WAVES360
Ride the Waves of Opportunity
A progressive co-curricular programme for every child
Nursery to Year 6 – purposeful experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom
OUR VISION
Friday afternoon is WAVES360: a protected, timetabled opportunity for pupils to explore, participate, contribute and grow.
A new dimension to Windrush Valley Prep School and Nursery education
WAVES360 is our whole-school co-curricular programme, designed to broaden children’s horizons while strengthening the knowledge, values, skills, and character developed across school life. Every Friday afternoon, pupils from Nursery to Year 6 will take part in carefully planned experiences across five connected strands: Wellbeing, Adventure, Vision, Enrichment and Skills.
The programme is ambitious but purposeful. It is not an optional club or an occasional enrichment day. It is a progressive part of the timetable that gives every child access to experiences that may otherwise depend on family circumstances, confidence, or prior opportunity. This is an evolving programme as new opportunities arise, new connections are made and the work is continually reviewed to ensure it remains purposeful, responsive, and aligned with the needs of our school community.
Why this matters now
Children are growing up in a dynamic landscape shaped by rapid technological change, new ways of working and increasingly complex social and environmental challenges. Secure academic foundations remain essential. Alongside them, children need the confidence to try, the resilience to persist, the curiosity to question, the independence to act and the character to contribute well.
WAVES360 creates regular opportunities to practise these capabilities in real, memorable, and meaningful contexts.
One connected and holistic educational experience
WAVES360 has been designed to work with, not sit apart from, the two other foundations of school life. Together, classroom teaching, WINDRUSH360 and WAVES360 give children knowledge, values and authentic opportunities to apply both.
The five WAVES360 strands
W – Wellbeing: Self-awareness, healthy choices, self-confidence, emotional literacy and relationships
A – Adventure: Challenge, courage, safe risk-taking, outdoor exploration and perseverance.
V – Vision: Aspiration, enterprise, community contribution and an understanding of future possibilities.
E – Enrichment: Creative, cultural and practical experiences that develop interests and broaden horizons.
S – Skills: Communication, teamwork, leadership, independence and useful skills for everyday life.
THE WINDRUSH360 CONNECTION
Children will be encouraged to recognise how Effort, Kindness and Responsibility shape the way they approach challenge, work with others, care for living things and contribute to their community.
Real places, real people and purposeful experiences
Partnerships beyond the school site allow children to meet different people, enter unfamiliar environments and learn from authentic situations. Experiences will be selected because they develop particular knowledge, values and capabilities – not simply because they are enjoyable. Below are examples of new environments that your child may experience.
| PLACE & PARTNERSHIP | WHAT CHILDREN MAY EXPERIENCE | WHAT THIS HELPS TO DEVELOP |
|---|---|---|
| Local care home – Tall Trees | Reading, conversation, music, performances, creative projects and shared activities with residents. | Empathy, listening, respectful communication, confidence, service and a sense of belonging to the wider community. |
| Witney Pony Partners- Crawley | Age-appropriate, ground-based pony care, safe handling, observation and stable-management experiences. | Responsibility, calmness, empathy, self-regulation, confidence, teamwork and respect for animals. |
Planned with care
All visits and activities will be planned progressively, risk-assessed (safeguarding and health and safety) and matched to children’s ages and needs. Relevant information, clothing or consent requirements will be shared with parents in advance. Activities will be led or supported by school staff and specialist venue staff as appropriate.
A progressive journey from Nursery to Year 6
Progression does not mean giving every age group the same activity with greater difficulty. It means increasing independence, responsibility, reflection and leadership as children mature, while ensuring that every stage remains enjoyable, purposeful and appropriate.
How progress will be recognised
WAVES360 progress will be seen through participation, increasing independence, thoughtful reflection, contribution to others and the ability to use skills with growing confidence. Children will record and celebrate experiences through the WINDRUSH360 Journal of Achievement, making links to Effort, Kindness and Responsibility.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Children who are increasingly willing to embrace challenges, collaborate and communicate, explore future pathways, and lead or contribute positively.
Preparing children to flourish in a changing world
We cannot predict every career, technology or challenge our children will encounter. We can, however, ensure that they leave Windrush Valley Prep School with strong foundations and the personal capabilities to keep learning, adapt thoughtfully and contribute with confidence.
Capabilities for a dynamic future
Adaptability and agency: Approaching change positively, making choices and taking responsibility for the next step.
Communication and collaboration: Listening well, expressing ideas clearly, resolving differences and working towards a shared goal.
Curiosity and creative problem-solving: Asking worthwhile questions, exploring possibilities and applying knowledge in unfamiliar contexts.
Resilience and healthy self-management: Managing emotions, responding constructively to setbacks and understanding what supports wellbeing.
Leadership and ethical responsibility: Taking initiative, considering the effect of choices and contributing positively to people, animals and the environment.
Practical confidence: Developing the everyday competence to act safely, independently and resourcefully.
What parents can expect
- A protected WAVES360 session every Friday afternoon.
- A balance of school-based activities, local visits and carefully chosen partnerships.
- Experiences that are age-appropriate, inclusive and increasingly challenging from Nursery to Year 6.
- Advance communication where particular clothing, equipment, consent or arrangements are needed.
- Regular opportunities for children to reflect on what they have learned about themselves and others.
- Celebration of participation, progress, service and leadership.
How families can support the programme
Ask your child about the people they met, the challenge they faced, the skill they practised and the WINDRUSH360 value they demonstrated. Encourage them to notice progress that is not always measured by a score: speaking to someone new, persisting when something feels difficult, contributing to a team or showing care for another person, animal or place.
LOOKING AHEAD
WAVES360 represents an exciting whole-school development for the future: ambitious in its reach, grounded in our values and designed to give every child a rich, connected and genuinely well-rounded education.
If you have any connections or experiences you feel could be incorporated into the programme, then please do share them with the school- this is an evolving and dynamic curriculum!