Learning at Cheam
The busy Pre-Prep day at Cheam includes specialist
teaching in French, Music and Sport alongside the core classroom subjects. The curriculum is well supplemented by our ‘Nature Detectives’ curriculum, allowing the children to make full use of Cheam’s wonderful outdoor environment.
Reading underpins learning in every area of the curriculum and successful learners read a lot. Books allow children to visit other worlds and other times, engage with other points of view and experience worlds way beyond their own horizons and the child who continues to read for pleasure will have a vast knowledge bank to draw on. Cheam Pre-Prep is recognised by Oxford University Press as a model school for the teaching of literacy and our well structured curriculum regards understanding and enjoying books as key.
Alongside teaching all the academic subjects, we are developing a comprehensive ‘thinking skills’ curriculum which from Nursery age onwards
encourages children to develop problem solving skills and strategies and skills for life.
Facilities
The Pre-Prep has its own dedicated area and buildings within the school campus. The children from the Pre-Prep are able to use the excellent space and facilities of the school, from the purpose built Sports Hall and Chapel, to the grounds and heated swimming pool.
The best education takes place outdoors and the Pre-Prep takes full advantage of the wonderful outdoor environment of Cheam. Most classrooms have direct access to outdoor facilities and all will have on completion of the new building in September 2012. In addition there are professionally designed and dedicated play areas and an outdoor classroom. Here the environment is designed and resourced to enhance learning in all areas of the curriculum. The children are able to grow plants, experience the sensory and recycled gardens and enjoy the woods. Outdoor music and dance, environmental, literacy and numeracy resources enhance the curriculum.
Creativity is actively encouraged through many and varied activities - painting, printing, model making, role play, drama and music, the emphasis being on the process rather than the product. All classrooms are equipped with an interactive whiteboard and children have access to individual laptop computers when appropriate. The children also have weekly French and gym sessions, supervised by specialist teachers.