Wellbeing

Every child who joins us will have a unique journey. We celebrate this and strive to help every pupil to thrive and find happiness here.

Supporting them is an integrated network of teachers, school nurse and senior pastoral team. We are a listening school, and our staff are experts at listening to worries and concerns, however big or small.

We help our pupils to thrive during their Prep School years and lay strong foundations for positive health and wellbeing later in life.

Headshot of the Co-head of the prep school of Ibstock Place School

Mrs Sophie Bartholomew

Co-Head Prep

Our Approach

Being kind, curious and courageous are at the core of everything we do at Ibstock Prep.

These three attributes are embedded in every lesson, with awards given to pupils who demonstrate them throughout the school day.

Be Kind,
Be Curious,
Be Courageous.

Through supporting each child’s individuality and helping them to understand and celebrate differences, our pupils learn to be respectful of each other and curious about the wider world.

We help our pupils to develop a toolkit of strategies to manage the ups and downs of life. Our focus on building resilience enables pupils to tackle challenges with courage and have the confidence to flourish both inside and outside of the classroom.

We want all pupils to leave Ibstock Prep with their feet on the ground and eyes on the future. We delight in supporting them through the Prep school and watch them continue to flourish in our Senior School.

Prep pupils having lunch in the Great Hall at Ibsto ck Place School, a private school near RichmondP

Prep pupils Playing around the prep building corridors at Ibsto ck Place School, a private school near RichmondP

Three Prep boys having fun at Ibsto ck Place School, a private school near Richmond.

Support for Wellbeing

Daily contact time with class teachers ensures strong relationships are formed and any issues are picked up quickly.

Our class sizes are between 18 to 24 pupils, with one Class Teacher and one Assistant Teacher in each providing an excellent staff to pupil ratio. All our staff are trained in first aid and child protection and our school nurse is located nearby in the Wellbeing Centre.

We love to celebrate success and hold a weekly Celebration Assembly, in which a pupil in each year group is awarded ‘Star of the Week’ with a certificate and badge, in recognition of their effort or achievement.

Prep pupils with their grandmother to celebrate grandparents day at Ibstock Place School, a private school near Richmond.

Prep pupils performing a play at Ibstock Place School, a private school near Richmond.

Prep pupils at the beach making sand castles.

prep pupils playing cricket at Ibstock Place School, a private school near Richmond.

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor learning has many benefits to children, including positivel improving their health and wellbeing.

We aim to take advantage of our beautiful campus grounds, Bluebell Woods Forest school and proximity to Richmond Park whenever possible.

Outdoor reading, Art and Science lessons are a regular occurrence and termly Wellbeing Walks for each year group to nearby Richmond Park.

Prep pupils studying in the nature at the forest school of at Ibstock Place School, a private school near Richmond

Prep pupils sitting at the buddy bench of Ibstock Place School, a private school near Richmond

Prep pupils studying in the nature in the campus at Ibstock Place School, a private school near Richmond

Promoting Positive Wellbeing

See some of our recent wellbeing initiatives at Ibstock through our Instagram account @ibstockprep.

Pupil Voice

‘Pupil voice is very strong at the school…’

ISI Report, 2022

Pupil voice is important at Ibstock and we want our pupils to help shape the school now, and in years to come.

Through the Ibstock Prep Parliament two representatives from each year group, elected by their peers, meet to discuss ideas for constructive changes to the school.

Pupil voice is also encouraged through a rotating small group of pupils who meet subject lead teachers termly to give feedback on their learning experience.

Leadership Opportunities

Opportunities for leadership and teamwork are promoted throughout the School.

An established peer reading scheme sees pupils from Prep 4 - Prep 6 meet with Pre-Prep pupils to read to them each week. This helps to develop relationships throughout the School and gives the children opportunities to become role models and develop their social skills. I

For Prep 6 pupils, in addition to the two Head Pupils who help to lead the School, there are opportunities for all to further develop their leadership skills as one of the four House Captains on a termly rotation.

The House System

The House system is at the very heart of the School.

There are four Houses, each with their own distinctive identity; Brearley, Findlay, Paget and Montefiore. Pupils quickly develop a sense of pride in and loyalty to their House which manifests itself in healthy rivalry as they vie for the title of House Champions through music and sports competitions.

Pupils remain in the same House throughout their time at Ibstock, so strong relationships are built between the House Tutors, pupils and their families.

Prep pupils walking around the campus of Ibstock Place School, a private school near Richmond

PSCHE

Our pupils are taught two lessons a week of Personal, Social, Citizenship and Health Education (PSCHE) in their form tutor groups.

PSCHE underpins learning across the curriculum and helps our pupils to develop the essential social, personal and critical-thinking skills they need to successfully and safely navigate the world.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Our ‘Kids for Equality’ Club meets weekly to discuss global issues based on gender, diversity, equality, discrimination and produces a magazine called ‘Identity’.

The Club helps to organise events throughout the school year such as Lunar New Year celebrations, International Women’s Day, Diversity and Pride Week, and ‘Wear your Cultural Heritage’ day.