Whippets
A play-based approach to learning.
Whippets Pre-Prep
Whippets Pre-Prep embraces the values and ethos of WHPS, offering a high quality preschool education for boys and girls, which is focussed on preparing children for Grade 0.
At WHPS, we believe in laying the strongest foundation for your child’s educational journey.
Our Whippets Pre-Prep programme, starting from Grade 0000, focusses on early childhood development with a play-based approach.
We emphasise values such as appreciation, courage, integrity, passion, respect and responsibility.
Whippets Pre-Prep Educational Philosophy:
Our aim is to support each child’s development and help them reach their full potential. We offer a caring and stimulating environment with spaces for play, quiet time, reading, building, and creativity.
We focus on building independence, confidence, and positive social skills. Children are encouraged to work both individually with their teacher and collaboratively with their peers. We celebrate diversity and teach values and good manners.
Learning is not confined to the classroom. Children are free to explore and interact in meaningful ways, helping them feel secure and loved in their surroundings.
Our approach is play-based, combining structured activities, free play, and creative lessons. We follow the Early Childhood Development (ECD) curriculum endorsed by ISASA, using a theme-based teaching method.
Children are guided through the following areas of learning:
- Social and Emotional Development – Building self-worth, independence, and responsibility.
- Cognitive and Perceptual Development – Developing thinking skills, problem-solving, sequencing, and shape recognition.
- Physical Development – Supporting fine motor skills (small muscle control) and gross motor skills (balance, coordination, and strength).
- Language – Encouraging listening, speaking, and early literacy.
- Numeracy – Introducing numbers, patterns, time, measurement, and shapes
- Knowledge and Skills – Expanding understanding of the world and teaching age-appropriate life skills.
- Creative Arts – Exploring music, movement, drama, and visual arts to inspire imagination and originality.
The best for your child
Early childhood development lays the foundation for a child’s future success and wellbeing.
The formative years of a child’s life, from birth to age eight, are crucial for shaping their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
Understanding the importance of early childhood development is key for parents seeking to provide the best possible start for their children.
- COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: The early years are a critical period for brain development, with neural connections forming rapidly, based on a child’s experiences and interactions. Stimulating environments and positive interactions during early childhood can have a lasting impact on a child’s cognitive abilities and learning capacities.
- SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS: Early childhood is a time when children develop essential social and emotional skills such as empathy, self-regulation, and communication. Building strong social and emotional foundations in early childhood leads to better relationships, resilience, and emotional growth in later life.
- LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION: Language development during early childhood provides the basis for effective communication and literacy skills later in life. Exposure to rich language environments, conversations, and storytelling enhances a child’s vocabulary, comprehension, and expressive abilities.
- PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: Early childhood development is crucial for establishing healthy lifestyle habits, including nutrition, physical activity, and self-care routines. Good health practices established in early childhood can contribute to lifelong well-being and disease prevention.
- LEARNING READINESS: Early childhood experiences shape a child’s readiness and eagerness to learn, setting the stage for academic success in school and beyond. Play-based learning, exploration, and discovery activities foster curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning.
MUSIC AND DRAMA
The facilities and resources, for which WHPS is renowned, are available to the Pre-Prep.. Whippets Music and Drama lessons are included in the Pre-Prep curriculum from Grade 000.
The boys and girls are given the opportunity to grow in confidence through their performance at their Annual Whippets Concert.
Swimming
All Grade 000 and Grade 00 boys and girls are required to be enrolled in swimming lessons as a condition of their acceptance. Parents may choose to use any Swim School of their choice, however, we recommend Little Giants who operate from the WHPS Confidence Pool, which is heated. Once Grade 0000 children move to Grade 000 they will be required to be enrolled in swimming lessons.
During Term 1 and 2 teachers will take the children for class swimming once a week allowing for the opportunity for fun water play.
Playball
Playball is offered once a week as part of the curriculum and is included in the school fees. Children will work through a serious of age-appropriate skills throughout the year.
Extra-Curricular Activities
These activities are provided by approved private companies, that operate on the school premises. They are not included in the school fees and are an optional extra.
- Swimming
- Judo
- Cricket
- PlayGolf
- Soccer
- Mini Chess
- Young Engineers
- Little Titans Cricket
- Play Tennis Academy
Daily Schedule & Routine
At Whippets Pre-Prep, we believe that consistency and structure are essential for young children’s development. Our daily schedule in Grade 0000 provides a balance between structured learning, free play, rest, and exploration, ensuring that each child receives the best possible early learning experience.
Click here for the Grade 0000 daily schedule
Click here for the Grade 000 daily schedule
Click here for the Grade 00 daily schedule
School Hours & Drop-Off / Pick-Up Policy
Parent Involvement & Communication
Special Skills Sharing: Parents with unique skills or professions (e.g., music, cooking, art, dentist, vet etc) may be invited to present an educational talk or activity.
Mommy and Me Morning / Dads and Lads and Lasses: These events provide an opportunity for parents to enjoy time with their children and the other parents in the class. Invitations will be communicated on the D6.
Whippets Garden Project: A wonderful opportunity for children and parents to volunteer to spend time in the Whippets Pre-Prep garden during the Spring.
WHPS Parents Association Events: The WHPS Parents Association hosts parent and family events throughout the year. Parents are encouraged to attend these and get involved by volunteering their assistance in various ways. Event details will be communicated on the D6.
WHPS uses the D6 Communicator as its main communication platform.
School reports are published on the Ed-Admin Multi-Portal App (no hard copies are provided).
A weekly newsletter is published every Friday on D6.
Term Dates 2026
The detailed dates of the school terms can be found on the D6 Communicator. It is imperative that you consult the D6 on a daily basis. Changes or updates will be communicated via the D6.
Term 1: Wednesday, 14 January to Thursday, 2 April
Term 1 Holiday Club: 7 to 10 April; 13 to 17 April; and 20 to 24 April*
Term 2: Tuesday, 5 May to Friday, 7 August
Term 2 Holiday Club: 11 to 14 August; 17 to 21 August; and 24 to 28 August*
Term 3: Tuesday, 8 September to Wednesday, 2 December
Term 3 Holiday Club: 7 to 11 December and 14 to 15 December*
*Attendance at holiday club will need to be booked in advance each term. Communication and booking details in this regard will be published on the D6.
*Holiday Club will run from 8:00AM to 4:00PM
*No breakfast will be provided for Grade 0000 children during holiday club.
