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Clayesmore Preparatory School A GSG School

What says..

Gentle approach to rewards and sanctions keeps things home-like. Spickest, spannest dorm gets surprise ‘muck’ (jargon for afternoon break treat). Individual winners get slap up meal at head of boarding’s house. One pupil in year 3 having a great time courtesy of year 6 mentor - ‘very kind and does French plaits for me.’Plenty to enjoy including path that winds round the back wall, taking in glasshouse (once used to grow melons, now used for ceramics). Deliberately keep work pressure to a minimum (no prep until year 5, for example) – sensible given range of activities done by some pupils..

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What the school says...

Clayesmore is a thriving, forward-looking boarding and day school, filled with warmth. We aim to develop the unique gifts of every pupil, encourage a life-long love of learning and build their confidence to adapt to an ever-changing world. Small classes and individual attention ensure speedy progress while opportunities for sport, music and drama, coupled with endless activities, mean the days your child spends at Clayesmore really could prove some of the happiest of their lives.

The Nursery and Pre-Prep share a self-contained home, nestled snugly among trees on Clayesmore's beautiful campus, where little ones learn and develop through play while trying a host of activities.

Academic results for a mixed ability school are impressive and the highly-regarded learning support department offers individual attention, exam strategies and effective study skills. Add to the mix some welcoming boarding accommodation, nurturing pastoral care and boundless opportunities to shine, it's clear that Clayesmore offers a winning combination.

Clayesmore's all-through provision means that pupils can make a worry-free step up to senior school and siblings can be together. It is a flourishing school offering excitement, opportunity and a confidence-boosting family atmosphere. ...Read more

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Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since 2019, Jonathon Anderson, previously deputy head at Westbourne House Prep. Degree in business economics from Exeter; spent two years working in financial services before teacher training course. After five years at Swanbourne House School, he joined Exeter Junior School as head of maths, moving to Westbourne House with his wife Hester as houseparents. They have two children and the essential prep head's labrador.

Entrance

Pre-prep numbers now growing again after slight fall, helped by free come and play toddler and parent sessions. Plenty of well-connected locals, but don’t expect huge amounts of socialising as many work full time. ‘Some parents…think they’ll get into a niche little coffee club but it doesn’t happen,’ said mother.

Further up, healthy levels of prep applications in top years, but not a school for all comers. While...

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Special Education Needs

Clayesmore Preparatory School has an excellent reputation for its provision of support for dyslexic pupils. Our Learning Support Department ensures that pupils have effective and targeted teaching, either individually or in very small groups, to meet their specific needs. Pupils are withdrawn at carefully selected times during the school day to attend their specialist lessons. They may also benefit from the support given by LS Teaching Assistants, who work alongside the teachers in some mainstream lessons. All Learning Support Tutors are fully qualified teachers with additional qualifications in teaching pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties. Mainstream teachers are empathetic with the needs and difficulties of some of the children in the mainstream classes and differentiate accordingly. The school is registered with CReSTeD. Nov 09.

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Aspergers
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia Y
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
English as an additional language (EAL)
Genetic
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment
Hospital School
Mental health
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Natspec Specialist Colleges
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special facilities for Visually Impaired
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
VI - Visual Impairment

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