Starting school is a milestone for every family, and at The Lyceum we make sure it is a joyful one. Our Reception class welcomes children from the September after their fourth birthday into a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment. As a small, independent pre prep school in the heart of the City of London, we believe the early years should be full of curiosity, kindness and discovery. Our Reception curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and our children regularly achieve beyond its expectations. Through a careful balance of purposeful play and structured teaching, we lay strong foundations in literacy and numeracy while nurturing every child’s confidence, independence and personal development. That’s why so many families searching for pre prep schools in London choose to begin their journey with us.
Why Choose Our Pre-Prep School in London?
Reception is your child’s first step into school life, and choosing the right setting matters. Here is what makes The Lyceum special:
- An independent education that combines creativity with academic ambition, a philosophy we have followed since our founding in 1997.
- Small class sizes so every child is known, understood and celebrated as an individual.
- Specialist teachers who lead weekly lessons in STEAM, Spanish, music, PE and dance, and yoga, alongside our dedicated Early Years team.
- Individual attention that allows us to spot each child’s strengths early and support their next steps.
- A central London location close to Liverpool Street, Old Street and Moorgate. We have our own playground, rare in the City, as well as a garden at nearby Spitalfields City Farm.
- Outstanding pastoral care, with a calm, happy atmosphere in which every child feels safe and valued.
- Strong academic foundations in phonics, reading, writing and mathematics that prepare children for Year 1 and beyond.
| Key features | Details |
| Curriculum | EYFS-led learning |
| Teaching | Dedicated Early Years teachers and specialist subject teachers |
| Class sizes | Small classes |
| Learning style | Play-based and structured learning |
| Environment | Safe, nurturing and stimulating |
| Progression | Smooth transition into Year 1 |
For younger children, nursery provision is available within our building through Hopes and Dreams Montessori.
The Reception Curriculum
In England, the Reception curriculum is set by the Department for Education’s statutory Early Years Foundation Stage framework. The Reception class curriculum covers seven areas of learning. There are three prime areas (communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development) and four specific areas (literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design).
At The Lyceum, we bring these areas to life through exciting themes such as Under the Sea, Dinosaurs and Fairyland, so children make connections across their learning. Here’s how our Reception curriculum (UK EYFS) looks in practice:
- Early literacy. Children learn to read through a systematic phonics programme, starting with the sounds s, a, t, p, i and n so they can blend simple words quickly. They progress to digraphs, trigraphs and “tricky words”, and begin to write simple sentences. Parent workshops help families support reading at home.
- Early mathematics. From number recognition to adding, subtracting, halving and doubling, children develop a secure understanding of number through practical, real-world problems. They also learn the mathematical language that prepares them for White Rose Maths in Year 1.
- Communication and language. Stories, songs, role play and show-and-tell build vocabulary, listening skills and the confidence to speak in front of others.
- Understanding the world. Trips around London, park visits and caring for plants and animals at our Spitalfields City Farm garden help children explore their community and the natural world.
- Physical development. Weekly PE and dance, outdoor play and activities that build fine motor skills, such as threading, cutting and early handwriting, develop coordination and control.
- Expressive arts and design. Music, art, role play and our weekly STEAM lessons encourage children to imagine, create and express themselves.
- Personal, social and emotional development. Circle Time, daily feelings check-ins and a focus on kindness help children build friendships, manage their emotions and grow in confidence.
Read our detailed guide to the Reception curriculum for more on each area.
Learning Through Play
Play is how young children make sense of the world, and in our Reception class it is purposeful, planned and carefully observed. Our teachers set up rich learning environments and join children in their play, extending their thinking with questions and new challenges. Purposeful play supports:
- Problem solving. Building a bridge for a toy dinosaur or working out how to share snacks fairly.
- Communication. Role play in a themed “under the sea” café or a fairytale castle builds vocabulary and storytelling.
- Confidence. Children try new things, take safe risks and celebrate their successes.
- Collaboration. Working together on a model or game teaches turn-taking, negotiation and teamwork.
- Independence. Children choose activities, manage resources and see tasks through.
- Curiosity. Open-ended exploration encourages children to ask “why?” and “what if?”
- Creativity. Painting, making, music and imaginative play let every child express their ideas.
Each of these links directly to the EYFS Early Learning Goals. Together, they build the characteristics of effective learning (playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically) that make children ready for the more formal learning of Year 1.
A Typical Day in Reception
Our Reception day follows a slightly more structured rhythm than nursery, balancing focused teaching with time to explore independently:
- Morning welcome. Staff greet every child at the door, helping them settle in and hang up their own belongings. Registration and a feelings check-in follow.
- Phonics and literacy. A lively daily phonics session, followed by reading and early writing.
- Snack and play. A healthy snack and time outdoors in our playground.
- Mathematics. Hands-on number work using games, stories and practical resources.
- Continuous provision. Children choose from carefully planned activities around the classroom, from the reading corner to the creative table.
- Lunch. A freshly prepared, healthy lunch in our dining hall.
- Outdoor learning and specialist lessons. Afternoons bring topic work, park visits and specialist lessons such as STEAM, Spanish, music, PE and dance, or yoga.
- Creative learning. Art, music and role play linked to the class theme.
- Story time. Gathering together for a shared story to wind down.
- Reflection and home time. Children look back on their day before home time or our after-school clubs, which include Lego Club, Mini Movers and Story Time.
Mealtimes
Mealtimes are an important part of the Reception day. Our children enjoy healthy, freshly prepared lunches in a bright canteen decorated with murals of the City skyline. Menus often include themed meals linked to class topics and national celebrations. Children also bring two healthy snacks each day, fruit for the morning and a savoury snack for the afternoon, and all snacks must be nut-free.
Our EYFS team supervises snack and lunch, gently encouraging healthy eating habits and keeping an eye on how well each child is eating. We carefully cater for dietary requirements and allergies. Mealtimes are also a valuable social occasion: children practise good manners, chat with friends and grow in independence as they learn to manage their own lunch, all of which supports their wellbeing.
Emotional Wellbeing
Children learn best when they feel safe, happy and secure. Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) is a prime area of the EYFS, and at The Lyceum it underpins everything we do. We keep a calm, happy atmosphere where kindness is embedded in daily routines.
Each day, children share how they are feeling using visual feelings charts, which helps them name their emotions and learn simple strategies to manage them. Weekly Circle Time lessons explore friendship, feelings and resilience, and assemblies focus on wellbeing and mental health. We encourage a growth mindset, so children learn that mistakes are part of learning.
Our pastoral care begins before your child’s first day, with a gentle transition that helps children settle happily into Reception. Throughout the year, our team supports each child through challenges and celebrates their successes. This strong emotional foundation builds the resilience and confidence that underpin both academic success and school readiness.
Admissions for Reception
We offer Reception places following your child’s fourth birthday. Families meet our Headmaster, and children spend some time in the classroom with us, so we can make sure The Lyceum is the right fit. Explore our admissions page for the full admissions process and entry dates, complete our online application form, review our fees or download our prospectus.
