First Steps at KES - Reception | Pre-Prep & Junior School

WELCOME TO RECEPTION

Reception is the next step on the KES journey following on from our pre-school year in Nursery or equally, it can be an exciting entry point to start your child’s educational journey at King Edward’s.

Leaders in the early years create a dynamic and responsive learning environment. Highly trained attentive staff support children to participate actively in their learning, achieve well, and form secure relationships."

ISI REPORT 2026

Children have plenty of opportunities for developing their own interests and are encouraged to share news from home using our Interactive Learning Diary. Parents are kept up to date with their child’s learning using this web-based resource which shows photos, videos and comments about aspects of their child’s day at school.

Frequently Asked Questions

JOINING RECEPTION
Children joining Reception are informally evaluated in small groups during ‘stay and play’ sessions before a place is offered. Experienced staff support the children as they play, reading stories, using the construction equipment and even role-play. This takes the form of age-appropriate activities to assess gross, fine motor skills and other basic abilities. If you are interested in sending your child to our Reception or would like to arrange a visit to see for yourself what makes our Reception so special, please contact our Admissions team on 01225 820399 or email: admissions@kesbath.com.
CROSS-CURRICULAR LEARNING
Our cross-curricular topic-based learning integrates the rich diversity of learning skills and knowledge contained within our curriculum. The humanities subjects along with art, music, and literature are taught in a carefully planned programme which helps our children to develop a curiosity and love for learning about diverse cultures, histories, and the wider world around them.
PRE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE
At the Pre-Prep site, we offer both pre- and after-school care. This takes place in Teddy’s Lodge, located at the front of the School. From September 2026, pre- and after-school care will be located at the Junior School site only. This is a pre-bookable service, which must be booked in advance on the School’s Gateway App. Each session is supervised by experienced professionals. There is a charge for this service. EARLY BIRDS 8:00am – 8:30am Doors open at 8:00am All children are escorted to the playground for the start of the school day, and Nursery children are taken to their classroom Early Bird charges are £2.00 per session AFTER-SCHOOL CARE 3:15pm – 5:45pm Children attending an after-school activity will be escorted to Teddy's Lodge. Session 1: 3.30pm* - 4.30pm and/or Session 2: 4.30pm - 5.45pm Charges are set at the following rate: £4.00 per session. *The first 15 minutes of After School Care is free for all pupils.