Ready to learn
Choosing a school at age five can feel daunting, but at Colchester Prep & High School we support both you and your child every step of the way.
In our warm and welcoming Reception classroom, pupils flourish into happy, confident, independent learners with a natural curiosity about the world around them.
Discover Reception
If your child is starting school in September, we invite you to arrange a personal tour and discover how we can give them the very best start to their education.
- Meet our dedicated, experienced staff and watch our pupils in action
- Explore our warm and welcoming Reception classroom
- Learn about our Reception curriculum and why we are rated double 'Excellent' by independent school inspectors and our parents!
With limited Reception places available for September 2025 entry, we encourage you to book today!
OUR APPROACH
An individualised approach
With class sizes under 15, our teachers know each child personally, tailoring lessons to their needs. By balancing challenge with support, they help pupils build confidence, self-belief, and reach their full potential, ensuring every child feels valued, motivated, and inspired.
Our happy, confident and independent children
CURRICULUM
An enhanced curriculum
Our Reception pupils enjoy a rich, immersive curriculum enhanced by specialist lessons in PE, Computer Science, Music, Modern Languages, and weekly Forest School. They also take part in a variety of extra-curricular clubs, helping them discover new talents, broaden their knowledge, and explore the world around them.
Discovering the joy of reading
Our children are encouraged to explore and share books, listen to stories, and engage in role play. They follow a daily structured phonics programme and are heard reading every day. By the end of Reception, our pupils are, on average, two years ahead of their chronological reading age, according to the Hertfordshire Reading Tests.
OUTDOOR LEARNING
Learning in the great outdoors
Our Early Years outdoor area extends learning beyond the classroom, allowing children to explore the environment, equipment, and resources, supporting both their understanding of the world and physical development. Reception pupils also enjoy weekly Forest School lessons, where climbing, exploring, running, jumping, balancing, and insect hunting, what they call “getting muddy”, offer rich hands-on learning experiences.
ACADEMIC RESULTS
Our excellent results at the end of Reception
By the end of Reception, most pupils exceed their Early Years Learning Goals, typically working a year ahead academically. More importantly, they are confident, happy, and curious learners who arrive at school each day eager to learn.
WHAT NEXT?
We are here to help
We can provide your child with the best possible start to their educational journey and look forward to talking to you about your child and their needs.
If you would like to learn more about our Reception provision, please contact our Admissions Team on 01206 589998 or email admissions@colchesterhighschool.co.uk.
You can also read our blogs on What to Look for in a Primary School? and Preparing your child for Reception.