Our extensive range of specialisms is crucial for developing ‘the whole child’
We introduce specialist peripatetic instructors from the outset of the Reception Cycle for music, PE/sports, French and dance. Other prominent subjects like outdoor learning, art, drama, IT or woodwork are taught by our class teachers and overseen by dedicated co-ordinators.In addition, a full-time Learning Support Lead and SENDCO oversees identification of individual needs to enable effective support.Outdoor learning
One of our ultimate aims is to instill in our children a love of being outside, which we hope will last them for their lifetimes. We believe strongly in the benefits of taking the learning outside across all areas of the curriculum, for the children’s physical and emotional wellbeing. But also because children learn differently outdoors.
We like to use nature as our teacher, giving children the chance to explore its many resources – such as leaves and pebbles, but also water, insects, plants and much more – and to learn from them.
We have two outstanding spaces for our outdoor learning: a carefully designed naturalistic garden at our Kindergarten site, and a wild woodland area at our main site.
After receiving Gold in the Woodland Trust’s Green Tree Schools Award Scheme for our efforts to inspire the children to learn about trees, woods and wildlife in summer 2023, we were proud to receive the highest Platinum award in summer 2024.
Learning Support
An important aspect of our tailored provision is to identify pupils’ individual needs in order to cater for them effectively. At our children’s young age, any such needs are often only just emerging, and early intervention and support can be crucial for optimal development. This includes ‘stretching’ those children who progress at a faster rate than others.
The School’s Learning Support provision is led and coordinated by Carla Diego, our highly qualified and experienced full-time Learning Support Lead and SENDCO (Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator).
Ms Diego is also the School’s appointed DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) as well as a member of the middle leadership team. In this short video, she explains how she works right across the school as integral member of the team, day-in and day-out.
PE/Sports
We are mindful of the children’s substantial physical development during their time with us and therefore put major emphasis on sports and physical education. All children have several sessions each week encompassing gym, dance, individual sports and many team games. Through this broad range of activities, we aim for them to:
- Develop their physical abilities such as coordination, speed, strength and ball skills
- Enjoy fitness and physical exercise, on site and at local facilities
- Appreciate the contribution of physical exercise to a healthy lifestyle
- Discover their sporting talents and passions
- Respect all levels of ability
- Be disciplined as individuals or as part of a team.
Music & Drama
Music and drama play an integral role in our curriculum, with our Director of Music providing specialist teaching from Pre-Reception.
As voice is every child’s first instrument, singing is developed extensively, along with the theory and appreciation of music. Recorder lessons are introduced from Year 1, often taught in half-classes to maximise the children’s progress. In addition, Key Stage 1 pupils can sign up, for a reasonable additional fee, for optional individual piano and violin tuition delivered by excellent peripatetic teachers.
‘Drama’ is omnipresent in its many forms (pretending, acting, reciting poetry, miming, etc.) as it provides for effortless and enjoyable ways to reinforce self-expression, imagination, speaking, listening, self-confidence and teamwork.
There are rich role-play corners in every classroom, and from Pre-Reception the children participate in a carefully thought-out progression of performances, up to the Years 1 and 2 grand finale summer play.
French
We firmly believe in the advantages of learning foreign languages, especially from an early age. We already introduce French from Pre-Reception because at this age children can pick up the basics of a foreign language effortlessly. It also exposes them to the concept of other languages and stimulates their appreciation of different countries, cultures and communities, hopefully motivating them to pursue learning foreign languages in the future.
In Pre-Reception, children are exposed to the sounds of the French language, through for example singing French nursery rhymes and playing games. From Reception, we take this further and work on children’s understanding of the French language, their listening and speaking skills, and in Year 2 on their writing skills too. Two French lessons per week ensure that the children’s conversational skills and vocabulary continue to build at a steady pace throughout Key Stage 1.
Dance
Dance helps children develop not only physically but in all other domain areas. It encourages them to express themselves in different ways and be more creative. It also gives them the freedom to channel their energies and emotions in a safe environment, therefore helping them grow in confidence and self-esteem.
Our dance classes are linked to the topics that the whole school works on each term, ensuring that learning is cohesive and mutually reinforcing.
During the year we create performance opportunities for our children, bringing together drama, music and dance.
We also offer Hip Hop after school clubs for Year 2 children, which are incredibly popular.
Trees
Trees are magical. They allow us to broach the crucial subject of sustainability, and help the children to understand and appreciate nature and caring for the environment.
At Herne Hill School, we embrace trees as a rich, natural learning platform. Every class is named after an indigenous species of tree, and at our main site, our two buildings besides the Old Vicarage are also named after trees – Mulberry and Oak.
Most importantly, we are uniquely privileged to have a large, wonderful woodland area at our main site and a naturalistic play (and tree!) garden at our Kindergarten. Both of these nature spaces provide countless cross-curricular outdoor learning opportunities for the children.
We are proud to have been awarded Platinum in the Woodland Trust’s Green Tree Schools Award in 2024 for our efforts to inspire the children to learn about trees, woods and wildlife.
IT
From the Reception Cycle, we bring technology into the classroom, making it a natural part of everyday life rather than teaching it separately in a computer lab. Although IT will never replace the inspiration and stimulation provided by our teachers, it is a fantastic tool to support learning and help connect with sometimes reluctant learners.
We were early adopters of interactive whiteboards ant large touchscreen computers in all classrooms and make extensive use of online education programmes to complement our teaching. Class sets of iPads and laptops allow for hands-on experience, both working individually and as part of class computing lessons. We also utilise various programmable ‘toys’ and software to provide opportunities for basic coding.
Art
We have a strong tradition of teaching fine art, with pupils from all year groups routinely winning prizes in the annual Independent Schools Association’s competition. In 2022, we won the ISA Award for Excellence and Innovation in Art and Design, something we are extremely proud of.
Fine art is a great way of enhancing young children’s development: it provides them with perseverance, communication and team-work. All children are naturally creative and imaginative, and art is critical in enabling them to develop these gifts and express themselves freely. They use colours, forms, textures, patterns and different materials and processes to communicate what they see, feel and think.
Art is part of everyday school life at Herne Hill School, from mark-making in Kindergarten to recreating famous artists’ painting techniques in Year 2. Children are taught specific skills within a wide range of media and given the freedom to express and advance their own creative ideas.
From Pre-Reception onwards, children also have regular woodwork lessons, where they have the chance to make their own 3D creations and learn how to use tools safely and independently.
Woodwork
Woodwork is unique in its ability to captivate young children’s interests and keep them engrossed for literally hours. It has huge benefits across all areas of their learning as it requires dexterity and strength, problem solving, mathematical and critical thinking skills, as well as, a can-do attitude. It is an engaging, alternative form of creative self-expression for many of our children.
Woodwork also offers children a unique opportunity to manage risk and recognise and assess hazards in a safe, supervised environment. We introduce them to hammers, screwdrivers, drills and saws as they are developmentally ready and feel a sense of empowerment at being trusted to work with real tools. There is something magical about witnessing the Reception Cycle and Key Stage 1 children working on their woodwork projects, on our woodwork benches, in our wonderful woodland area.
