Reception
Our youngest children begin their Habs Boys journey in Reception, at age four. They get a very warm welcome with lots of special care and attention.
Learning at this level is an experience rather than a discipline, with children encouraged to explore the world around them. We embed curiosity and independence, emphasising the awe and wonder that come from discovery.
The timetable in Reception
On arrival there is dedicated parking for Pre-Prep in the North Drive car park. From there, parents and guardians can walk their child along the path to the Pre-Prep building. The whistle is blown when the school day begins at 8.30am, although you can drop your child off any time after 8.00am.
The structure of each day varies, with a mix of whole-class sessions, small-group learning directed by an adult, and learning initiated by our students. Learning happens both indoors and outdoors.
- Phonics sessions – daily
- Specialist subject specific teaching – throughout the week
- PE and games lessons – twice a week
- Music – every week
- Leafy Learners sessions – once a week
- French lessons – once a week
- Introductory swimming sessions – three times in the summer term
At the end of the school day, Reception students must be collected from their classroom door.
Before and after school
Before we introduce your child to our before and after school sessions, you will need to check with your child’s class teacher and make sure they are well-settled into our school routines. Teachers will know whether your child is ready for this step and whether they have settled well enough into our school routines.
Before school
Our breakfast club is available from 7.30am to 8.15am. This takes place at the girls’ school, so you will need to drop your child off at the Habs Girls dining room entrance at the rear of the building. A member of staff will collect the boys and walk them over to the Pre-Prep. There is a cost associated with this.
If your child will need a school breakfast, they must arrive by 7.45am. This way, we can make sure they eat a suitable amount of breakfast.
After school
Reception pupils can attend free after-school care between 3.30pm and 4.00pm. Beyond 4.00pm, after-school care becomes chargeable. Students will receive a snack, with sessions ending at 5.30pm. Please bear in mind, there are no after-school clubs for Reception students.
Food in Reception
Throughout the day, your child will enjoy regular nutrition:
Breakfast
Please see the section on our breakfast club.
Breaks and snacks
There is no special break-time in Reception as the day is already very free-flowing and child-led. As such, they must bring a healthy snack of either a fruit or vegetable to school with them.
Lunch
Your child will have lunch in the Pre-Prep hall.
Each Reception student is given a coloured wristband, indicating their dietary needs:
- Orange – they can eat anything
- Red – acute allergies
- Green – vegetarian
- Yellow – no beef
- Blue – allergy to dairy or eggs
- Pink – pescatarian
Lunch is provided and is part of the school fees.
Our buddy system
Reception students are paired with a ‘buddy’ from Year 2. They will also be in the same house as your child (your child will be assigned one of our four school ‘houses’).
Your child’s buddy will help and support them in their first few days with us. We also arrange a series of exciting activities to help our littlest ones get to know their buddies.
Reception learning journeys
Throughout the Prep School we use Firefly to keep you all updated. We have class blogs where teachers regularly post from inside the classroom, and we have a weekly newsletter for all parents.
