Welcome to Pre-Prep
Welcome
S. Anselm’s Pre-Prep is a lively, vibrant environment, rich with opportunities, where children develop in confidence and independence within our happy and caring community and the foundations are laid for later success.
Development of the full child – each as individuals – is at the heart of our teaching approach and we pride ourselves in the way we nurture children in our care, both academically and pastorally.
Our main aim is that all children come to school happily so that each child can reach his or her full potential. We stress the importance of a caring attitude towards others and help the children to develop good relationships within the school.
The Pre-Prep Curriculum provides a broad education, which balances the best of traditional and modern methods of teaching in order to stimulate and challenge the child.
Children enter the Pre-Prep in the autumn term after their 4th birthday. During Reception the children follow the statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.
The children in Year 1 and 2 cover a broad curriculum which offers a wide range of learning opportunities, aimed at stimulating and nurturing each child’s development and interests in an intellectual, physical, spiritual, social and emotional sense.
Throughout the Pre-Prep, children benefit from lessons taught by our specialist teachers, from French to music and sports, and when a subject we are learning suggests, we are able to visit the library, ®LEGO Innovation Studio or science laboratories in our Prep School.
Pre-Prep has its own dedicated school buildings with a warm, open and stimulating environment. There are five form rooms in which the children are taught in small classes. We have a large enclosed outdoor area including gardens, as well as having access to S. Anselm’s 20 acre grounds and outstanding sporting facilities.
With three fully qualified Forest School Practitioners, children throughout the Pre-Prep also benefit from exciting Forest School sessions, which offer a different and valuable dimension to learning. The Forest School approach enables children to experiment and explore outdoors, in their natural surroundings.
Special days, feasts and festivals are celebrated with enthusiasm. These include Harvest, Christmas, Pancake Day, Easter and World Book Day as well as our own Pre-Prep Sports Day and the Saint’s Day of S. Anselm’s. We also organise a number of special subject days such as Spanish and French Day, Environmental Day and Maths Investigation Day which are always filled with fun.
Transition from Pre-Prep to the Prep School is carefully planned to ensure that children are properly prepared for, confident and happy about the next stage in their life at S. Anselm’s. During the summer term in Year 2 children regularly visit their new Year 3 teachers.
Our Pre-Prep supports children throughout their early learning journey, developing their confidence, skills and abilities on every level so they can succeed upon entering the Preparatory School and beyond.
Kung Hei Fat Choi
S. Anselm’s welcomed in the Chinese Lunar Year of the Tiger with a special celebratory lunch and evening supper
A Deep Dive into Desert Dwellers for creative Year 3
Year 3 proudly showcased their Lego creations for Desert Dwellers project
S. Anselm’s Festival of Carols & Lessons
Our candlelit Festival of Carols & Lessons in Bakewell Parish Church drew our Michaelmas Term to a joyful close
Christmas Jumper Day
Each year, we hold a Christmas jumper day in aid of ‘The Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity’, and on Monday, our children and staff dressed for the occasion
Pantomime!
Everyone was ready to immerse themselves in the fun and delights of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre
Christmas Fair
Thank you to everyone involved in making our 2021 Christmas Fair a truly joyful occasion
Pre-Prep Nativity 2021
Four very young shepherds discovered that wonderful things do indeed come in small packages!
S. Anselm’s welcomes Sarah Dines MP
We were delighted to welcome Derbyshire Dales MP, Sarah Dines, who was treated to a tour of the school by our Head Girl and Boy
Pre-Prep medieval banquet
The Lords, Ladies and gallant Knights of Year 1 enjoyed a medieval banquet to celebrate the end of their project
Plant a tree for the Jubilee!
Not just one, but hundreds of trees were planted by our Pre-Prep children over the weekend, and they sent us some of their pictures …

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Get in touch
- head@anselms.co.uk
- +44 (0) 1629 812734
- Stanedge Road, Bakewell
- Derbyshire, DE45 1DP