Academic

At Mowden Hall School, our Pre-Prep curriculum provides a nurturing, stimulating, and purposeful foundation for lifelong learning.

Our Approach

Small class sizes ensure that our teachers can truly get to know each child — observing their interests, assessing their needs, and carefully planning the next steps in their individual learning journeys.

Our approach is centred on learning through play, exploration, and investigation. Children are encouraged to persevere through challenges, celebrate their achievements, and take pride in their progress. We aim to nurture curiosity and independence, helping our children become confident, self-motivated learners who think creatively and critically.

Numeracy

We use Numicon throughout the Early Years to provide children with a visual and tactile understanding of numbers. This hands-on resource allows them to see and physically manipulate numerical relationships—supporting their grasp of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

In Nursery, each week focuses on a new number or shape, delivered through carefully planned, play-based activities. As children move into Reception, we continue this rich mathematical journey with engaging, imaginative lessons that encourage them to identify patterns, solve problems, and explore number relationships with confidence and enthusiasm.

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths

STEM is an integral part of daily life in the Early Years at Mowden Hall. Whether constructing houses for the Three Little Pigs or exploring how objects sink or float, children are constantly encouraged to ask questions, make predictions, and think like engineers, scientists, and innovators.We provide a balance of child-led exploration and adult-guided activities that inspire curiosity and build essential skills such as reasoning, hypothesising, and problem-solving. By connecting learning to real-life experiences, we lay the foundation for future academic success across all areas of the curriculum.

STEM in Early Years supports:

Language and communication development
Critical thinking and independent learning
Teamwork and collaboration
A strong foundation for future academic achievement

Outdoor Learning & Woodland School

At Mowden, children benefit from daily outdoor play and regular Woodland School sessions, where they are free to explore, imagine, and discover without the physical constraints of an indoor classroom. These outdoor experiences foster a wide range of vital life skills—creativity, resilience, problem-solving, critical thinking, risk assessment, and perseverance. Our Woodland School not only supports cognitive and physical development but also cultivates a deep love and respect for the natural world.

Health and Wellbeing

Your child’s safety and wellbeing are our top priorities. All Early Years staff are regularly trained in First Aid, and we are proud to have a qualified School Nurse on site throughout the day—a rare and reassuring provision for Early Years settings. Parents can rest assured that in the event of illness or injury, their child will receive prompt and professional care.

Healthy Eating and Mealtimes

We believe that good nutrition is vital for learning and growth. Throughout the day, children enjoy a selection of healthy snacks and drinks to help maintain their energy and focus. Snack times also offer opportunities to develop independence, as children are involved in preparing their own food.Lunchtimes are a valued part of our day. Our talented catering team serves a nutritious, balanced, and delicious hot meal, with vegetarian options available. Children may choose between a hot dessert or fresh fruit. We also place emphasis on social development-encouraging positive table manners, conversation, and a shared enjoyment of mealtimes.