Joyful return to school for Prep
There were no hugs allowed but that didn’t stop the joyful celebrations as Prep School pupils began to return to school on 1st June.
While the School has remained open to children of key workers and vulnerable children throughout, after half term girls from Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 were welcomed back, with more than 80 per cent of those year groups now back in school. They are in alongside three key worker bubbles of pupils from Year 2 to L4.
Head of Prep Mrs Jane Crouch said: “The children have been really resilient and flexible – adapting amazingly well to different systems, timings, plenty of hand washing, social distancing and non mixing of bubbles. They have got used to different start and end of day routines really quickly and we are so proud of them all.”
In the morning, girls are accessing the remote learning while the afternoon sees a range of activities in the afternoon which may include Forest School, art, drama, PE. Those staff whose forms are still working remotely are preparing wide ranging learning experiences for the pupils. Staff whose forms are in school are based with their forms for the morning and are then attached to Senior School staff and Prep subject specialists in the afternoons.
Lessons and events are being streamed to allow those who cannot come to school to contribute, for example a live stream of a ballet showcase led by Mrs Fleming.
Exciting events planned include Key Stage 1 and 2 sports days while there will be lots of celebrations for those heading up to the Senior School in September, including a virtual disco in school, mad hair day and a leavers’ assembly – all done in bubbles and adhering to social distancing.
Mrs Crouch said: “It has been so lovely seeing the girls back in school – we have missed them all so much. Although they have loved being back and have thrown themselves into school life – they have been tired at the start of the return. A return to a structured day, spending time listening, talking and doing with their peers has been hard work. Plenty of early nights were needed!”
