
Our dedicated and experienced coaches work with pupils of all levels across a wide variety of seasonal sports.
Digital Learning
We aim to give our pupils the life-long skills that will enable them to embrace and utilise new technology in a socially responsible and safe way.
As the digital world continues to evolve, children of primary age will be entering jobs in the future that don’t currently exist. At Prince’s Mead, we foster a culture that links all subjects across the school curriculum with digital learning which prepares our pupils for senior school and life beyond.
In digital learning lessons, the pupils primarily use iPads or physical resources, such as Crumble robots or Micro-Bits, to develop a range of skills. As a result, our pupils are confident using a wide range of hardware and software and are diligent learners who value online safety and respect when communicating with one another.
Co-Curricular
Clubs
At Prince’s Mead, our youngest pupils are encouraged to be curious, confident, and creative, and our co-curricular programme plays a big part in that journey.
Children in Pre-Prep enjoy a rich variety of fun and engaging clubs that help them explore new interests, develop important life skills and grow in independence. Whether they’re expressing themselves in Creative Club, learning new moves in Fun Dance or Musical Theatre, or discovering the world in Globetrotters, there’s something for every personality and passion.
From hands-on activities like gardening, origami and Lego, to energetic favourites like football, fencing, tennis and gymnastics, the programme supports both wellbeing and development through play. Our calm and cosy Hygge sessions and sociable Card Games club give children the space to relax and connect with their friends in a warm, nurturing environment.
Our Pre-Prep co-curricular offering is carefully designed to complement classroom learning, helping children discover what they love while building confidence, friendships and independence.
Minibuses
a Safe Route to School
At Prince’s Mead, we are proud to offer a free minibus service for pupils, helping to make daily journeys easier, greener, and more enjoyable for families. Covering a wide area, our service brings children to school safely and on time, ready for a full and exciting day of learning.
Our fleet of minibuses is driven by a dedicated team of MiDAS-accredited school staff who know the children well and ensure every journey is warm, welcoming, and secure.
The service runs three times a day - morning, after school (4.20pm), and after clubs (5.20pm) - and integrates smoothly with our extensive co-curricular programme and sports fixtures.
Safety is always our top priority: all minibuses undergo daily checks and termly inspections, and are fitted with height-adjustable seat belts, removing the need for booster seats.
Parents appreciate the convenience and reliability of the service, which also helps to reduce school gate traffic and supports a more sustainable school run.
Food
& Nourishment
At Prince's Mead we believe that a healthy mind and body are vital to success at school and developing a commitment to a healthier lifestyle is a lifelong benefit to our pupils.
Our talented catering team was named School Team of the Year in 2024, shortlisted from over 200 schools internationally.
Holiday Club
Little Conker's is our holiday club which provides wrap around care during the school holidays for Nursery to Year 1 pupils. Led by our staff and exclusive to Prince's Mead pupils, children enjoy lots of fun activities from sports-based games to woodland adventures and crafts.
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