Our Infants centre gives children aged 5 to 7 a warm, encouraging next step after Reception. In Years 1 and 2, children begin to build stronger learning habits while still being known, supported and given time to enjoy the wonder of these early school years.
We want children to feel happy, confident and ready to try. Small classes, caring teachers, practical learning and rich opportunities help children grow academically and personally while feeling part of the wider Meoncross community.
INFANTS AT MEONCROSS
Welcome to our Infants
The Infant years are an important bridge between the first routines of Reception and the growing independence of Junior School. At Meoncross, children continue to learn in a familiar, caring environment where staff know them well and help them take each next step with confidence.
Children in our Infants benefit from smaller class sizes, which means teachers can give more personal attention and differentiation. This matters at an age when children are developing confidence, finding their voice and learning how to approach new challenges.
We want every child to feel safe enough to give things a go. When children are encouraged, cared for and understood, they can build friendships, enjoy learning and begin to see what they are capable of achieving.
NEXT STEPS:
STRONG FOUNDATIONS
Learning that builds strong foundations
English, Mathematics and Science form the core subjects in the Infants. These foundations are supported by a broad, balanced and immersive curriculum that keeps creativity and the Arts as an important part of children's learning.
Children are taught in ways that help them understand, practise and apply new skills. Practical and creative lessons give them chances to talk, question, investigate, make, perform and connect learning with the world around them.
Children in Years 1 to 6 at Meoncross achieve significantly higher than national averages in standardised tests in both maths and English. In the Infants, that academic progress is built carefully through personal attention, strong relationships and learning that children can engage with.
BEACH SCHOOL
Beach School and outdoor learning
Year 1 and Year 2 visit the beach and the wider local area as part of their curriculum. We believe children should experience the natural world at every opportunity, especially while they are still learning through movement, curiosity and first-hand discovery.
Beach School and Outdoor Learning help children learn beyond four walls. They give pupils space to notice, explore, ask questions and develop confidence in settings that feel memorable and meaningful.
These experiences support both academic and personal development. Children can use what they see and do outdoors to inspire conversation, writing, creative work, scientific thinking and a deeper understanding of the local area around them.
SPECIALIST TEACHING
Specialist teaching and school spaces
Infant children benefit from specialist teaching in PE, French, Music and Singing, and Performing Arts. These lessons are taught by Upper School teachers and take place outside the normal classroom, helping children experience different subject environments from a young age.
This specialist teaching gives children continuity across the curriculum and supports their physical and emotional wellbeing. They become familiar with the wider school surroundings while learning from teachers with subject expertise.
The facilities children may use include our 6-acre Sports Ground, Performing Arts Studio, Music Room and all-weather Astro Pitch. These spaces help enrich learning and give children varied ways to move, perform, listen, create and build confidence.
PASTORAL CARE
Care that supports confidence
Children in the Infants are known by staff across the school. That familiarity helps them feel safe and secure in their learning, so they are not afraid to try, make mistakes and try again.
Personal, Health and Social Education lessons help children understand positive relationships, good manners and how to stay safe, including E-Safety. These lessons support the social and emotional skills children need alongside their academic learning.
One Meoncross parent shared that their daughter comes home beaming every day, with confidence growing in the small classes. That sense of being understood matters, because children learn best when they feel seen by the adults around them.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
MAP activities and wraparound care
Children in our Infants benefit from varied opportunities through the Meoncross Activities Programme, known as MAP. These activities add breadth to school life and give children more ways to explore interests, friendships and confidence.
MAP includes a range of fun, exciting and interesting extra-curricular activities at lunchtimes and after school every week. In addition, Passport activities run every Wednesday afternoon for Years 1 to 8, with enrichment linked to a whole-school focus or shaped around Infant learning.
Before and After School Club is available from 7.30am to 6.00pm during term time for children aged 2.5 to 11. Little Lagooners Holiday Club is available during school holidays from 8.00am to 6.00pm for children aged 2.5 to 11, with a closure over the Christmas period.
Moving on from Infants
Visit the Infants and meet our team
The best way to understand the Infants at Meoncross is to visit, meet our staff and see how the learning feels for your child. A visit gives you time to ask about class sizes, curriculum, Beach School, specialist teaching, MAP activities, wraparound care and the move towards Junior School.
Families can book a visit, make an enquiry or contact admissions to discuss the next step. We will help you understand availability, entry into Years 1 or 2 and how Meoncross could support your child's early school years.
Join us for an Open Morning
At our Open Mornings you will have the opportunity to meet our Head and other key members of staff, and learn more about what a Meoncross education looks like.
Please click below to register to attend our upcoming Open Morning. We can’t wait to meet you!
Upcoming Open Events:
Open Morning: Friday 20th November, 10.30am-12pm