Enjoying and Achieving

The Pre-School aims to make the transition for your child from home to school a smooth one. The children are very young when they arrive at the Pre-School, so great care and support through a key worker system will ensure that each child enjoys their time with us; feeling safe and secure in a positive learning environment. The Pre-School atmosphere is one of fun, laughter, caring and sharing where every child is valued and encouraged as an individual.

The Pre-school children are able to freely move between various rooms developing their creativity and imagination, in the construction room or craft room. They can play on the patio under the all weather awning, investigate in their own hidden garden or relax in the quiet room while they look at books and listen to music. Or perhaps they would rather develop their language and communication skills in the home corner, while they share and take turns with their friends.

The Pre-school have full use of the main school facilities and love to join up with the Reception children while they play and investigate in the school grounds, whether they are climbing, sliding or peddling! They use the main hall for singing, PE and music and movement or for practicing for their yearly production for parents.

(Please see our Early Years Foundation Stage Policy for more details.)

The children enter Reception in the September after their fourth birthday. During the final term of Pre-School the children will have had the chance to meet their new teacher and spend time in their new classrooms so the transition to Reception is a smooth one.

In the reception class, we are building on the children's previous knowledge. Literacy skills are developed through daily phonic sessions, stories and circle times; each child is heard to read daily. Numeracy skills are developed through fun practical sessions to develop their curiosity, reasoning and problem solving skills. Practical experiences are often more valuable and appropriate at this stage of learning. Play provides important opportunities for learning, observation, exploration, discovery and communication; developed through both indoor and outdoor activities.

At this stage the children are making the transition from the Early Years Foundation Stage to the more structured curriculum of Key Stage 1. With this in mind the classroom is organised to ensure that children can explore, investigate and support their own learning through accessible resources and equipment which are clearly labelled. Classroom displays reflect and encourage their learning and enable the children to take pride and enjoyment in their achievements.

Literacy and Numeracy lessons are timetabled each morning with the Foundation subjects being taught in a more informal setting in the afternoon. PE, dance, music, art and craft lessons ensure the children have a balanced curriculum developing the children’s imagination and creativity. Homework, regular assessments and individual targets ensure each child is given every opportunity to be supported in their learning.

When the children enter Y2 we expect them to be more independent and more grown up in their approach to school life so we encourage them to look after their own belongings and to move around school sensibly and quietly. In the classroom the emphasis is still on the basics of reading, writing and mathematics along with plenty of interesting topics and fun activities throughout the year such as school visits, special dress up days and life skills like baking and sewing – we try to make learning as exciting for our children as possible. The children are assessed internally and supported or extended wherever necessary, and we start our verbal reasoning papers which the children absolutely love! In Y2 the children have homework twice a week – one maths and one language piece, which should take the children about 20 minutes. This is good training for future school life.

Our aim is to ensure that the children are thoroughly prepared for their next school as they enjoy their final year at Hessle Mount. We want them to feel pride, responsibility and growing independence. This is encouraged by their more active role in school assemblies and by opportunities to share their talents and achievements nurtured not just within but also outside school.

In year 3 the children have regular opportunities for independent learning through the research of topics using a variety of exciting sources, not least their own library and the new I.T. suite.

In this last year at Hessle Mount the children are encouraged to take part in more competitive sports including tennis, netball, hockey, rounders and a mini-olympics, allowing those children who may not participate in sport outside school every opportunity to develop new skills and interests and to experience being part of a team.

Year 3 offers an opportunity to learn French; the emphasis is on fun as the children learn useful, everyday words and phrases. Nature lovers enjoy their Gardening Club which has two gardens in Hessle Mount’s beautiful grounds. The children sow, grow and nurture plants from seed; having the pleasure of taking home not just a selection of plants but perhaps an interest which will stay with them for life.