Learning languages and promoting play at our Prep School in Hertfordshire.

At our Prep School in Hertfordshire, play is at the heart of everything we do. We understand the importance of play in developing interpersonal skills and problem-solving, ensuring that every moment of fun has a crucial piece of learning behind it.

To celebrate International Day of Play, Year 6 pupils ran a teambuilding exercise that tested the children’s ability to communicate with one another without words. Teams of Prep pupils were tasked with transporting themselves across the 3G astro using crates – in complete silence! To make the game even more challenging, the Year 6s tried to block their progress to encourage the children to develop their problem-solving abilities. The Prep pupils were impressively silent as they worked together to complete the task, showcasing their creativity and collaboration. The Year 6s worked incredibly hard to run the event and demonstrated fantastic leadership skills. At the end of the session, the Prep pupils expressed their thanks to the Year 6s: “They made it really fun,” one pupil said. “They were very supportive,” said another.

Elsewhere at Berkhamsted Prep, pupils were transported to different countries as we celebrated Languages Day. We were delighted to welcome a representative from Dance Days to run an African dance workshop with the pupils, introducing them to different styles of music and dance from the continent. From the Nigerian zanku to the South African gumboot dancing, pupils had great fun learning new moves and enjoying the African music. This was certainly a chance to Be Adventurous and discover new cultures.

We were also treated to a visit from some Year 12 students who generously gave up their time to lead language lessons with the Prep pupils. It is always so special to see Sixth students return to the Prep and interact with the younger years – their kindness and leadership abilities shone through and encapsulated our value of service. Plus, their language abilities were truly inspiring! The students organised activities to teach the Prep pupils new vocabulary in French, Spanish and Mandarin, while Prep teachers led classes in Polish and Latin. With such a spread of languages across the day, pupils came away buzzing with new words and an appreciation of our global society.

Combining a love for languages with an appreciation of play, Berkhamsted Prep has been jam-packed with activities that take pupils beyond the curriculum. A huge thank you to all our staff and student volunteers for helping make the day such a success.

Find out more about our Prep School in Hertfordshire.