Our independent Pre-Preparatory School in Fulham is on the same premises as our Nursery. It offers an excellent educational choice for children aged 4 to 7 who wish to continue learning through a holistic, personalised approach in a nurturing and inviting setting.
Situated on Fulham High Street, near our other school sites, our Pre-Prep school is close to central London and is a short walk from the iconic River Thames.
In Years 1 & 2, the English National Curriculum provides the framework for our school's spiral curriculum. Pre-Prep education places particular emphasis on the early acquisition of traditional basic skills, including reading, writing and numeracy. However, we supplement core learning by incorporating exciting opportunities for adventure wherever possible.
Pre-Prep pupils automatically transfer to the Prep division at the end of Year 2. There are no exams or assessments at this stage, and we endeavour to make this transition as easy as possible.
All children learn French upon enrolment, and lessons are delivered and practised orally at the Pre-Prep School level. Early exposure to an additional language is fundamental as children are keen to discover new words, leading to fast and almost effortless language acquisition.
An open-minded attitude towards cultural differences is also encouraged, as it is universally accepted that language study promotes creativity and long-term problem-solving skills.
Pre-Prep teachers endeavour to become acquainted with their pupils as soon as possible. They are passionate about providing children with foundational skills and bring the primary years syllabus to life with immersive and explorative lessons.
As the first point of contact for parents and guardians, class teachers arrange meetings with families, where necessary, and offer feedback in newsletters and during Parents' Evenings. They aim to give each individual the care and attention they deserve by observing development on a daily basis, and applying strategies to overcome any barriers to learning.
Pre-Prep Environment
Children at the Pre-Prep level are encouraged to experiment within the classroom, explore the school grounds and get involved in school life. We are proud to invite youngsters into our secure, safe and stimulating setting so that they can play, laugh and learn with the freedom they need to grow.
Our colourful Pre-Prep environment is decorated with children's artwork, encouraging them to make their mark on their learning spaces. Helped by their teachers and a knowledgeable team of teaching assistants, they also enjoy the natural environment surrounding the school campus. During Pre-Prep outdoor lessons, young learners identify flora and fauna in the school garden, and even have a go at growing fresh produce and plants.
Our school-wide House System encourages positive interaction between children of different ages. The system is founded upon mutual respect and introduces a degree of healthy competition to our community during Sports Days, art contests and other student events. Upon enrolment, students are allocated to one of the four School Houses: Bishops, Crabtree, Hurlingham and Peterborough, and siblings are placed in the same house.
Special Events
The school year is marked by many significant and annual events, including swimming galas, nativity plays, class assemblies and year group musical productions, among many others. All students are welcome to help organise events to support the work of the PTA. Each year, children choose a charity to support through fundraising and volunteering. Usually, charitable organisations will be selected from those close to the school in our local area.
A Word From Our Head of Nursery & Pre-Prep
Joanna Copland
Head of Nursery & Pre-Prep
The first steps on any educational journey can be both exhilarating and a little daunting. At Fulham Nursery and Pre-Prep School our main aim is that these early years should be a supportive, engaging, collaborative experience for all, with an emphasis on fun and a love of learning, and I am delighted to welcome you into our Fulham Schools’ family.
From the first days our strong set of values and emphasis on independent, explorative learning encourages children to be inquisitive, resilient and kind individuals who develop positive and respectful relationships. Our balance of skilled classroom based teaching and wider specialist expertise enables individual strengths and interests to develop, alongside an evolving sense of social responsibility and a genuine enjoyment of making the most of all the many opportunities on offer.
I am delighted to lead this happy community and very much look forward to meeting you all.
Miss Joanna Copland
Skills & subjects
As part of their Pre-Prep education, children develop creative skills through an awareness of different mediums. Art, music and drama lessons play an essential role at our school, and children have two music lessons per week. Creative lessons incorporate singing, movement, percussion and a weekly dance class. Additionally, all children participate in at least one musical and a drama production each year.
A healthy mind leads to a healthy body. The Pre-Prep schedule includes a form of physical activity on most days of the week. Gymnastics, ball skills, dance and games are all taught weekly, and in Years 1 and 2, children benefit from tennis coaching and swimming lessons on a rotational basis.
Children are naturally curious and hone their problem-solving skills through exploration and discovery. We aim to prepare children for achievement at an academic level with subjects including mathematics, English, French, science, history, PE, music, coding, and art. However, contrary to the continuous testing and assessment indicative of other London Pre-Prep schools, we offer pupils the unique opportunity to build long-lasting skills by inviting them to guide their learning through a holistic, student-focused, dynamic approach.
Children may enjoy a range of lunchtime and after-school activities specially selected for those at the Pre-Prep stage. Student clubs are extremely popular with our Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes, so early application is advised.
The Pre-Prep After-School Activities Programme takes place from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Children go straight from their classrooms to clubs and are collected by their parents/carers at 4.30 pm from the school playground.
Our extensive choice of physical and creative activities includes:
Den Building
Origami
Arts & Crafts
Science
Cookery
Ballet and Tap
Football
SEND Support
Our Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) team works with pupils requiring additional support at school. A specialist team of internal practitioners and approved external professionals work with class teachers to ensure children gain the help they need as early as possible.
Depending on their needs, some children may benefit from differentiated work, extra time, or out-of-class activities in small groups or during one-to-one sessions. Please note that depending on the type of intervention required, some services may require an additional fee.
Please speak to a member of our Admissions Team for further information and advice.
The Wrap Around Care provision at Fulham Pre-Prep provides support to our busy parents and offers our pupils the chance to socialise with their peers in a friendly, familiar and caring environment, taking part in craft and play opportunities.
From September 2023, our Pre-Prep will run ‘Breakfast Club’ before school, as well as an ‘After School Wraparound Care Club’.
Breakfast club is available to all children in Nursery to Year 2. Parents can drop off their children at 7.30am and the children enjoy the club until school starts at 8.25am.
The ‘After School Wraparound Care Club’ is available to all children in Reception to Y2 and the service is tiered depending on the length of time your child needs looking after (please see the table below).
For Nursery children, we run a Night Owls session from 3.30pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. (Wraparound Care Club is not currently available to Nursery children).
Booking Breakfast or After School Wraparound Care Club is extremely flexible with regular or occasional places available.
If you have a question about one of these Clubs, please contact admin@fulham.school
Parents may book these clubs via their School Cloud account.
| Sessions | Days / Times |
|---|---|
| Breakfast Club (am) | Monday – Friday 7:30 - 8:25am |
| Afterschool wraparound (early pm) | Monday – Friday 3:30 - 4:30pm |
| Wraparound plus | Monday – Friday 4:30 - 5:30pm |
| Wraparound full | Monday – Friday 3:30 - 5:30pm |
| Night Owls (Nursery pupils only) | Monday – Friday 3:30 - 5:00pm |
Contact Us Today
Discover how we can support your child and help them reach their goals with our exceptional Pre-Prep education.
Our Pre-Prep education instils a passion for lifelong learning in all our pupils. Our young students enjoy the freedom to express themselves as valued members of the school environment and quickly build rapport with their classmates in teacher-led lessons. At this stage, children are encouraged to experiment within the classroom, explore the school grounds and get involved in school life.
Every child is supported in their transition from Early Years education and is welcomed into our supportive Pre-Prep community from their very first day.
Prioritising the well-being of our families, our school offers Breakfast and Wrap Around Care Clubs to accommodate busy parents and to further develop our pupils’ social skills through craft and play opportunities with their peers.
