Welcome to Pre-Prep & Prep at Ryde School

Pre-Prep & Prep (age 5+)

Please accept a very warm welcome to the Pre-Prep and Prep from Mr Ed Marsden and Mrs Emily Willetts, and all the staff and children. From the Nursery to Year 6, we provide an outstanding all-round education for boys and girls. With the wellbeing of each and every child at the heart of all we do, our pastoral care is excellent and our learning environment warm, caring and nurturing. We aim to ensure children grow to become independent, confident, happy and resilient learners.

Ed Marsden and Emily Willetts Head of Prep and Head of Fiveways (Nursery & Pre-Prep)

Reception to Year 2 (Pre-Prep) is situated at Fiveways, a quick walk across the road from the Prep Years where Years 3 to 6 enjoy their school days. We aim high and want our pupils to succeed. Small classes, taught by a team of dedicated and highly qualified teaching staff, enable us to know each child individually and plan appropriately. Passions and talents are supported and nurtured, and we ensure that every child is able to achieve their full potential.

At the heart of a school day is a traditional academic curriculum, enriched with an introduction to Spanish, Mandarin and Latin and a wide ranging extra-curricular programme. Opportunities for outside learning, on the water, on the beach, in the forest or rambling through the extensive grounds, all provide an inspirational environment for children to develop lifelong skills.

We actively encourage our pupils to participate in team sports – both competitively and for recreation and many of our older children play for Island clubs. We broaden young minds through a wide range of extra- curricular activities. Pupils regularly compete in drama and music competitions, public speaking, maths challenges and art and design competitions.

We follow our school motto of ‘Ut Prosim’, to be of service, through community service initiatives and charity fund-raising to help build an awareness of the outside world and its influences. High self-esteem, self- confidence and independence are fostered throughout all our activities including Venturers (which has superseded the ASC, the young arm of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award); and as an IB World School we want our pupils to embrace the attributes of our Ryde School Learner Profile. This website will only give you a small taste of the vibrancy of our school and we warmly invite you to visit to experience it for yourselves.

Daily Routine

Nursery & Pre-Prep

Doors open at 8.15am (Optional Breakfast Club from 8.00am in the main school dining room) with registration at 8.40am for Reception to Year 2 and the Nursery core day starting at 9.30am.

The Fiveways core day finishes at 3.30pm. The day can be extended to 4.15pm, 5.00pm or 6.00pm for children from the age of 3, by children attending a variety of clubs, both in-house and externally provided and Supper Club. Charges may apply, see Activities and Clubs section.

The Fiveways creative curriculum is an exciting adventure of discovery! Children are gripped by the Stunning Starts which introduce the topic at the beginning of each term, which ignite the children’s imaginations, encourage them to ask questions, share their existing knowledge and make connections. Throughout the term, the children are encouraged to seek the answers to their questions, problem solve, discover new knowledge and develop new skills.  Using technology, speaking Spanish and Mandarin, growing vegetables and cooking in the dining room may all form part of a busy week, supporting the topic. Our classroom learning is supported and enlivened by visits to locations all over the Island and we frequently welcome visitors into our school to share their special skills and experience. Time spent outdoors, come rain or shine, ensures nature and nurture are used in unison for optimal learning and inspiration.  Through enquiry, discovery and team work, children learn and develop their skills through the term to prepare for their Fabulous Finish, an opportunity to showcase everything they have learnt and discovered.

Healthy mid-morning and afternoon snacks are provided for Early Years children in the Nursery and Reception.  All children have a delicious hot lunch, freshly prepared daily by our resident chef and served in our sunny dining room. We live within our set of Golden Rules and enjoy the rewards of being good citizens. Regular assemblies with interesting visitors and our Circle Time activities support the children’s understanding of the outside world, fostering team-work in a friendly and happy environment.

Prep 

The Prep Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 section is located opposite All Saints' church, on the south facing corner of the main school site. The school buildings are a mixture of cleverly adapted Victorian villas with contemporary modern venues, incorporating the Junior School Hall, Music Centre, Science Laboratory, Lego studio and The HIVE. Outside, a large playground, found adjacent to the lawned quadrangle, provides a safe and secure space for playtime games.

Children can start to arrive from 8.00am, gathering in the playground or the library for the Early Birds session until going to their own classrooms at 8.25am. Registration, led by Form Tutors, is between 8.25am and 8.40am during which teachers and children plan for the day ahead and address pastoral matters within a classroom gathering. Form assemblies take place on Friday afternoons and are led by the children. As parents you are invited to join the school at this gathering, when your child is participating in leading the assembly.

There are three morning lessons which include a break time at 10.45am and then lunch in the dining hall at mid-day. The daily menu offers children a wide choice of freshly made hot and cold meals, and a selection of desserts, ranging from the traditional hot puddings, to fresh fruit and yoghurt. After lunch there is free play in the playground and the extensive school grounds followed by three afternoon lessons starting at 12.55pm.

The core day finishes at 4.00pm and children may go home. Children may extend their day by taking advantage of the busy programme of clubs and activities on offer or stay for a supervised prep session and may be collected at 4.00pm, 4.20pm or 5.00pm. Children wishing to stay on for Supper Club in the dining hall at 5.00pm, can curl up with a book in the Junior School Library and enjoy a hot meal before being collected at 6.00pm. Parents are asked to pre-book for Supper Club for Junior School children.

Trips and sports fixtures throughout the week will punctuate the normal rhythm of the school day and may result in an extended day. Parents will receive notices of all these events in a termly calendar.

We are part of the PSB organisation and the curriculum is underpinned by core skills of: communication, collaboration, reflection, leadership and independent learning. These skills are blended with acquiring academic knowledge to ensure children  develop a curiosity and passion for learning which takes them through their academic career and beyond.