FAQs

Avon House is an independent prep school in Woodford Green, Essex, for co-educational pupils aged 3 to 11. As a warm, family-oriented independent school in Essex, it combines strong academics with a broad, enriching curriculum.

The school is at 490 to 492 High Road, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 0PN. This makes it a convenient prep school in Woodford for local families, and easy to reach for those looking at schools in South Woodford and the wider area.

Yes. Avon House is an established independent school in Woodford, part of a small group of independent schools serving the Woodford Green and South Woodford community. It is a popular Woodford prep school for families seeking a nurturing, academic start.

Many local families think so. Among Redbridge schools, Avon House is valued as an independent alternative with small classes, individual attention and a strong sense of community, drawing pupils from across Redbridge and the surrounding Essex and east London area.

Pupils in Early Years learn and play together developing as people with unique personalities. Learning to respect each other whatever gender or cultural background is an important element as they grow up. At Avon House Preparatory School the pupils work well together and enjoy interacting in music and sport in a mixed gender environment. All pupils are treated equally in our School.

Yes. The school offers Nursery (Foundation 1) from age 3 and Reception (Foundation 2), following the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. This gives children a happy, structured start before they continue through the prep school in Essex.

Avon House is a preparatory school, which is the independent-sector equivalent of a primary school, covering the same ages of 3 to 11. Families comparing local primary schools often consider Avon House as an independent option offering smaller classes and a wider enrichment programme.

As one of the area’s private primary schools, Avon House combines a full primary curriculum with specialist teaching, character education and outdoor learning. It is regularly shortlisted by families looking at private schools in Woodford for the breadth it offers beyond the classroom.

Avon House is a well-established Woodford prep school for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. As a prep school in Woodford with a strong local reputation, it welcomes families from Woodford Green, South Woodford and the surrounding Essex area.

Children can join at various points, most commonly into Nursery and Reception, with a 7+ Entry and Scholarship Examination for older year groups. Families looking at private schools in Woodford can book an open event or a private tour to see the school and meet staff.

Avon House is a fee-paying school, with current fees published on the Our Fees page of the website. For families weighing up a private school in Essex, the admissions team can explain what is included, along with wraparound care and holiday club options.

Pupils progress to a range of sought-after senior schools, including Bancroft’s, Chigwell and other leading independent and grammar schools in the region. The school provides dedicated support for 7+ and 11+ transitions, helping each child find the right next step.

Parents often choose a private school in Woodford such as Avon House for the small class sizes, individual attention, strong pastoral care and the breadth of music, sport, drama and outdoor learning. The best way to judge the fit is to visit and experience the school for yourself.

Parents are an integral part of school life. In Early Years, parents are invited to support our weekly cookery classes, join in the weekly walk and read to the pupils as part of our foreign language story-telling programme. Parents are welcome at many of our school assemblies and all school musical performances. Parents sometimes accompany our school trips. Parent Forum meets monthly with the Head Teacher in an informal session to discuss school matters. The Avon House PTA is supportive of the School and organise events including fayres at Christmas and during the summer term. More information can be found on Our Community page.

Staff are available to talk to parents at the beginning and end of each school day. Appointments that are more formal can be made via the school office. The Head Teacher and other members of the SLT are also available to parents should they require to speak to them.

Termly parent coffee mornings are held for Pre-Prep and SEND parents. These usually allow for whole group discussions as well as individual conversations. The annual drinks party at the start of the school year is an excellent opportunity for parents to meet with the whole staff team.

Pupils in Early Years and the Pre-Prep Department all have diaries where parents can write short comments. The Prep Department pupils have Homework Journals, which has a comment section where parents can write to teachers. Staff can also be contacted via the school office and will generally receive a response within 24 hours. For important matters, the School should be telephoned and staff will arrange to call parents back that day.

Formal parent meetings occur each term and are followed through with a written report at the end of the Autumn and Summer term.  The Weekly Flight newsletter highlights key features of the week along with the class weekly awards. The website contains a latest news section, which is updated regularly and you can follow the School on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Yes. Avon House provides wraparound care around the school day and a holiday club run by familiar Avon House staff, which makes it a practical choice for busy families comparing schools in South Woodford and the wider area.

There is a wide variety of clubs for all pupils. Clubs are held before School and start at 8am or after School with a finish time of 4.30pm apart from a Monday, which is a 4.15pm pick up. In the Pre-Prep Department, the pupils can experience a variety of clubs both creative and physical. The Prep Department can join a variety of clubs from Tuesday to Friday. Our Monday afternoon, compulsory life skill activities are run for all Prep pupils until 4.15pm. This is part of the school day and pupils sign up for activities including first-aid, touch typing and English Speaking Board. Siblings in Pre-Prep will be cared for until 4.15pm.   Our sports teams often have squad training in after school sessions.

The school’s location on High Road, Woodford Green, makes it convenient by car and public transport, and a natural choice among local primary schools and independent options nearby. The admissions team is happy to advise on travel for families across Redbridge and Essex.

Alongside the points covered in our existing FAQs, parents often highlight the warm community, small classes, character education, and the strong record of preparing children for leading senior schools. Among independent schools in Essex, Avon House stands out for knowing every child as an individual, and a visit is the best way to see this in action.