Five Formative Years
The first five years of a child's education are vital to their development. From the time your child joins us at Bertrum House School we guide and support them through these five years, giving them a firm foundation invaluable to them for all their future learning.
From his or her first tentative steps into education, we help your child develop into a confident young person, well grounded not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. After Year 2, he or she will be fully ready and excited to launch into the much bigger environment of a new prep school.
Child Development
Child development in all ways is one of the prime aims of the education we provide at Bertrum House School, and we firmly believe in the importance of educating the whole child. Academic learning is obviously of paramount importance, and the standard attained by all the girls and boys is very high, without the children being put under pressure, or 'hot-housing' them. We also guide the children to help them grow emotionally, and to develop good social and life skills. From their early days in playgroup, when parents are welcome to stay to help settle their child, we work closely with each child, recognising their individual talents and needs, and we help them develop confidence and independence in a school environment, right through to year two. A major strength of Bertrum House School is that it gives the children the opportunity to develop leadership skills, and to be at the top of the school, with responsibilities for the younger children.
Planning
Planning takes place across the full five years, involving all key staff at each level, thereby providing a coherent curriculum structure through the Foundation and Key Stage 1 levels. In September, at the beginning of each school year, we give parents full details about the teaching and learning programme for the year in our curriculum meetings.
Assessment
Assessment of every child is carried out and recorded on a continuous basis by the class teacher, and these records form an important basis for us in planning all teaching and learning. They are also instrumental in helping us guide and support parents of Class 1 children, when they are considering the options for their child's next school. Handovers take place between teachers at each stage as your child progresses through Bertrum House.
Prep School Preparation
Over the last 15 years we have gained an excellent reputation for enabling our children to win places at the schools of their choice. With our knowledge of the next school options, and our long-standing good relations with the Head Teachers of these schools, we can guide and support both the parents and the children through the process. Every year Head Teachers of many of our feeder schools visit us for informal discussions with parents. It is always very important to us that our children should not feel any worries during this stage. They are well prepared, and do not need to be stressed or concerned by the entrance procedures for their new schools.
- In March each year, the Class 1 parents have one-to-one meetings with the Principal and Class teacher to talk through all the various Prep school options, and the suitability of each of these next schools for their child's strengths and needs. We are also always available to discuss the options again with any parent who has concerns.
- Over the rest of the Class 1 school year, parents can visit the prospective schools and attend open days.
- At the beginning of Class 2, parents review their choices of schools with the Class 2 teacher.
- At the beginning of Class 2, parents visit any further prospective schools and register their child.
- In September and October of Class 2, the children take a number of practise entrance tests, to settle them and ensure they are comfortable with what they will have to do.
- In November for Class 2 children, we also carry out individual mock interviews, which, while being very entertaining for the children, actually help them with their interviews with the heads of their prospective schools.
- The entrance tests for the prospective schools for Class 2 mostly take place in January, although a number of schools actually set them in November.
