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’”.