Pastoral Care

Every pupil at Abbot’s Hill — from Reception right through to Year 11 — belongs to one of our three Clans: Cameron, MacDonald and Macneil. The Clan system has been part of Abbot’s Hill since the school’s earliest days, rooted in the Scottish heritage of our founders Miss Alice, Miss Katrine and Miss Mary Baird, who established the school in 1912.

Clans bring together pupils across all year groups — so a child in Reception belongs to the same Clan as pupils in Year 7 or Year 11. This cross-year structure gives even our youngest children a strong sense of belonging and connection to the wider school community from their very first term. Clan points are awarded for excellent work and contributions, celebrated in assemblies, and Clan competitions provide a wide range of opportunities for every child to participate and shine.

For Pre-Prep children, the Clan system is a particularly gentle and reassuring introduction to school life — they are part of something bigger from day one.

Supporting children’s social and emotional development is as important to us as their academic progress. Our structured PSHE programme runs throughout Pre-Prep, giving children a language for their feelings, tools for managing new situations, and the foundations of positive relationships.

We provide a regular, safe space for children to talk, listen and reflect together. These sessions are led by class teachers who know their pupils well, and they complement the pastoral care that flows through every lesson, every break time, and every transition in the school day.

A wide range of freshly prepared, nutritious food is provided by our in-house catering team each day. All pupils enjoy a choice of mid-morning snacks and a varied hot lunch menu, carefully designed to suit the needs and tastes of children at this age. Our catering team can accommodate dietary requirements including allergies, religious dietary needs and lifestyle choices — please let us know when you register your child so that arrangements are in place from their very first day.

An optional Breakfast Club is available from 7.45am for families who need early morning provision.

The health and physical wellbeing of every Pre-Prep child is in safe hands at Abbot’s Hill. Our school Surgery, located in the Main House, is staffed by fully qualified School Nurses who provide medical care for pupils who are unwell during the school day and first aid for minor injuries.

Our nursing team works closely with families and, where relevant, with external healthcare professionals, to ensure that any medical needs — routine or more complex — are known, planned for and well managed. Please inform us of any medical conditions or requirements during the admissions process so that we can ensure everything is in place before your child starts.

All pupils at Abbot’s Hill have access to our School Counsellor, who provides a confidential, professional space for children who would benefit from additional emotional or wellbeing support.

We will always seek your permission before your child accesses this service, and conversations remain confidential except where a safeguarding concern is identified, in which case we follow our safeguarding policy and will communicate with you appropriately.

If you have any concerns about your child’s emotional wellbeing at any point, please speak with their class teacher in the first instance — we would always rather hear from you early than have a worry go unaddressed.

Our Learning Support department provides tailored, expert assistance for pupils with a range of learning differences, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD and other needs. Support can be provided in-class, in small groups, or in individual sessions, depending on what best serves each child.

We work closely with families and external specialists throughout the process, and our approach to learning support was recognised with a Highly Commended award at the Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Awards 2025 — external recognition that reflects what we see every day: children getting the right support, at the right time, from people who know them well.

If you have any questions about learning support for your child, please contact our Admissions team before or during the application process — we are very happy to discuss your child’s needs in confidence.

Find out more about Learning Support at Abbot’s Hill

We treasure our relationship with Pre-Prep families. You know your child better than anyone, and we are at our best when we work together. From informal chats at the school gate to structured parents’ evenings and written reports, we keep communication open, warm and honest throughout your child’s time in Pre-Prep.

If something is on your mind — however small it might seem — please do get in touch. Our Pre-Prep team is always available for a conversation, and our Admissions team is happy to answer any questions before your child joins us.

As children approach the end of Year 2, we prepare them carefully and warmly for the move into Prep School at Year 3. The transition is supported by our staff across both sections of the school, and because children remain within the same Abbot’s Hill community — with the same Clan, the same grounds, and many of the same friends — it is a step forward they almost always make with real confidence and excitement.

Find out more about moving on to Prep School