DEVELOPMENT as current and former parents, governors and staff, laid three wreaths.
On our final day we visited the La Coupole Museum, which is housed in tunnels under an escarpment that were intended to form an impregnable base of the assembly of V-2 rockets in the late stages of the Second World War. It can be regarded as one of Hitler’ s follies, as it was constructed at great cost, in the lives of slave labourers as well as money, but was so comprehensively bombed by the Allies that it was never used. From there we proceeded to the Dunkirk beaches, with an opportunity to stretch our legs in the walk across the dunes.
As one of the thirty-odd on the tour, I remain deeply impressed by the experience, bringing home to me the sacrifices that were made by generations in our recent past. Thanks to the erudite commentary provided by Callum, Hugh and Paul, I learnt much about the war and how it was fought, how the Allies developed their tactics as the war progressed and how innovations such as tanks contributed to eventual victory. If you have the chance of a similar visit in the future, don’ t let it pass!
( Andrew Beckett, 62-69)
REIMAGINING EARLY YEARS AT POCKLINGTON
In September 2025, a new state-of-the-art nursery, Little Pips, opened its doors on the grounds of Pocklington School. Born from a vision to provide truly exceptional Early Years education inspired by the world-renowned Reggio Emilia philosophy, a nd backed by the expertise and resources of Pocklington School, the nursery offers a nurturing haven where children aged 0 to four years can thrive. OP Sarah Cobb( née Pimm, 95-97),( pictured above), Head of Nursery and an experienced Early Years educator with over 20 years in the field, shares her thoughts on the Little Pips journey so far.
“ This term marks the official beginning of Little Pips Nursery, the newest part of the Pocklington School Foundation family, and the starting point of what we hope will be a lifelong journey in education for many children. As an OP myself, walking through the doors every morning carries a sense of familiarity and gratitude. This is the Foundation that shaped me and now shapes my own children. To play a role in extending that experience right back to the earliest years is something that fills me with pride every single day.
From the earliest planning stages, we asked ourselves a bold question: What could nursery education look like if we reimagined it for today’ s child? We wanted to move beyond traditional expectations of early years provision and instead create a place full of wonder- where children’ s voices matter, where creativity is valued, where play is powerful, and where childhood is deeply respected. Little Pips was built to feel different by design: calm, warm, natural spaces; an atelier that celebrates the expressive arts; an outdoor environment that is always open; a curriculum shaped by curiosity rather than shortterm outcomes.
Our first term has been a whirlwind of discovery, and the children have led us every step of the way. They have made bread to share with friends, experimented with light in the Atelier, struck fire steels to ignite their very first fires, built dens deep in the woods, and navigated the forest with ropes and teamwork. We have watched them marvel at frost on the grass, splash in puddles, and explore the 50- acre site they now call home. They have visited the Tom Stoppard Theatre, waved to the older pupils in the quad, shared smiles with sixth formers passing by, and proudly delivered baked goods to neighbours, because community is not a concept we teach, it is something we live.
One of the greatest joys has been seeing the Foundation community wrap around the nursery so naturally. Pupils, staff, parents, and OPs have shown such warmth and excitement for this new chapter. Children adore seeing the‘ big school’ in action- listening to musicians rehearse, watching sports training in the distance, collecting conkers on their walks, and feeling part of something much larger than themselves. In time, some of these little hands will hold recorders, swim in the pool, sit on stage under spotlights, and wear house colours, but for now, they are simply beginning, and we are privileged to guide them.
Beyond our gates, we are building relationships in the wider Pocklington community too- visiting the market, greeting shopkeepers by name, baking for new friends, and helping children understand that they belong to a town rich in history, kindness and opportunity. It matters that children feel part of where they live- that they see themselves as contributors to community life, not just consumers of it.
Looking back on our first term, what stands out most is not the building( as beautiful as it is), nor the curriculum( as thoughtfully developed as it has been), but the feeling. Little Pips hums with laughter, curiosity, muddy boots, tiny triumphs and big ideas. It already holds stories- children carefully baking biscuits for a friendly dog they met on a walk, the joy of counting conkers to“ 100 and a bit”, and a group who spent an afternoon delighting in the slow rhythm of our potter’ s wheel. These are moments that shape identity, confidence and joy. This is what early education should feel like.
And so, as we look to 2026 and beyond, Little Pips Nursery stands as a proud extension of all that the Pocklington School Foundation represents- ambition, warmth, community, and a belief that education starts not at age four or eleven, but from the very first spark of curiosity.
Whether or not you have a little one in your life, I warmly invite OPs to visit. Come for a coffee, walk through the rooms, step into the atelier, feel the atmosphere for yourself, and see what we are building. We hope it is something you can feel proud of- a beginning full of possibility, rooted in the same values that shaped us all.
Little Pips is only just getting started, but already, it feels like home.”
To find out more about Little Pips, please visit the website: www. littlepips. com.
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