Early Years

Growing kind hearts

Every member of the Pre-Prep family is helped to grow the kindest of hearts, by adults who care greatly for them and who nurture their confidence and self-esteem
Growing a love of life

Incredible opportunities light up children’s days, from Forest School and swimming, to performances and visits, we grow an appreciation for the world and a love of life
Growing curious minds

The very best teaching and days filled with wonder provide the very best start to the journey through school. Personalised learning ensures that every child is supported to achieve their potential

Our Early Years provision at Pocklington School is dedicated to creating a bright, caring environment for all children to thrive.

Welcome to our
Pre-School and Pre-Prep School

A child’s first years in school are precious times which I believe should be filled with the love of adults who care for them, the joy of spending time with friends and the wonder which comes from being immersed in exciting and wondrous activities every single day.


In the Pre-School and Pre-Prep at Pocklington, we know how important the foundations of education are. After all, these are the base on which a child’s whole educational experience rests and they determine a child’s lifelong attitude to learning.

Our children deserve the best start and that is why our teachers are the very best at what they do. We will always go out of our way to fill every child with confidence and the belief that they can achieve; we find every single child the opportunity to shine.


When a parent chooses Pocklington, it is not only their child who becomes part of something very special, as both children and parents are warmly welcomed into the wonderful Early Years ‘family.’

- Sarah Cobb, Deputy Head of Prep School and Head of Pre-Prep 

School life in
the Pre-School and Pre-Prep

Children can embark on their educational journey by joining us in the term they turn 3 years old for Pre-School. Building on this foundation, they seamlessly transition into Pre-Prep for Reception through to Year 2. 

Days in the Pre-Prep and Pre-School are busy and fun, with the focus on growing kind hearts and curious minds.Our youngest children bring so much joy and we give them the very best start possible, with staff who care so deeply for them. A warm and welcoming atmosphere with wonderful play-based opportunities and personalised learning for every child every day, ensures all children are happy, confident and make the best possible progress. 

Explore Pre-School Life 2 - 4

Explore Pre-Prep Life 4 - 7

What’s on offer in Early Years

  • Academic
  • Co-curricular
  • Pastoral Care

Our personalised approach to learning ensures that children build firm foundations in English and maths, with highly skilled staff who provide support or challenge for every child, guaranteeing that they achieve their very best. 

School days in the Pre-School and Pre Prep are crammed full of the most wonderful opportunities to try new experiences. Children can choose from a huge range of lunchtime and after-school activities to  boost their confidence and gain new skills, right from their first days in school.

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We create a nurturing environment for our young children, prioritising their emotional and physical well-being. Our experienced staff work closely with families, providing compassionate and personalised care for each child.

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Our ethos &
values

We offer incredible experiences inside and outside the classroom and believe in challenging and encouraging our students to seize opportunities that we go the extra mile to provide. These activities and our personalised approach to teaching and learning help to form the bedrock of our students’ individual characters.

We are a day and boarding Christian foundation that is academic and inclusive and a family school whose togetherness, care for each other and pride in our community is evident in our outstanding pastoral provision. At the very heart of our ethos lie our “Values and Virtues”; they drive all that we do at Pocklington and mean our students leave with a strong sense of personal and social responsibility along with the ability to shape their own future.
Courage
Truth
Trust

ASPIRATION

RESILIENCE

INTEGRITY

Work with motivation and increasing independence, setting myself high standards and taking pride in my work.

Persevere with things I find difficult, seeing mistakes as an essential part of the learning process.

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Have the confidence to behave truthfully and honestly, treating others fairly and completing tasks to the best of my ability.

ENQUIRY

CREATIVITY

REFLECTION

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Be curious about the world around me, asking questions to develop my understanding and solve problems.

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Think flexibly, forming my own ideas, trying different approaches, and applying what I have learned to new situations.

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Consider information from a range of reliable sources to draw reasoned conclusions and reflect on what I have learned.

COLLABORATION

COMPASSION

COMMITMENT

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Work effectively with staff and pupils and use their support to help me make progress.

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Be kind and respectful of the skill, talents and viewpoints of others and celebrate their successes.

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Play an active part in the Pocklington School community, participating in a range of activities.

Pocklington
voices

Our two daughters love coming into school every morning and come out every afternoon full of stories about their day. The curriculum is rich and varied and we love the way that the education is personalised for every child, whatever their ability. 
In Pre-Prep they have been nurtured and cared for in such a loving environment and we love that the House system enables them to spend time with older peers, who also look after them. Our eldest has now moved into Prep and has been prepared brilliantly for the transition, that she felt ready and confident to move up. She is thriving on the different challenges and co-curricular opportunities on offer. Another thing which struck us was the range of clubs and activities on offer - there really is something for everyone. We feel incredibly lucky that we get to be part of the Pocklington School family, and we know that it will be an experience that gives our daughters a wonderful foundation for later life.

- CURRENT PARENTS

 

Pocklington
voices

Early years education at Pocklington School is where the foundation for lifelong learning is laid, nurturing curiosity and creativity right from the start. Every day brings the joy of witnessing young minds blossom and discover the world around them and it’s a privilege to be part of shaping the future generation's journey through education.

- CURRENT TEACHER

Pocklington
voices

Pocklington Pre-School is my second home and I think of all the children as part of our wonderful family. Every child is so unique and different. I love meeting new children and discovering who they are and seeing how they fit so perfectly into our growing family. 
It was a mission of mine when I decided to go into teaching to make sure every child was a happy child who enjoyed coming to school. Since working at Pocklington School this has never been a challenge, as every child that  attends our setting loves every moment and never wants to leave. Being part of these young children's learning journey's based upon discovery and fascination is enough to keep you smiling all day long. Watching the children grow and flourish in their confidence makes it the most rewarding experience. You are the world to those little people, who make you feel so important each and every second we spend together. These children are the reason I love my job - there is no better place to be...Who wouldn't enjoy using play as a tool to inspire young minds?

- PRE-SCHOOL LEAD

 

Pocklington
voices

Working in a family friendly environment with constant excitement, awe and wonder is something that makes you want to come in each day. Days that are unique and never the same, days with laughter, joy, learning, investigating, growing, changing. Witnessing firsts of learning, from first words, to independently getting dressed, learning to write and read and understand numbers is a rewarding experience that I’m so grateful and proud to be part of.

- CURRENT TEACHER

Dive deeper into Early Years

PRE-SCHOOL LIFE

PRE-PREP SCHOOL LIFE

PRE-SCHOOL PRE-PREP PASTORAL CARE