Welcome to the pre-prep & prep blog!
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Mrs Murphy’s News
Open Homework season will soon be upon us! For those who are new to this, the theme chosen by Mr Barr is designed to encourage curiosity, creativity and a love of learning beyond the classroom. It provides an opportunity for children to share their interests, apply their learning in meaningful ways and spend quality time exploring ideas with their families. We hope that these projects will spark conversations, inspire new discoveries and allow children to take pride in presenting their own unique responses. There is no expectation for homework to be perfect. Rather, we value enthusiasm, independence and the joy of learning together.
Further information will be shared with you shortly. In the meantime, we thank you in advance for your continued support in helping your child engage with these opportunities. We always look forward to seeing the wide variety of imaginative, thoughtful and creative work that the children produce.
This week marked the beginning of Black History Month, which this year follows the theme, Honouring Our Communities. In our assembly today, we explored what it means to belong to a community. After reflecting on several well-known figures from a range of disciplines, we recognised the importance of ensuring that everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Together, we considered how communities thrive when every individual knows that they matter and that they belong, creating something truly special.
Earlier in the week, we discussed the Bayeux Tapestry. We were fascinated to learn that this remarkable artefact, stretching the length of ten double-decker buses, has survived for almost one thousand years. We reflected on the significance of its preservation and the invaluable insights it provides into life in the past. We also considered the stories it tells and how these woven scenes continue to deepen our understanding of history. Finally, we pondered what we might include in a tapestry representing Hampton Pre-Prep, capturing the people, values, achievements, and experiences that make our community so unique.
This week the Courtesy Cup and Badge went to Eesa (Year 2) for striving to be the best he can be – in terms of listening, kindness and co-operation in the classroom, and pushing himself to work diligently across all subjects. Thank you for being an excellent role model, Eesa!
and Stars of the Week were awarded to:
- Year 2: Anish for some marvellous maths work this week on place value. What a star!
- Year 1: Rudra for trying his best in every lesson and challenging himself in class.
- Reception: Henry for trying his best – for always giving tasks a go. Your effort really shines!
More awards followed the above and so our congratulations to:
- Year 2: Anish for being awarded from Wildcat of the Class in his Taekwondo lesson for demonstrating his skills and performing all the required moves and stunts very well.
- Year 1: Viraj for achieving Stage 2 in Solo Introductions at LAMDA.
- Reception: Henry for being chosen “Player of the Week” at Half Backs Rugby Club.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming parents next week for our Parent-Teacher Consultations on Wednesday 7 October and Thursday 8 October.
Please note that co-curricular activities will not be running on either day to allow staff to meet with families. Late Stay will operate as normal at Pre-Prep on both evenings for those children who are booked to attend.
These consultations provide a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate their achievements, and consider the next steps in their learning journey. We look forward to seeing you there.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
KINDERGARTEN
In Kindergarten, we have been learning about the story The Little Red Hen. We explored different versions of the tale and noticed that each one featured different farm animal characters. One thing remained the same in every story, however: none of the animals offered to help the Little Red Hen! This led to some thoughtful discussions about kindness, teamwork and helping others, which links closely to one of our Golden Rules.
This week, we have also been learning all about bread and its journey from field to bakery. The children discovered how farmers sow seeds to grow wheat, which is then harvested and milled into flour. We even had the opportunity to examine real wheat up close.
The highlight of the week was baking our own bread rolls. Inspired by The Little Red Hen, the children worked together to weigh and mix the ingredients, shape the dough and observe how the yeast helped it rise. Once the rolls were baked, we could hardly wait for home time so that we could take our delicious-smelling creations home to enjoy.
We also had great fun exploring flour in our sensory and role-play activities. Using a variety of pots, pans and cups, the children scooped, poured and mixed, creating all sorts of imaginative recipes. There was plenty of excitement and creativity, with a light dusting of flour left behind as evidence of our busy work!
Our creative activities continued as the children made their own hen masks using scissors and Sellotape before using them to act out the story with their friends. Using paint, paint sticks and handprints, they also created beautiful Little Red Hen artwork, which is now proudly displayed in our classroom.
In phonics, we focused on the sound ‘s’. The children enjoyed listening to the Jolly Phonics story and song, practising the action and identifying objects beginning with sfrom a mystery feely bag. They also used their cutting skills to create spiders, linking the activity to our sound of the week and reinforcing their learning through hands-on experiences.
Next week, our topic will be The Enormous Turnip, and we are looking forward to another exciting week of learning and discovery together.
By Mrs Hand – Kindergarten Teacher
RECEPTION
Reception have been learning about their bodies, discussing the functions of different body parts and exploring ways to keep themselves healthy and hygienic. We talked about personal hygiene and the essential daily routines that help us to maintain good health. During our class circle time, we enjoyed listening to Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival. This reassuring and sensitive picture book encourages children to talk about and share any worries they may have, no matter how big or small.
On Wednesday, the children took part in a handwashing workshop led by Nurse Liz. She emphasised the importance of washing our hands thoroughly to remove germs and prevent the spread of illness. Using a special UV light and glitter soap, the children were able to see the “germs” on their hands before carefully washing them away with soap and water. They then put their handwashing skills to the test, paying particular attention to areas such as their nails and wrists, where germs can often hide.
In mathematics, we focused on the number line to 10, with particular attention on recognising, forming and correctly positioning the numbers 5 and 6. In phonics, we continued to develop our blending skills and practised the correct letter formation of p, i and n.
In arts and crafts, the children created fabulous pasta skeleton collages. They carefully arranged different types of pasta to form skeleton shapes, which we then photographed from above to capture their wonderful creations. We also enjoyed experimenting with our new paint pen markers during a screen-painting activity.
Next week, we will continue our topic, Marvellous Me, by learning about healthy diets and good oral hygiene, exploring how we can keep our teeth strong, healthy and clean.
By Mrs Johnston – Reception Teacher
Year 1
We have had another lovely week in Year 1, with the children settling beautifully into their routines and approaching each day with enthusiasm. It has been wonderful to see them becoming increasingly confident and independent in their learning.
In English, we have been developing our writing by expanding sentences with rich and descriptive language. The children have been thinking carefully about the vocabulary they choose and how they can make their writing more engaging for the reader. We have also been practising spotting and correcting mistakes in grammar and punctuation, and the children have done a fantastic job putting these skills into practice.
In maths, we have continued our work on addition and subtraction, with a particular focus on subtraction this week. The children have grasped the concept quickly and have enjoyed challenging themselves by creating their own subtraction calculations for others to solve. We finished the week by beginning our work on the 5 times table. If you have some spare time this weekend, a little practice on TTRS would be a great way to reinforce what we have been learning in class.
Our science learning has continued to focus on autumn, with the children reflecting on our recent visit to Carlisle Park. They wrote about the different colours, plants, trees, and other seasonal changes they noticed during our trip.
In humanities, we have been looking more closely at our local surroundings, identifying human and physical features that we might see when walking around Hampton and the surrounding area.
In RE, we have been exploring creation stories from different faiths. This week, we looked at the Hindu creation story, which the children found particularly fascinating. They have really enjoyed discovering how different religions and cultures explain the origins of the world and comparing the stories we have explored so far.
It has been a productive and enjoyable week, with lots of wonderful learning taking place across the curriculum. The children should be very proud of the effort they have shown.
Have a lovely weekend!
By Miss Madden – Year 1 Teacher
Year 2
This week in Year 2, the children have been developing their comprehension skills by becoming text detectives, searching for clues in the text to help them answer questions and justify their thinking. We worked on answering in full sentences and not starting sentences with because. We have also been practising our dictation skills, focusing on careful listening, accurate spelling and correct punctuation. Next week, our focus will be on exploring Lila and the Secret of Rain, a beautiful story set in a Kenyan village.
In our maths lessons, the children have been developing their understanding of numbers to 100 by comparing and ordering them using the greater than (>) and less than (<) symbols. They have also enjoyed tackling more challenging comparisons where one side included an addition calculation, using their number knowledge to work out the total before deciding which amount was greater or smaller. We were impressed by the confidence and reasoning skills the children showed when explaining their answers.
A real highlight for the week had to be our visit to Prep for our Fun with Numbersafternoon, alongside pupils from other local schools. Through a range of engaging problem-solving challenges, the children demonstrated excellent teamwork and mathematical thinking. We were particularly proud of the way they showed the key skills of engagement, cooperation and perseverance! We were very proud of our Hampton Pre-Prep Year 2s!
In Geography, we have continued our work on climate zones, exploring how different parts of the world experience varying weather patterns and temperatures. The children have enjoyed making links between climate and the environments in which people and animals live.
Wishing you a really wonderful weekend.
By Mrs Timba – Year 2 Teacher
On the Sports Field
Sports tours and away fixtures are often among the most memorable experiences boys look back on from their time at Hampton Prep. Travelling with friends, playing in new environments and taking part in exciting matches are all experiences that leave lasting memories.
The U8’s enjoyed their first full year-group away fixture this week as they travelled to Surbiton Prep. It was wonderful to see their excitement as they departed school, eager to represent Hampton Prep. Results were mixed across the teams, but there was much to experience, reflect upon and learn from. The boys embraced the occasion with enthusiasm and should be proud of their efforts.
There are also six Year 6 boys who, together with their families, are very generously hosting pupils from Elizabeth College, Guernsey this weekend. It is a fantastic opportunity for the boys to build new friendships and enjoy an experience that extends far beyond the football pitch. A huge thank you goes to the Hampton Prep families whose hospitality has made the tour possible. Tomorrow, Elizabeth College will join our U10 and U11 teams in the Hampton School 5-a-side Tournament, and we wish all the boys the very best of luck.
There was also some excellent football on display this week as the U10’s and U11’s took on Surbiton Prep. The U10A’s are worthy of special mention for some flowing football and a number of well-worked goals. In defence, Akshen and Arthur impressed with their calmness, communication and decision-making. The U11’s recorded wins across all teams, with the C’s particularly catching the eye through their effort, determination and willingness to work for one another.
It has been another pleasing week of sport and, most importantly, great to see the boys continuing to display the values of teamwork, respect and sportsmanship.
Week Ahead
Wednesday 7 October
- U10 A-D v St Piran’s (Away) – 2:15pm
- U11 A-D v St Piran’s (Home) – 2:15pm
Friday 9 October - U9 A-D v Freemen’s (Home) – 2:30pm
Saturday 10 October
- U11 C & D Surbiton Football Festival
By Mr Salt – Head of Sports
