St Mary’s Preschool opens its doors and welcomes new pupils

The new Preschool at St Mary’s School in Cambridge has opened its doors, extending the independent school’s offering to girls aged as young as three for the very first time in its 123 year history.

The wider school was a buzz of excitement as the dedicated Preschool team welcomed the new children for their very first day. The new Preschool is set in the spacious grounds of St Mary’s Junior School building, which is located on Chaucer Road. The existing Coach House building was reconfigured to create an Early Years Centre that includes space for Preschool pupils, plus Reception and Year One students.

On their first day, the children all enjoyed exploring the new facilities at the Preschool, which consists of three dedicated areas. There is a large room for free-flow activities for all Early Years children, which also acts as a base for Preschool aged pupils; a smaller room for structured teaching and Reception class activities; and a Year One classroom. A spacious outdoor learning area also includes a new outdoor stage and sandpit.

Jo Christian, Head of Juniors at St Mary’s School, Cambridge, said:

“It was so exciting to open the doors to our new Preschool cohort.  Having a Preschool provision on-site will ensure an even smoother transition into the Junior School for our girls. All of our pupils learn free from gender stereotypes, in an educational environment that helps develop their independence, initiative, creativity and problem-solving skills. Preschool children will benefit from our specialised experience of teaching and empowering girls - giving them the head start in their academic journey that they truly deserve. We can’t wait to see how our new Preschool girls flourish and grow here at St Mary’s.”

Children at the Preschool follow an individualised learning programme tailored to each child's own developmental needs. Learning is predominantly based on experiential play, with support and challenge activities provided by a dedicated group of Preschool teachers. There is also some direct teaching, in small groups, with a focus on early phonics skills and mathematics, and lessons from specialist teachers, including computer science, music and woodwork. 

St Mary’s Preschool has a minimum attendance of two full days, or four half days, with the flexibility to choose which days children attend. There is also a Preschool uniform, which helps children to settle in and feel a part of the wider Junior School community.

If you are interested in finding out more about admissions, please contact: admissions@stmaryscambridge.co.uk