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Welcome
"If you are looking for a co-educational preparatory school with high standards and a supportive atmosphere, where every child is encouraged to realise his or her full potential both academically and socially, then you should consider visiting Beechwood.
Children blossom here: by focusing on their individual strengths, we aim to nurture and encourage them.
Our small classes provide a secure and caring environment where children feel safe to experiment and to explore their talents."
Mrs Caron Peppard BEd(Hons)
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Pastoral Care
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| Playground pals make playtime happy |
Everyone is special at Beechwood. A high adult to pupil ratio ensures that each child receives individual care, support and attention within a family atmosphere.
The older children in the Prep School are very much a part of our pastoral care. Year 6 Prefects are assigned to each class and, amongst other duties, are responsible for escorting younger children in to school after they have been dropped off in the morning.
Year 5 children take part in a Playground Pals scheme, where they encourage younger children to play games and participate in group activities at playtimes.
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Curriculum
In the belief that happy and confident children learn best, the Preparatory School always seeks to encourage a genuine enthusiasm for learning. Our friendly, caring environment will help to build your child’s confidence in his or her own ability so that they can realise their full potential.
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Nursery
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| Happy days in the Nursery |
Our professionally trained staff work with small groups to ensure that the skills needed to reach the Early Learning Goals are developed effectively. The children enjoy the wide range of toys and other activities provided, both inside and outdoors.
The Nursery opens from 8.30am until 3.30pm, with after-school care available until 6pm if required. A healthy lunch and snacks are provided.
People Who Help Us
As part of their topic, ‘People Who Help Us’, the Nursery children were very fortunate to have a visit from Nurse Justine. She talked to us about her role as a Nurse and showed us how to take our pulses. The children had great fun practising their bandaging skills!.
To find out about Nursery events, please click here
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Reception
Reception is the bridge between the Nursery and Key Stage 1. The children are taught in a similar way to those in the Nursery, following the Foundation Stage curriculum and its six areas of learning.
By attending assemblies, and having playtime and lunch with Key Stage 1 children, the Reception children are gradually integrated more into the Prep school.
They are also included in the extra curricular activities that take place throughout the year, so that they become very familiar with all the routines of Key Stage 1 and get to know the staff who will teach them.
Animal Hospital
Reception had a visit from two veterinary nurses on Wednesday afternoon. We had lots of fun bandaging our toy pets and then taking them home in the pet carriers that we had made. Jo and Beth, the nurses, taught us a lot about caring for animals and we even saw some of the instruments they use for operations.
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Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1 the children are taught by their form teachers most of the time, and they build a close relationship with them. They have specialist teachers for subjects such as PE, Music, French and RE.
At Beechwood, we follow the National Curriculum, with the addition of extra subjects such as Swimming, Cooking and French.
We also enhance the curriculum in many ways: we celebrated World Book day by dressing up as book characters, a local children’s author read and talked to the children, and a visit to Godstone Farm proved to be an exciting way to bring to life the topics we had learnt about in Science.
Wartime Childhood
Mrs Rafferty, a retired Head Mistress and a Granny of two of our pupils visited us to share her experiences of life in Scotland during and after the war.
The children were thrilled by her tales of “Nessie”, evacuation and rationing.
The highlight of her talk for KS1 was the punishments meted out to the pupils especially “The Strap”, and the props and visual aids that she brought with her. Many thanks.
Preparatory Environmental Day
On Friday 16 March, the Prep school were blessed as the sun shone all day, allowing all the children to be outside exploring the wonderful grounds of Beechwood.
This special day was organised to celebrate ‘National Science Week’ by a team of ladies from The Kent Wildlife Trust and Mrs Dooley.
Throughout the day the children had opportunities to take part in scientific activities, such as pond dipping, classification of trees, leaves and mini-beasts
[ read more ] | | |
Key Stage 2
Year 5 Trip to Dickens World
On 29 April, Year 5 went to Dickens World in Chatham. We were very excited and when we arrived it looked as if we had travelled back to Victorian times. Most of us liked the Boat Ride the best, where you went backwards really fast and got loads of water on you! We had an educational talk with Gemma about Victorian clothes which was very interesting. We went to the Haunted House where we were told about some of the characters in Dickens’ stories. In Peggoty’s boathouse we had to put on funny glasses to watch the 4D show. We enjoyed our day and found out a lot about Charles Dickens.
Velvet Brown
Imperial War Museum Trip for Year 6
On Thursday, 28 February, Year 6’s bags were packed and we were ready and raring to go. After a long coach journey we finally arrived at the Imperial War Museum and couldn’t wait to get inside.
We began with the 1940’s house. We had lunch by the second world war cannons which were huge. After our delicious lunch we went to the large exhibit area and looked at all the tanks, rockets and planes. The shop offered a range of interesting gifts.
For the afternoon we were split into two groups. Group 1 went to a cookery room and made some carrot cookies. The other group did some drama then we swapped over.
Thank you to Mrs Burton for organising the trip.
Danielle & AislingYesterday's World
Last Thursday, Year 5 went to Yesterday’s World. It was a lovely day and we were all very excited. When we got there we saw lots of historical artefacts, like Victorian togs, groceries, kitchen utensils and much more. Everyone agreed the best part of the day was a visit to the old fashioned sweet shop where we all bought 100 gram bags of mouth watering sweets.
Megan
Artists in the making
A small group of Year 4 artists were commissioned by Mrs Peachey to produce a work of art for the Refectory.
The finished piece, a Kandinsky inspired canvas, took the children about one month to produce. Using oil pastels as their medium, the group worked collaboratively; pooling their many ideas and inspiration taken from Kandinsky’s work.
Mrs Peppard and the children were delighted with the end result.
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich
On a glorious sunny morning Year 5 set out to visit The Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Our lives were enriched by the the knowledge, expertise, enthusiasm and humour of Greg, a real live astronomer. Greg not only explained the complexities of our solar system, but also answered all of the children’s burning questions with enviable ease. We then went on to explore our solar system with a virtual tour in the Peter Harrison Planetarium. Here, the latest technology (and John, another real live astronomer) enabled us to explore the daytime and night-time sky and the stunning wonders of the solar system. This was definitely a very inspiring day.
War Time Diet for Year 6
Year 6 have been experimenting with recipes and food which would have been eaten during the Second World War.
Lots of tasting and trying took place after pupils had been busy cooking various dishes at home.
We sampled corned beef and onion pie, oat and syrup biscuits, stoneground bread, flapjack, carrot cookies and scones. Well done and thank you to all our young chefs who brought flavour into our History lessons.
Magical Midsummer Mayhem in the Woods
On Monday Year 6 and Year 7 went to see a hit musical theatre adaptation of a Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Assembly Hall.
Year 6 all enjoyed the performance and were particularly impressed by Puck who was really funny, especially when he made fun of his master. The last part of the play was hilarious with the audience shrieking with laughter.
Trip to Hampton Court
The court of Henry VIII came to life when the Year 4 children visited Hampton Court on 31
January. It was decided that it was better to avoid the plot and intrigue of court life and keep your head on! It was a most interesting visit and one the children will remember.
To read about more events, please click here
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Music
Music is a popular part of the curriculum, led by a specialist teacher.
In addition, many pupils take extra-curricular instrumental lessons and join in activities such as choir, string ensemble, ocarina club and rock group.
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Sport
Boys and girls take part in a wide variety of sports in lessons and clubs at lunchtime and after school, perhaps competing in a House or School team.
Swimming is taught from Reception and our outdoor pool is popular in the Summer Term. Plans are underway to make this an indoor facility in the future.
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Prep Science Day
On Tuesday we went to school thinking of all the fun things we would do that day and our expectations did not let us down.
After Assembly we went to a crazy Ready..Bready...Go experiment with Mrs Burton making a pizza base then putting the topping on. We then did an experiment using yeast, flour, water and sugar, all the ingredients to make bread.
After break we did a team challenge trying to make a tower above a metre using 20 straws that would hold a marble.
In the afternoon we had a “Bubble Show”, setting bubbles alight, making triangular bubbles and much more. It was a lovely day. Thank you to Mrs Dooley for organising it.
Sky, Josephine, Lauren
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A Puzzling Day at the Prep School
On Friday 9 February the Prep School saw ‘The Happy Puzzle Company’ arrive for the day to run a series of problem solving workshops.
Throughout, the day a range of puzzle challenges were presented and the pupils were split into groups to work together.
‘Communication’ and ‘problem solving’ were the buzz words as each group raced to finish their puzzle challenge.
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French Day
A sea of blue, white and red flooded the Prep School on Tuesday this week, and ‘Bonjour’ was the greeting for the day!
To find out more about French Day and see more pictures, please click here
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May Procession
The weather and sound system were both kind to our annual May Procession on Friday 25 May. The children processed and read very prayerfully.
Francesca, Romy, Niamh and Ciara made beautiful Flower Children whilst Harry and Isabel carried the crown.
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Nursery Inspection Report
To view the latest Inspection Report of Beechwood Nursery, please click here
[ download file ]
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Early Years' Handbook
For the handbook containing detailed information about the Nursery and Reception classes click here
[ download file ]
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