Feeder Schools
Boys join the Pre-Prep Reception class in the September following their fourth birthday. They can also join Aldwickbury in Years 1 and 2, dependent on avaialbility of places.
Boys have had a wide variety of pre-school experiences prior to joining the School. They may have attended a nursery, a pre-school, or a playgroup, for varying numbers of days each week and hours each day, depending upon parental circumstances.
The following are just some of the nurseries and pre-schools that Aldwickbury boys have attended prior to joining us:
- Artisans Kindergarten
- Batford Nursery
- Beech Hyde Nursery
- Bright Horizons, Harpenden
- Busy Bees
- Fingertips Forest and Woodland Nursery
- Harpenden Pre School and Nursery
- Kimpton Nursery
- Ladybirds Nursery
- Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery
- Mount Carmel Kindergarten
- Rainbow House Day Nursery
- Redbourn Nursery
- Rising Stars Day Nursery
- Roundwood Park Nursery School
- Southdown Play Group
- St Dominic's Nursery
- St Hilda's Nursery
- Wainscot House
- Woodend Nursery
- Yellow Star Nursery
A note from our Head of Pre-Prep
"One of the most enjoyable parts of my job as Head of Pre-Prep is welcoming and settling the new intake of Reception boys every September. At Aldwickbury the highly experienced Early Years team understand that this exciting event in a child’s life, can also be a little daunting, for parents as well as child. We use our experience to quickly settle boys (and parents) into the Aldwickbury community.
I am often asked by parents how they should prepare their son for starting school. My advice is always the same and routed in the belief that children should be children. Allow your son to enjoy his last months at home or at nursery; let him play and explore at will; provide him with opportunities to run, jump and climb; to create with paint and malleable materials; to play with water, sand and mud; share books with him but do not try to teach him to read – just enjoy the book for its own sake; take him on walks to notice the wonders of nature and talk to him about what he sees and hears.
There is no need to “prep” your son in terms of teaching him letters or numbers prior to starting school. However, helping him learn to undress and dress himself, teaching him how to use a knife and fork, and encouraging him to take part in games or situations where he has to take turns and share will prepare him for the exciting new adventure of his first school days."
Ann Baxter
Head of Pre-Prep