At Ballard, we offer our Pre-Prep pupils many opportunities to explore, build, create and investigate, both in the classroom, dedicated play areas, Forest School and the wider Ballard grounds. Our Year 1 and Year 2 pupils love their annual trip to the Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium too.
Whether it’s building a marble run, working out the best angle to hold the pipe so the bean bag comes out, or measuring rainfall, our Pre-Prep pupils are very keen on STEM. They also feel incredibly comfortable with computers and iPads, which they use daily.
ICT & Computing
In Pre-Prep our pupils move onto iPads and more sophisticated computers. Pupils can log onto the computers in the library and can spend time on educational games, they can also take iPads into the classroom for many of their lessons.
Computers add another dimension to their work and support learning in different ways. Composing their firework poetry on iPads enabled Year 1 to not only add colourful imagery but also to see which onomatopoeic words they had spelled incorrectly.
Mathematics
Following the variety of the practical mathematical activities in Nursery and Kindergarten, Ballard pupils feel very comfortable with Mathematics when they join Pre-Prep. We build on this and help stretch the more able, whilst supporting those who find some topics more challenging.
There are lots of exciting approaches to learning Mathematics in Pre-Prep and our pupils look forward to their lessons. Whether it is using the computers and iPads to test their skills or working with whiteboards in front of their peers, our pupils are keen and eager to get involved.
Science
Ballard pupils are a curious bunch, and we fully support the hands-on approach to learning. Whether it’s in the classroom, our Pre-Prep kitchen, or out and about in our expansive grounds and varied habitats, we give them every opportunity to feed their inquisitiveness. They really do start their scientific journey from an early age here at Ballard.
We love children who ask why, and we enjoy seeing the delight on their faces when they work out answers for themselves. Whether it is measuring liquids, identifying trees, or hunting for insects in the Bluebell Woods, our pupils love their Science lessons.
In Pre-Prep, the Expressive Arts at Ballard are taught by both form tutors and specialist teachers for Music and Dance within their curriculum. They also have access to our amazing facilities, peripatetic music and Speech & Drama teachers.
Specialist teachers offer our pupils the skills and confidence to help make them shine. From understanding the difference between a minim and a crochet to learning choreography, Ballard Pre-Prep pupils always rise to the challenge. All pupils are encouraged to have a go by their teachers and peers.
We have an annual nativity and production where pupils work as individuals, in pairs and groups entertaining their parents, peers and staff with exceptional performances.
Art
With all the creativity enjoyed in Nursery, our pupils love art in Pre-Prep. They have a huge array of materials and ideas available to them and they are encouraged to flourish and create independent art work – letting their own creativity continue to shine.
As they progress through Pre-Prep, they develop their skills and are able to use more complex techniques and can undertake trickier projects, which are often overseen by our specialist art teachers.
Dance
Dance is timetabled in the Ballard Pre-Prep schedule each week. Pupils develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others. They have a lot of fun learning, creating and performing dances together.
We get involved in World Book Day, which includes a dance down our catwalk for all our fabulously dressed pupils!
All children participate in performances, including the annual Nativity and Summer Showcase.
Music
Pre-Prep music at Ballard is all about fostering a sense of enjoyment and achievement, building confidence, co-ordination and collaborative skills through a variety of fun activities.
Pupils receive weekly curriculum music lessons with our specialist staff. We expand their musical understanding through a range of fun, practical learning tasks including singing, musical notation and instrumental work. Whether it is learning the difference between minims and quavers on a glockenspiel or strumming an electric guitar our children love music.
All children participate in performances, including the annual Nativity and Summer Showcase.
Many of our Pre-Prep pupils take up individual music lessons with our specialist teachers. They also have the opportunity to perform alongside our older pupils, many of whom act as mentors to our younger pupils.
Pupils receive a fully-developed programme of individual sports and team games, alongside gymnastics, which concentrate on embedding the foundations learnt in Nursery. Many of the skills learnt are now identified as strengths and weaknesses, with particular emphasis on improving body control and gymnastic movement.
In Pre-Prep, we introduce two extra-curricular activities a week; skills clubs and fun sports. In addition to this, pupils are given the opportunity to join the Ballard gymnastics after School club.
Throughout the summer term, children receive intensive swimming lessons in our School swimming pool to increase water confidence and refine their strokes. Certificates are presented at the Pre-Prep swimming gala and this year, more pupils swam two more lengths than they ever have before.
Pre-Prep Life at Ballard is exciting and full of wonder. Our pupils love the variety of work and all the opportunities open to them. Whether it’s completing their diary or rescuing frogspawn, pupils are always keen to give their all. They look forward each week to the Headmaster reading to them and unlocking a world of imagination. In addition to our academic curriculum, we offer a wide variety of after-school activities, such as Art Club, gymnastics and multi-sports to name but a few.
Our spacious site allows pupils to play freely in a secure and safe environment. Ballard pupils climb trees, explore the adventure playground, ride bikes, run on the fields, tennis courts and practise fine motor skills using balls, hoops and skipping ropes.
Each week our assembly celebrates the children’s achievements and rewards them for their work during that week. This recognition is based on our core values; kindness, respect, curiosity, responsibility, safety, honesty and a positive attitude.
English
In Ballard Pre-Prep we continue to embrace English as a key part of everything we do. We continue to encourage our children to write using an array of equipment and techniques.
We introduce composition by asking them to write down what they did at the weekend and to illustrate it – mimicking the picture books they love to read. We introduce spelling and grammar alongside correct letter formation and, as they develop, more complicated English concepts such as poetry and onomatopoeia.
Pre-Prep have also had a huge focus on reading with much success! At Ballard we believe that reading and sharing stories at home, and developing a love of literature is of real importance. We are so lucky to have our own library and each class enjoys weekly library lessons with one of our two librarians.
At Ballard we celebrate World Book Day in style! Pupils and staff love dressing up with pupils walking down the catwalk in character, talking to the judges about their character, costume and book! We also have fun workshops with our visiting author.
Geography
At Ballard, our Pre-Prep pupils are surrounded by Geography! We are lucky to have a range of ecosystems: the gardens, playing fields, woods (including Forest School), our Victorian Pond and the water meadows, all within the school grounds.
Form tutors take pupils out and about regularly; exploring, investigating, questioning. We visit the nearby beach too. This variety stokes our pupils’ innate love of nature and we integrate this into our day whenever we can. The success of our Forest School lessons underlines the ability of even the youngest child to get involved and let their curiosity lead them.
History
In Pre-Prep children love to listen to stories about ‘olden times’. At Ballard we also try to transport them into these times with dressing up and visits to local historical landmarks and museums.
Modern Foreign Languages
French is taught from Year 1 by our Head of French, accompanied by our lovely French bear, Camembear. Together they cover a wide range of cross-curricular topics in French using songs, rhymes, games, activities and stories.
Each week our star pupil is given the opportunity to go home with one of Camembear’s cousins and our young learners enjoy practising new words and phrases with them.
Religious Studies
We aim to develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity but also other principal religions, religious traditions and worldviews that offer answers to questions these important questions.
RS also contributes to our pupils’ personal development and well-being and to community cohesion by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society.
