Preparatory School Boarding Handbook September 2019

DEAN DC CLOSE CHELTENHAM

PREPARATORY S CHOOL PREPARATORY SCHOOL INTRODUCTION :

Introducing three very important individuals who are part of the boarding community

Headmaster, Mr Paddy Moss With over a quarter of our pupils enjoying school life as full time boarders, it is hardly surprising that the daily rhythm of our unique Prep School community has such a boarding focus. The wrap-around care given to each of our young boarders sets the culture throughout the Prep School, with a focus on the shared values of kindness, understanding and growing responsibility. Our aim is to provide a home-away-from-home experience, where children can enjoy a myriad of opportunity, whilst building on the many life skills discovered through community life. Three comfortable boarding houses at the Prep School ensure that children feel happy, safe and valued, as they are nurtured by their Houseparents and live-in staff. Each and every one of our Prep School pupils are known and valued, especially our boarders, who lie at the heart of what we offer at Dean Close.

Head of Pastoral Care, Mrs Louise Hunt Boarding Co-ordinator, Mrs Alice Gould The House system at Dean Close Prep School provides a As Boarding Co-ordinator, I consider it a privilege to be part of 'family style' structure of support, which is particularly evident in the Dean Close community. Not only are the buildings and the boarding houses. grounds beautiful, but the people who work here with me make my job an absolute pleasure. Someone is always around to talk Time spent together helps create a secure atmosphere that to, share a thought with or laugh together. At the end of the promotes the positive moral, personal and social development school day everyone looks forward to coming home and of our pupils and allows staff to really know each individual, relaxing or getting involved in the fun activities on offer: roller experiencing their daily celebrations and challenges. Pupils skating, swimming, baking, going to the park, playing games, regularly meet in smaller tutor groups or forms where making crafts, using the extensive grounds for games or relationships are deepened and trust develops. By focusing on playing down at the brook. Sometimes at the weekends our positive values and fostering healthy, robust relationships pupils trips take us further afield: to a theme park, to a water park, to are encouraged to make good choices, respecting others whilst an outdoor adventure centre…we are never bored! standing up for what they believe in. Outstanding pastoral care at DCPS underpins the learning of each child and is entwined in their everyday well-being.

BOARDING 2 HANDBOOK PREPARATORY SCHOOL PREPARING TO BOARD :

Preparing to board

This document is intended to act as a guide to boarding, both in practical terms and from an emotive prospective. It has valuable information about routines, contacts, activities and general school information. It also goes some way to providing advice on how to help your children enjoy their time at their new school. Going away to boarding school is full of new challenges and opportunities both for you as a parent and your child. Working together on a few useful tasks will help your child gain confidence, build self-esteem and help you to feel part of their new school life. Mastering challenges such as:

How to make their bed.

Pack an overnight bag with: a change of clothes, towel, wash bag, pants and socks and nightwear.

How to fold their clothes and put them on hangers.

Prepare their tuck box with games, books and sports gear.

Be able to wash their hair and body in a shower.

Brush their teeth for at least two minutes.

Tying their tie and shoe laces.

Organising their book bag and pencil case.

Perhaps try role-playing boarding at home for a couple of days before their first day.

Or, arrange a sleepover with a friend so they experience sleeping away from home, if this is something they are not familiar with.

Talking to your child about aspects of boarding that excite them and those areas they are nervous about is really important. There will be times when they miss home as much as you miss them. Giving your child tools to help them overcome these challenging times will be invaluable. When they feel worried or upset encourage them to talk to a member of staff or distract themselves with a task such as reading a favourite book, going out to play, asking to do an activity such as baking; taking positive action will help dissipate any worries. Giving a child coping mechanisms will then allow them to gain the most from their time at school.

BOARDING HANDBOOK 3 PREPARATORY SCHOOL THE BOARDING COMMUNITY :

The boarding community

Boarding is very popular at Dean Close, with over half the Senior School population living at School and a quarter of all Prep School children. Children come from a variety of backgrounds including Forces families, expats, international pupils and some families from the local area who value the benefits that boarding brings, such as developing self-confidence and independence.

A warm, family atmosphere means that every child feels happy and secure and we aim to create an open, trusting environment where each pupil feels able to approach any other member of the community, confident that he or she will be treated as an individual. As a consequence, children grow up with a respect Fortfield House for others and a sense of responsibility for themselves and for their environment. THE BOARDING TEAM At the heart of each of the boarding houses are the Houseparents, a married couple who live in the House with their own children. The Houseparents are supported by a resident and non-resident pastoral assistant, several non-resident members of academic staff and a number of House Tutors. Fortfield and Caldecote House Tutors will have a tutor group of six-ten who they will see at least twice a week to ensure each pupil is on top of their academic studies and to support their personal development.

All staff support the Houseparent by performing regular duties in the House such as registration, prep, House prayers and the bedtime routine. Fortfield Kitchen The pastoral assistants, who are involved in the day to day care ACCOMMODATION The three large bespoke boarding houses are on the edge of of the children, also oversee domestic arrangements, ailments the School site, so there is a real sense of going home at the and offer support and kindness if a pupil is homesick or in need end of the day. Wilton House is for younger boys and girls (age of a friendly ear. 7-10), Fortfield House is the girls’ house (age 11-13) and the boys live in Caldecote House (age 11-13). Each of the houses Each house will also have ‘gappers’. These are young adults on has been designed to suit the age of the pupils living in them. a placement year or a year after University, often from Australia, They have, New Zealand and other far flung places. They also live in the house and offer support with day to day activities and act as a games rooms sitting rooms big brother or sister to the boarders, bringing energy, youth and a kitchen prep study room vitality to the houses as well as being an alternative pair of ears dormatories bathrooms to turn to.

Wilton, The Junior Boarding House Kitchen

BOARDING 4 HANDBOOK PREPARATORY SCHOOL THE BOARDING COMMUNITY :

Dan and Kate Fraine Dan and Kate Fraine are the Houseparents of Wilton House. Dan is the Head of Science at the Prep School and has been at the school for seven years. Dan and Kate have two children, Daisy and Toby.

“This will be our third year of being Houseparents and we love it! The campouts, trips to the seaside and circus; bedtime stories, hot chocolate and lots of friends for our own children to play with means we are constantly on the go. It is wonderful being in a house that is so full of life and energy. We have a dog called Hatty, who the children love to pet and play games with.”

Michael and Sophie Cooper Mike and Sophie Cooper are Caldecote's Houseparents. Mike has worked at Dean Close for eight years, primarily as a Maths, Geography and Games teacher and is also responsible for the activities programme and cross-country running. They have two children, Evie and Alfie who both attend the Prep School.

“Being the Houseparent of the boys’ House means we are constantly thinking of new ways to keep them busy whilst ensuring the house feels like home. I am not sure how many of the boys’ homes have a mural and a Beano wall in the living room though! As a family we love to get involved in all of the sports the boys do and getting out and about as much as possible, whilst eating a fair amount of toast!”

Jo and Jonny Sheldon Jo and Jonny Sheldon are the Fortfield Houseparents where they live with their little boy, Ben. Jo has worked at Dean Close for 6 years, primarily as a Junior Forms teacher and previously as Head of PSHCE and Wellbeing. Her husband Jonny is the Head of History and Politics at Dean Close Senior School, where they lived for two years as resident tutors in one of the senior boarding houses.

“We are so excited about being Fortfield Houseparents and throwing ourselves into the fantastic boarding community – with trips, movie nights, trampoline fun, baking, games and lots of laughter! Having boarded myself for 11 years, I know how important it is for Fortfield to be a home from home and how lovely it can be to be a part of such a big ‘family’”.

Caldecote, Boys’ Boarding Bedroom

BOARDING HANDBOOK 5 PREPARATORY SCHOOL THE BOARDING COMMUNITY :

CHAPLAINCY TEAM The Chaplaincy team consists of the School Chaplin and two Lay Assistants. The team provides a lead to Christian life at the School and conducts acts of worship on both a school wide and House basis.

Additionally, the team provides pastoral support to pupils. Dean Close recognises it can be hugely beneficial to seek counsel and share concerns, and the Chaplaincy Team are crucial elements of the pastoral care structure.

SCHOOL COUNSELLOR AND LISTENING SERVICE Dean Close has a School Counsellor who is available to pupils when required. Attending a counselling session requires an appointment to be made.

The School also offers an independent listening service for those who need to share information or seek advice. The sessions are initiated by the pupil and the confidentiality of what is discussed is the same as for the counsellor – unless a seri - ous safeguarding issue is disclosed.

WEEKENDS AND FREE TIME The children are kept super busy and thoroughly occupied after school and at the weekends. The go-karts and trampolines are always popular and the children also enjoy exploring the extensive School grounds. Our woods and brook give children the opportunity to create their own entertainment and the wide range of sports facilities and organised activities mean that they learn to use their time constructively. There is a covered play area, which is floodlit and provides a base for outdoor play, such as football or hockey up until the bed bell.

For boarders, weekends are full of fun and have included ice skating, visits to the cinema, Giffords Circus, trips to the seaside and outings to places of interest such as Drayton Manor Theme Park, @Bristol, Gloucester Rugby Club or Jumptastic. We are well served in this area of the county for places that also offer more physically challenging pursuits such as canoeing, sailing, hill walking or paddle boarding. On Saturday nights there is a different activity organised for the whole Prep School boarding community.

BOARDING 6 HANDBOOK PREPARATORY SCHOOL THE BOARDING COMMUNITY :

ILLNESS In case of illness there is a fully staffed medical centre on site and a hospital two miles down the road, so all medical problems, large or small are dealt with immediately. Residential pastoral assistants also receive medical training and some have nursing experience.

DAY BOARDING Day Boarding allows a child to enjoy the benefits of boarding without, in the first instance, becoming a full boarder. This is an excellent way for many families to begin to experience boarding life. It can be of enormous benefit for extremely busy families and it often serves as a stepping stone to full-time boarding. Pupils can stay up to three nights a week as a day boarder.

OVERSEAS PUPILS Overseas pupils, whether they are from overseas or from expatriate families, need extra care when they are living such a long way from home. We help in the following ways:

For those parents who do not have a guardian in the UK the School is very happy to suggest reputable guardian agencies, with whom they have worked very closely with over many years.

The School can make arrangements to equip children with all the necessary uniform at the School Shop on campus.

Reputable local taxi companies can be recommended by the School Office to transfer children to and from all major airports at the beginning and end of term.

The boarding community work hard to recognise and embrace other cultures by acknowledging notable cultural events throughout the year.

BOARDING HANDBOOK 7 PREPARATORY SCHOOL A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BOARDER :

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BOARDER LEAVE OUT Pupils can go on weekend ‘Leave Out’. Leave Out normally lasts from the end of games commitments on a Saturday until 7.00am Wake up. Get dressed. Sunday evening. 7.25am Be ready downstairs. 7.30am Into the dining hall for a healthy breakfast. Requests need to be placed to the Houseparents in advance 8.00am Back to house, clean teeth and shoes, and at the latest, by the Friday evening before the ‘Leave Out.’ prepare school bag. If the ‘Leave Out’ is with parents or guardians, a telephone call 8.15am Registration and notices. or email will be sufficient. If the ‘Leave Out’ is with another family, permission must be placed in writing by the host family 8.25am Off to school. on the official ‘Leave Out’ form. Follow the School timetable A taxi service can be arranged for pupils who wish to attend 2.15pm Registration, Fortfield and Caldecote in clubs not held at School, such as local football clubs. Taxis House. Wilton on the Covered play area can also be used if a child wishes to visit a friend who is a day 4.35pm Go to Prep or activities. pupil. Although normally day parents are happy to help out 5.1 5/ 5.30pm Year 8 Free time. with drop off and pick-ups. 6.00pm Tea time. 6.30pm Back to house for free time or prep. Call EXEATS, HALF TERMS & HOLIDAYS home, play with friends outside or in the Arrangements for Exeats, half terms and holidays should be house, watch movies, play games, read communicated to the Houseparents. Where flights are involved, or do craft activities. arrangements should be made well in advance to allow your 7.30pm onwards Bed time routine begins. son or daughter to leave and return to School on the dates 8.0 0/ 9.00pm Bed time. shown in the calendar. Please note that the School is unable to accommodate any pupils during the holiday periods.

BOARDING 8 HANDBOOK PREPARATORY SCHOOL COMMUNICATING WITH THE HOUSE :

Communicating with the House

EMAIL Email has become the main way of making contact with members of staff. Your email will be attended to once staff are available and acknowledged within 24hrs; however, some questions and enquiries may take a while longer. Routine matters should be addressed through the House email address. More personal matters should be addressed to the Houseparent.

We do recognise, however, that email is not an ideal medium for all communications and may well not be the right way to deal with some enquiries, or indeed resolve all issues. Therefore, we continue to place great faith in face to face meetings where appropriate. Facebook page. This is a closed group, please send a friend request to be able to access this. It can be found by searching TELEPHONE for DCPS Boarding on Facebook. The Dean Close Facebook Communication by telephone is possible directly to the house. Page is also a great place to find out what is going on There is voicemail on the main telephone line to the throughout the whole school. Houseparents and messages are collected everyday. PUPIL EMAIL The Houseparents also have mobile phones. Please appreciate All pupils have their own Dean Close email address. It is that teaching and other commitments mean it may not always important that pupils access their email routinely. Pupils have be possible to answer a call. Every House has a duty phone for access to computers in the house. routine matters. SKYPE / FACETIME MOBILE TELEPHONES Available via School network. DCPS is a mobile free zone and they should not be brought into School unless permission has been granted by the Deputy POST Head (Operations). Letters and parcels may be sent to pupils. The mail is collected • Smart watches are also not permitted in School. and distributed to the house on a daily basis. The address for • Boarders must leave their mobile phones in their House mail sent to pupils is: during the day, but are allowed access to them once Pupil’s Name School is over. House Name Dean Close School WEEKLY LETTER Lansdown Road A letter is normally sent to parents on a weekly basis, keeping Cheltenham you up to date on the week’s events and activities. Updates and Gloucestershire pictures are regularly posted on the DCPS Boarding Community GL51 6QS

POINTS OF CONTACT

HOUSES HOUSE PARENTS HOUSE NUMBER Duty Phone EMAIL

Caldecote Mr and Mrs M. Cooper 01242 258014 / 07471 351192 [email protected] Wilton Mr and Mrs D. Fraine 01242 258012 / 07471 351165 [email protected] Fortfield Mr and Mrs J. Sheldon 01242 258030 [email protected]

School Office Mrs D. Smith 01242 512217 [email protected] Chaplain Rev’d J. Ash 01242 258032 [email protected] Admissions Mrs R. Chaplin 01242 258001 [email protected] DCPS Health Centre Mrs R. Smith 01242 258080 or 01242 258046 [email protected] Bursar Mr A. Bowcher 01242 258086 [email protected] School Shop Mrs K. Wood 01242 258016 [email protected] PA to Headmaster Ms S. Clark 01242 512217 [email protected]

BOARDING HANDBOOK 9 PREPARATORY SCHOOL MY BEST BOARDING BITS :

My best boarding bits!

These are some thoughts from our current boarders:

In the summer we camped out all night in the garden. We sang songs around the fire pit and roasted marshmallows, it was like being on holiday.

Today we went to Giffords Circus, where I saw small dogs riding on ponies.

Drayton Manor is my favourite trip, I just love getting soaking wet when we go down the log flume.

Archery, the assault course, zorbing are just a few of the fantastic activities we get up to on our Mojo Active weekends – they are the best!

When I was sad and missing my mum, matron helped me make a cake and I shared We had the chance to go to Twickenham Rugby it with my ground, which was fantastic! The players were friends. super-fast and the distance they could cover quickly was incredible.

BOARDING 10 HANDBOOK PREPARATORY SCHOOL LOCATION :

Location

Dean Close School is situated in Southwest England in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in the midst of the picturesque Cotswolds. It is easily reached from Junction 11 of the M5 motorway via the A40, or from the nearby Cheltenham Spa railway station. The School is a five minute taxi ride or a ten minute walk from the station. Train times can be found on www.nationalrail.co.uk The nearest international airports are Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff which are all about one hour away by car. There is a local airport at Staverton.

The School sits on the largest plot of privately owned land in Cheltenham, just off the outskirts of the Regency town. The Preparatory School is located on Lansdown Road, and for SatNav purposes, visitors should enter the postcode GL51 6QS. Visitors should come through the iron gates into our Visitors’ Car Park located at the front of School.

On the School website (www.deanclose.org.uk) you will find links to Google maps as well as a range of downloadable site maps.

Recommened Local Taxi Company 727: 01242 523523

Dean Close Preparatory School Lansdown Road, Cheltenham, Glos, GL51 6QS www.deanclose.org.uk 01242 512217

Watch some of our It’s Home time Discover what our Junior Boarders get up to boarding videos when they are not at School

A day in the life of a boarder One of our pupils share a typical day in the life of a DCPS Boarder.

What our parents say Hear about the experiences of some of our boarding parents.

BOARDING HANDBOOK 11 DEAN DC CLOSE CHELTENHAM

PREPARATORY S CHOOL

DEAN CLOSE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Lansdown Road Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL51 6QS

Telephone 01242 512217 Email [email protected] www.deanclose.org.uk