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With small classes, every individual child is continually supported and inspired to learn and explore through a broad and balanced curriculum which includes daily reading, phonics, handwriting, literacy and oral number work to build Maths fluency.
We also create opportunities for our children to excel in the Arts, Languages, Humanities, Physical Education and Computing. In addition to their academic studies, pupils may also participate in our co-curricular clubs and activities; with over 90 clubs across the school creating unrivalled opportunities to pursue interests and build the skills they will continue to build on throughout their school life and beyond.
The Pre-Prep children have a number of areas to play including access to climbing frames, gardening, slides, bug hotels and a wonderful musical instrument area. Children are also encouraged to interact with and build relationships with older pupils, building confidence and developing interpersonal skills from a young age.
Our aim is to foster a love of learning and equip our pupils with the foundational skills needed for their future educational journey.
Within the Pre-Prep, our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) consists of our Nursery and Reception classes. Children can join our Nursery in the term following their third birthday. Children join Reception in the September following their fourth birthday.
At York House, our Nursery and Reception classes follow the EYFS Statutory Framework, delivering a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to our pupils’ needs, interests, and developmental levels.
Our dedicated teachers craft an exciting curriculum that offers appropriate challenges, addressing the social, emotional, physical, intellectual, moral, and cultural development of each child within a safe, secure, and stimulating environment. This approach ensures that pupils develop skills, attitudes, and understanding across all seven interconnected areas of learning, each of equal importance.
In Reception, children still have opportunities for child-initiated learning but follow a more structured timetable.
Lessons cover all seven areas of the EYFS curriculum. Specialist teachers in Physical Education, Swimming, Music, and French, along with class teachers for Computing, ensure comprehensive development across subjects.
Our curriculum includes both independent and adult-led learning experiences across various environments—indoors and outdoors—allowing pupils to be active, explore, and think creatively. These experiences help them achieve Early Learning Goals and prepare for the National Curriculum.
The prime areas of learning include communication and language, physical development and personal, social, and emotional development. With specific areas of learning including Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.
In Nursery, children enjoy ample opportunities for child-initiated learning while being gradually introduced to more formalised sessions in Phonics, English, and Mathematics to ensure readiness for Reception.
Our goal is to ensure that everyone in the school community has a positive, well-rounded and inclusive experience.
Our EYFS team is committed to providing comprehensive pastoral care for all pupils. We want everyone in our community to feel motivated to strive to be the best possible version of themselves. We do this by focusing on building positive relationships with the children, encouraging them to interact with others and be aware of their emotional needs.
Even from a young age, understanding the importance of Mental Health is vital. At York House we put a real focus on appreciating all aspects of a child’s well-being; physical, mental/emotional, social and spiritual.
We encourage all EYFS pupils to be aware of their emotions. By recognising and managing emotions at a young age, pupils build a vital understanding of their well-being that has been proven to enhance academic performance, improve school climate, boost emotional intelligence and reduce anxiety and depression.
Our diverse co-curricular program, tailored each term to meet students’ needs.
We understand the demands of busy schedules and the need for reliable child care beyond standard school hours. Our extensive wrap-around care program offers exciting opportunities to explore passions and develop skills. Supporting families with flexible options, ensuring your child is safe, engaged, and well cared for from early morning until evening. This program is more than just supervision; it’s about creating a homely and supportive environment where your child can thrive outside regular school hours. Our dedicated staff are committed to making every moment enriching and enjoyable, giving you peace of mind and your child a fulfilling experience.
Activities like sports, arts, science, and cultural clubs help students build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. Participation enhances academic performance and fosters holistic development. We encourage students to join as many clubs as they can to discover new interests.
With access to our incredible outdoor facilities, our children learn to love outdoor environments.
The use of the outdoors and our unique natural educational environments is one of our greatest assets in the promotion of the health and well-being of our students, building the foundations of love and respect for nature.
We offer enrichment experiences for EYFS pupils through specialist teaching, including weekly outdoor learning sessions in our smallholding, balance bike sessions, and playball lessons that focus on developing gross and fine motor skills through sports.
The pupils in Years 1 & 2 build upon the foundations that have been laid in the Early Years.
They strengthen the high standards of English and Mathematics enabling pupils to progress with confidence to more structured activities at Key Stage 1. We introduce a variety of other academic subjects at this stage, including Geography, History, and Religious Studies, which are all timetabled into the children’s daily routines alongside The Arts, Computing, Languages and Sports lessons which continue from the EYFS curriculum.
Each Form group is supported by a teaching assistant and we aim for class sizes of 18 children. Due to our small classes, every individual is continually monitored and assessed and, if appropriate, extra support or extension will be provided.
Our daily lessons provide a balanced education, ensuring every child excels in various areas.
In English, children enhance reading, phonics, and handwriting skills through structured activities. Mathematics focuses on developing fluency with oral and written exercises. Integrated into a diverse curriculum, these high-quality lessons promote overall excellence.
The Arts allow for creative expression and meaningful exploration. In our language room, pupils develop lifelong language skills through interactive activities. Our ‘sport for all’ mentality builds confidence and understanding in various sports, with Year 1 and Year 2 benefiting from weekly swimming, PE specialist teaching, and additional games sessions.
Computing and STEM subjects ensure early acquisition of essential IT skills. Pupils also develop home learning skills with set homework tasks for Numeracy and Literacy and continue their reading journey with our reading scheme. This comprehensive approach nurtures children’s talents and interests in a supportive environment.
Our Pastoral system focuses on building positive, nurturing relationships with students,
We provide comprehensive support and implement proactive systems and strategies to ensure every child feels safe, happy, and empowered to thrive and reach their full potential. Understanding their needs, and tailoring our approach to suit those needs.
Our goal is to foster a positive, well-rounded, and inclusive experience for everyone in our school community, motivating each individual to strive to be the best version of themselves. We aim to prepare our pupils for future studies and adult life through everything we do.
We encourage a self-disciplined and hard-working approach, helping students achieve good academic results. Equally important, we emphasise three character traits, known as the York House Way, to guide our students in developing essential life skills.
We understand the demands of busy schedules and the need for reliable child care beyond standard school hours.
Our extensive wrap-around care program supports families with flexible options, ensuring your child is safe, engaged, and well cared for from early morning until evening. This program is more than just supervision; it’s about creating a homely and supportive environment where your child can thrive outside regular school hours. Our dedicated staff are committed to making every moment enriching and enjoyable, giving you peace of mind and your child a fulfilling experience.
Our diverse co-curricular program, tailored each term to meet students’ needs, offers exciting opportunities to explore passions and develop skills. Activities like sports, arts, science, and cultural clubs help students build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. Participation enhances academic performance and fosters holistic development.
We encourage students to join as many clubs as they can to discover new interests. Wrap-around care includes breakfast clubs starting at 07:30, Starlight until 18:00, and bookable ‘Tea’ for later pickups, ensuring continuous care for the children’s needs.
Outdoor learning plays a pivotal role in igniting the spirit of exploration among young learners.
With a 50-acre landscape at their disposal, children embark on a journey of discovery, engaging in a myriad of activities designed to stimulate their curiosity and foster a deeper connection with nature.
From constructing forts to embarking on scavenger hunts, from crafting bug hotels to nurturing a bond with the resident tortoises through storytelling, every outdoor endeavor becomes a learning adventure. Guided by designated teachers pupils not only develop practical skills like fire safety but also cultivate a profound appreciation for the environment.
The outdoor classroom extends beyond formal lessons, encompassing the vibrant play area known as The Orchard. Whether scaling climbing frames, tending to garden patches, or creating melodies in the musical instrument zone, in this dynamic outdoor environment, learners thrive, embracing the joy of discovery and forging lasting connections with the natural world around them.
