Private School News

Polam Hall Offers Unique Foundation Stage Learning Experience

Polam Hall School is to undergo exciting redevelopments that will see the school able to offer a unique early years education to girls and boys aged 2 to 5.

Governors at the Darlington school have made investment proposals for a new generation of pre-school age children in the Junior School. They will include the redevelopment of existing buildings to create the Foundation Stage programme that will be offered to girls and boys from the age of two and allow boys to stay in the school until the end of what is currently known as Reception. Currently Polam Hall School accepts boys only from the age of three to school age. The SureStart Nursery Grant continues to be available for 3 and 4 year olds and, dependent on the child’s date of birth, is payable during the Foundation Stage.

This innovative concept by the independent school is in accordance with new government guidelines and will allow for development through play and child initiated learning in a wonderfully creative environment.

Three to Five year olds will be housed in the new-look facility which will offer lower foundation, upper foundation (reception), quiet room for formal work and an outdoor classroom. Children aged three to five will work together, regardless of age and be grouped according to activities, skills and teaching aims.

The existing Early Steps Nursery will be modified to cater for the two to three year olds who will be welcomed at the school from September.

The changes are the first by an independent school in the area.

Angela Foster, Junior School Headteacher at Polam Hall School, said: “I welcome the decision by the Board of Governors. It shows our continued commitment to providing the best possible education for our pupils and the new Foundation Stage will allow us to continue to focus on the growing academic, social and emotional development and needs of our pupils and learning will be fun!.”