Welcome to the pre-prep & prep blog!
There is, around about now, a wonderful sort of organised chaos that descends upon Hampton Prep, as we head into the final and exciting stretch of the academic year. Tonight sees the Prep Proms and Picnic event taking place at Hampton, our Year 5 pupils are looking forward to packing both wellies and plenty of sunscreen for their residential trip to the Isle of Wight shortly and the Prep’s Sports Day looms excitingly on the horizon. It is, in every sense, the playing season.
But behind this very visible and very joyful flurry of activity, a quieter and equally important kind of work is going on. Staff across both Pre-Prep and Prep have been deep in transition meetings, making sure that the move from one stage to the next is built on more than just a class list. A great deal of thought goes into which Form each child will join in September, and a great deal more goes into the conversations that surround it: the small but telling details about a child’s confidence, their friendships, what makes them tick are all carefully passed from colleague to colleague so that the pastoral care for which we are renowned continues unbroken, even as the faces around an individual child will change.
Monday brings our Moving Up Day, always a small landmark in the school year. It is a gentle rehearsal for September, and a reminder that growing up, like so much else at Hampton Prep, is best done gradually, and together.
By Tim Smith – Head of Pre-Prep & Prep
SEEN ON INSTAGRAM
Here’s a round-up of our Instagram posts from this week – take a look below!
Make sure to follow us on Instagram for regular updates and snapshots of daily school life.
Mrs Murphy’s News
It has been another busy and exciting week here, with two fantastic off-site trips. Firstly, Kindergarten enjoyed a wonderful journey incorporating different modes of transport – train, boat and double-decker bus. As you will read in Mrs Hand’s write-up, a great time was had by all. We were incredibly proud of how beautifully the children behaved on their first major school outing, from start to finish. It was also lovely to hear so many positive comments from members of the public about the children’s conduct throughout the day. What better way to bring a topic on transport to life than by experiencing it first-hand?
Similarly, Year 2 visited The Living Rainforest today, where they encountered a wide range of fascinating creatures, both large and small, and enjoyed a feast with a difference. Mrs Leissle reports that the children were a joy to be with, demonstrating excellent prior knowledge while also eagerly absorbing new facts and information from the staff.
Our School Council remain very busy and proactive. They will continue their fundraising efforts for the British Heart Foundation with an ice lolly sale in the front garden at pick-up on Friday 26 June – do look out for their posters! You will be delighted to hear that they have already raised £171.70, and we look forward to adding to this total next week. We are very grateful to the HPPPA for kindly supporting this initiative – many thanks to Mrs Jepson, Ms von Allemann and their committee members.
In addition, The Hygiene Bank has been in touch to request support for their latest initiative, which aims to support vulnerable children in the Hampton area. In total, 187 children would benefit from our help in schools very close to our own. Please see the School Council’s letter below, outlining how you can contribute:
Dear Parents and Friends,
We would really love your help with a project to support families in our local community over the summer holidays. We are taking part in the “One Item, One Child” Summer Challenge, which helps provide important hygiene items to children who might otherwise go without. We want to help every child within the local area return to school in September feeling clean, comfortable and confident.
We are asking everyone to donate just one item, such as shower gel, toothpaste, shampoo or deodorant. One small donation can make a big difference when we all work together.
Please send in your donation by Friday 26 June (as we need to deliver the items to The Hygiene Bank on Monday 29 June).
Thank you so much for supporting our community.
Best wishes,
School Council
This week the Courtesy Cup and Badge went to Akaal Sahai for consistently displaying kindness, respect and consideration towards others, making him to be a joy to be around.
and Stars of the Week were awarded to:
- Year 2: Kabir for his creative approach to every single activity he attempts at school. What an asset to the classroom you are, Kabir!
- Year 1: Deniz for working really hard in maths with the days of the week and months of the year.
- Reception: Kasen for always having a positive attitude to his learning and working so hard in class.
More awards followed the above, and so our congratulations go to:
- Reception: Archie, who was awarded the Man of the Match medal at Hampton Hill Cricket Club and also to…
- Ozan, for achieving Learn to Swim Stage 2 and for his certificate and medal for participation at Richmond Gymnastics Summer Festival.
With temperatures set to rise next week, please ensure your child brings a sunhat or school cap to wear each day. Summer uniform will now apply (i.e. no ties for boys). We would also encourage all children to wear the lightest options within the school uniform, such as shorts instead of long trousers where possible / summer dresses with short socks rather than tights. Thank you for your support in helping us keep the children comfortable in the warmer weather.
Have a super weekend!
KINDERGARTEN
We have been enjoying Mr Gumpy’s Outing by John Burningham, and it has introduced us to lots of new vocabulary such as trampling, muck, squabble and bleat. In the story, all the animals and children wanted to join Mr Gumpy in his boat. You might like to ask us what happened next in the story – did the boat float or sink.
Our learning then expanded into exploring different types of transport and how they travel. We compared how vehicles move by air, road, track and water, and we shared which modes of transport we have used ourselves. This led to lots of lovely conversations about the transport we’ve spotted on our holidays. We also discovered how hot air balloons need heat to rise, and that some cars are electric and need charging.
We painted our favourite vehicles, and the results were wonderfully varied – everything from a police car to an ice cream van. We also had great fun creating our own ‘floating vehicles’ using foam boat construction pieces, testing whether they would float or sink and counting how many passengers they could hold.
Excitement built as our long-awaited Journeys Outing finally arrived and on Wednesday, we set off on an adventure using several different forms of transport. We began by catching the train to Kingston, then walked down to the river where we boarded the Richmond Royale at Turk’s Launches pier. We had a brilliant time waving to everyone along the riverbank and were delighted when so many people waved back. Along the way, we spotted swans, adorable cygnets, ducks and coots – one coot was even busy building its nest.
When we arrived at Hampton Court, we walked to the playground in Bushy Park, enjoyed our picnic lunch, and had a play on the swings and a run around. The final stage of our journey took us to the bus stop, where we boarded the 111 bus – top deck, of course. The bus brought us right back to the station where our adventure had begun. We were very lucky with the glorious weather, and thewhole day ran beautifully. As you can imagine, the children’s behaviour was exemplary, and a wonderful time was had by all.
The children have been captivated by watching our caterpillars grow, observing them closely as they build their cocoons. Now, we wait patiently as they enter the metamorphosis stage, eagerly looking forward to the moment they transform into butterflies.
Next week, our topic will be Eco Warriors.
By Mrs Hand – Kindergarten Teacher
Reception
Last week, our Reception children embarked on an unforgettable adventure to Bockett’s Farm, where they delighted in meeting a range of animals, discovering farm life, and learning about the hard work involved in producing the food we eat. On Monday we wrote about our trip to the farm and drew the most fabulous farm pictures to accompany it.
On Wednesday, we built on that excitement through our ‘Farm to Fork’ focus, encouraging the children to explore how food makes its journey from fields to our plates. Through hands-on activities and thoughtful discussions, they have deepened their appreciation for farmers, sustainability, and the importance of making healthy choices. It has been wonderful to see their curiosity grow as they make meaningful connections between what they eat and where it comes from.
In mathematics, the children have been busy developing their understanding of number through engaging, hands-on activities. They practised counting large groups of farm animals and began writing their own number sentences to represent addition. We used a number line to support their learning, helping them to “jump on” and count forwards with confidence. Some children also challenged themselves further by exploring simple subtraction.
To link our learning to our topic, the children also enjoyed putting on their “farmer hats” and designing their own farms. As part of this, they carefully drew maps, thinking about where different animals and features should be placed. The children have loved playing with the farm toys, inspired by their own farm map designs, and have particularly enjoyed milking Daisy, our farm cow, in the garden!
Next week, our topic will be ‘Signs of Summer’
By Mrs Johnston – Reception Teacher
Year 1
We have had another brilliant week in Year 1. Despite the end of the school year approaching, the children are still working incredibly hard and continuing to show great enthusiasm for their learning.
In English, we have been exploring the features of books, from blurbs and contents pages to glossaries. The children learned how these features help us find information and understand texts. We then went on an exciting trip to the school library, where the children used their new knowledge to identify fiction and non-fiction books. They showed a fantastic understanding of the differences between the two and were able to explain what clues helped them make their decisions.
In maths, we have been enjoying our new topic on dates and calendars. We focused particularly on the days of the week and the months of the year, learning how to read and interpret dates on a calendar. The children did very well recognising important dates and understanding how calendars help us organise events throughout the year.
We also had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Sports Gala on Thursday. The children had a wonderful time taking part in a variety of activities and meeting pupils from other schools. They represented the school brilliantly and showed excellent teamwork, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm throughout the day. It was a great experience for everyone involved.
To round off the week, the children enjoyed their well-deserved marble reward with a delicious ice cream treat. They have worked incredibly hard to earn this reward, and it was lovely to celebrate their efforts together.
We are very proud of all that the children have achieved this week and look forward to making the most of the final weeks of Year 1.
By Miss Madden – Year 1 Teacher
Year 2
It’s been another exciting week for Year 2, but the highlight was without doubt our trip to The Living Rainforest in Berkshire!
We had an amazing time exploring the rainforest and spotting animals and plants that live there. Taking part in the “Edible Forest” tour, the children learnt that rainforests produce up to 80% of the world’s diet! They were able to engage as many senses as possible – through touching, smelling and seeing the wondrous fruits of the rainforest. Do ask your child to share some facts that they learnt with you.
In maths, the children have completed the “Statistics” unit of learning. This week, focus has been on drawing and interpreting pictograms, where the symbols represent 1, 2, 5 or 10 items. Throughout the week, the children enthusiastically handled increasingly complex data, making good use of a range of number fact knowledge to support their workings out. Next week we will be moving on to geometry.
In science, we have planted broad beans in a jar to appreciate the germination process. The children had a good think about what might happen to seeds when they grow and were able to turn their ideas into questions. They are observing the seeds each morning, checking the conditions are correct, and reinforcing the scientific skill of ‘observing over time’.
By Mrs Leissle – Year 2 Teacher
On the Sports Field
It has been a busy and enjoyable two weeks of sport across the Prep.
During the Swimming Gala, we were reminded that the forecast cannot always be trusted, as the rain held off just long enough for the boys to put in some tremendous performances in the pool. Representing their Houses with great energy and commitment, the boys rose to the occasion despite the less than ideal conditions around the pool. There were some outstanding individual performances, with records falling in Year 4. Luke R broke the front crawl record with an impressive time of 27.77 seconds, while Chuck W claimed the breaststroke record with a time of 38.3 seconds, breaking a record that had stood for 19 years. Congratulations must go to York, who lifted the overall House Swimming trophy by a convincing margin.
Last weekend, the U11As travelled to Guernsey for their cricket tour against Elizabeth College, continuing a long-standing and much-valued tour. The boys secured a well-earned victory in their U11 fixture on Friday, while Sunday’s match against the U12s proved a tougher challenge. Despite this, the boys showed excellent resilience and positivity throughout. They were hosted by Elizabeth College pupils and their families, and it was clear what an enjoyable and memorable experience it was for all involved. We look forward to welcoming the Guernsey boys to Hampton Prep for their reciprocal tour in October.
Yesterday saw the Prep grounds transformed into a festival of sport, as we welcomed 120 Year 1 pupils from 10 local schools for our annual Sports Gala. Boys and girls had the opportunity to try a range of activities, including golf, hockey, athletics and cricket. Their enthusiasm and effort were rewarded with medals and a well-earned ice lolly.
With two weeks of term remaining, whilst fixtures have now concluded, there is still plenty of sport to enjoy, including Sports Day, House Cricket, and the ever-popular Staff vs Year 6 rounders match, so plenty of House points still to be won and fun to be had.
By Mr Salt – Head of Sports
Year 6 Trip to the Science Museum
Year 6 enjoyed an educational trip to the Science Museum, where they explored some of the most fascinating discoveries, inventions and scientific principles that have shaped our world.
The day began with a visit to Flight, an exhibition exploring the history and science of aviation. Pupils learned about the very first aircraft to take to the skies, examined a range of plane models and discovered the physics behind flight, including the forces that enable aircraft to lift off and stay airborne.
The children then attended the spectacular Wonder Show, an interactive science presentation covering topics including matter, electricity, forces, sound, light, space and mathematics. Highlights included the famous ‘elephant’s toothpaste’ experiment, an exploration of sound waves using candles, and a glowing chemical reaction inspired by the science behind glow sticks.
Next, Year 6 explored the museum’s popular Wonderlab. Pupils tested different surfaces on friction slides, experimented with a water cannon to find the perfect angle for maximum distance, and used a thermal camera to see how heat can be detected and measured.
In the Inventions and Machines galleries, pupils traced the development of transport and engineering through the years. From historic tanks and early vehicles to modern technology, they gained an appreciation of how innovation has transformed everyday life. They were also fascinated by a large-scale model of the Solar System, which demonstrated the relative positions and movements of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
The trip inspired the children to continue exploring the world of science and discovery!
HAMPTON SENIOR PUPILS FINANCE WORKSHOP
Year 6 pupils enjoyed an engaging finance workshop led by Fourth Year pupils from Hampton School.
After surveying Year 6 to find out what they wanted to learn, the senior pupils delivered a session packed with practical money skills. Topics included credit versus debit cards, investing, the stock market and key financial vocabulary, with pupils discovering the meaning of the term dividends.
One of the biggest talking points was a cautionary tale about Mr Bean, who spent all of his savings on sweets. As a result, he was unable to buy a birthday present for his teddy bear and later couldn’t afford to have it cleaned after an unfortunate tumble into a muddy puddle! The story helped bring to life the importance of saving, budgeting and thinking ahead.
The workshop left pupils with a greater understanding of how money works and how smart financial choices can help them achieve their goals.
