A hive of Curiosity and Creativity
Welcome to the Junior Department at Edge Grove, where classrooms buzz with energy, excitement and the purposeful chatter that is the hallmark of child-centred, active learning.
The Junior Department at Edge Grove consists of Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Our Nursery is located in a beautiful home from home environment in Aldenham village, just a few minutes from the main school site and the Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes are based in our purpose-built Junior Department building on our stunning 44 acre School site.
Working with the youngest pupils of the Edge Grove Pride is a huge privilege, and our proudly child-centred and diverse community enables each child to develop integrity, independence and a lifelong love of learning. There is a warm, caring, family atmosphere in the department and an emphasis on celebrating self-motivation and entrepreneurship as the children develop the confidence to explore, to take risks and to try new things.
Whether your child joins us at rising 3 in Nursery or 4+ in Reception, you can be confident that we will support them, and every child on their own unique educational journey, nurtured and celebrated by caring, professional staff.
Throughout the Junior Department, there are three Forms in each year group with a maximum class size of 20; every class has a dedicated Form Teacher AND Learning Assistant who work in close partnership with you as parents in support of your child.
The curriculum in the Junior Department at Edge Grove is broad, balanced and fun. Combining a focus on quality-first, core subject teaching, led by our Form Teachers, with an amazing breadth of specialist taught subjects, and co-curricular offerings, means our children have the very best start on their educational journey.
We make full use of our beautiful School grounds and wonderful facilities: a heated outdoor swimming pool, extensive Forest School areas and outdoor classrooms, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, well-resourced libraries, a theatre and the stunning Apthorp Hall for musical concerts, assemblies, collaborative learning projects and creative performances.
The children arrive every morning full of enthusiasm to learn and explore.
Come along and feel the buzz for yourselves and let the adventure begin!
Mrs Tora Hodge
Deputy Head (Academic) and Interim Head of Junior Department
Reception
Your child’s early years are such a special time and those of us who are privileged to work with 2-5 year olds see the world open up before them as they explore through purposeful play and adult-initiated activities. Early Years teachers observe, nurture, extend and develop children in their first learning experiences. It is in the early years that strong foundations are laid for future learning success and personal fulfilment.
In Reception, we continue to build on the child’s previous learning and understanding through fun, yet structured activities.
As in our Nursery, we tailor our Reception curriculum to reflect the interests and ideas of the children and to develop children’s natural curiosity and creativity both in the classrooms and in our wonderful grounds. Teachers build on each child’s previous understanding and learning, at our own Nursery or elsewhere, through activities that are fun at the same time as being well structured. As well as enjoying free-flow, play-led experiences, there are daily focused interventions in phonics, literacy and numeracy and additional specialist lessons in modern foreign languages, music, Forest School and PE.
Every day offers up another new experience, and another chance to take risks and achieve something truly special, all the time developing their confidence and independence.
Year 1 and 2
The Key Stage 1 curriculum at Edge Grove is broad and inspiring and interleaves modern technology with traditional academic rigour.
The children enjoy stimulating and fun school days inside and outdoors. Alongside the core teaching of phonics, maths, English, humanities, computing and science, the children enjoy weekly lessons with specialist teachers in the performing arts (Music and Drama), PE, Games, French and Spanish as well as a weekly Forest School session with experienced Forest School Leaders.
Year 2 children have the opportunity to show leadership through service in the role of librarians, Eco Reps and Junior House Captains.
Wrap Around Care
We understand that Edge Grove parents are busy people, and may need additional support with before and after school care. Whether you need an early-start Breakfast Club (from 07:30), a comprehensive after school activities programme, or late stay provision, all options are available to you, with fully flexible wrap-around care running from 0730 – 1800, as well as camps running throughout the school holidays.
