New Parent FAQs
As a parent with a child starting school for the very first time, you may have lots of questions to ask and this is perfectly understandable! We have tried to help by collecting some of the more frequently asked questions here with answers. If there is something else you need to know please get in touch. We are here to help and look forward to starting this journey with you!
School Routines
What is the morning routine?
Arrival time is 8:40am and registration closes at 8.55am. There is a member of staff at the gate waiting to welcome all of the children and parents on entry. Your child will have their own named peg in the cloakroom inside the classroom, where they can hang their coat, PE kit and book bag. As it is a shared space we advise that all of their coats, PE kits and book bags are labelled with their name . You are encouraged to stay on a morning to help settle your child and help them to complete their morning tasks such as choosing their lunch. When it is time, the teacher will ask the adults to leave and the children will come and sit on the carpet ready for registration. After the first couple of days we will encourage the children to come in through the gates by themselves; allowing them to take their first steps on their journey independence.
What uniform will they need to wear?
Information on Uniform can be found here
What equipment will my child need to bring to school?
A book bag: the children will needs these to bring home letters, their wonderful creations and their reading books.
A drawstring bag containing their PE kit (all items labelled with their name)
In the winter months: hat, gloves and scarf (labelled with their name)
In the summer months: sun hat, sunglasses (labelled with their name)
(The children are provide with a water bottle at school)
School book bags, PE bags and kit and uniform is available to purchase at the school office. Our Child and Family Support Officer, Sarah, also has lots of good quality second hand uniform and bags for sale.
Can my child bring toys into school?
We know your child may want to bring a toy in from home however, to prevent things getting lost or broken in school, it is better for these to stay at home where they are safe. If your child wants to bring something in to show the class - a special artefact, photograph, project etc - we are always happy for this to happen but please pass directly to the teacher so that they can be stored safely until the right time.
What should I do if my child is ill?
Please telephone the school office as soon as you can. We have an answering machine in the office, so if you cannot speak to anyone directly then please leave a message. Please note that following a case of diarrhoea or sickness your child is not permitted to return to school until they are clear of symptoms for 48 hours.
What medical provisions are there for my child during the school day?
There are multiple members of staff who are trained in Paediatric First Aid within the Early Years team, including the Reception teacher and several teaching assistants. There are also multiple other members of staff through out the school who are trained in First Aid, so we are able to provide care for the children if they do injure themselves. If your child does have a head injury it will be recorded within school and you will be informed. We do not accept medicines at the classroom door; you will need to take it to the school office where it will be kept and administered - please walk round and someone will be happy to help.
If your child needs an inhaler, please provide one that can be kept in school. If your child has any additional needs then we will be able to arrange a meeting with the Special Educational Needs team to discuss how we can best support them.
What if I need to collect my child early for an appointment / we are late coming in to school one morning?
Please inform the office if you need to collect your child from school early for an appointment - wherever possible we ask to see an appointment card / letter. On the day of the appointment please go to the office and someone will collect your child for you.
If you are late for school one morning you will need to come to the school office - rather than your usual gate - as your child will need to be marked as present on the register. They will then be taken to class by the office staff.
Do you have a breakfast club?
We offer a breakfast club for all children in school. Children will have a chance to have a healthy breakfast and play games with new friends. Please see our Wrap Around Care page for more information.
Can my child go to an after school club?
A range of after school clubs are on offer and children will be given an opportunity to choose one at the start of the year. Some of the more popular ones may have a waiting list but we will ensure that all children get to take part at some point during the year. We also prove an after school club to support with child care. Please see our Wrap Around Care page for more information.
What will my child eat at school?
All children will be provided with free daily fruit while in Reception; the children will also have free access to milk whilst they are 4. Once the children turn 5 you have the option to pay for milk or the children can have water with their snack. We encourage the children to try the different foods at snack time, however we allow them to choose if they would like snack or not. Every child is also given a free water bottle when they start school with us so they have access to water throughout the day. There is no need for them to bring any other snacks into school.
In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 the children are entitled to a free school dinner at lunch time. The lunches are carefully thought out and provide the children with a healthy, balanced choice of three options daily.
Teaching and Learning
What is ‘Exploration Time’?
Children in the Early Years spend time independently planning and choosing their own learning path. They ‘choose’ the area/activity in which they would like to explore and using the variety of resource available they take ownership of their own play and learning. The adults may facilitate and/or extend the learning taking place to address any gaps any children's learning or provide them with a new learning opportunity based on their interests and play. Sometimes the ‘Exploration Time’ play will be play in which the children are exploring feelings such as empathy; sometimes they may act out scenarios in a safe environment; they may negotiate and form friendships; or develop understanding about how to share and compromise. These are just some examples of how ‘Exploration Time’ develops important skills for lifelong learning.
How will my child be taught?
In Reception we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and tailor our teaching to supporting the individual needs of each pupil.
Reading and Writing: Teachers try to read one-to-one with every child, every week to help them to develop the early skills required for reading. We also teach phonics twice daily in small groups, following the AET phonics scheme, which aligns with Letters and Sounds. We offer a reading workshop for parents to attend at the start of each year to enable parents to support their children with reading and writing at home. We are always on hand to answer questions and provide support where necessary. We provide opportunities for reading and writing throughout all of the children's learning environments through the adults and resources available; this embeds and stretches the new skills that they have been learning.
Maths: We teach Maths in both whole class and small groups sessions; we provide directed sessions for children to practice newly learnt skills and concepts with a teacher. After all of our short inputs for Maths we have lots of activities, both inside and out, for the children to practise their new skills in different contexts and work with the adults in the spaces to extend and embed their learning even further.
Will my child go outside?
As well as play times outside, children will go outside for small group activities and also for free Exploration time. We are very lucky with our outside space with great facilities; your child will be able to go outside whatever the weather. We ask parents to make sure that children are sent with suitable clothing to allow this to happen, including a suitable coat and covered legs if it is cold. As you will see when you visit, we have lots of opportunities for messy play outside from, sand and water, to mud and paint, so we suggest that the children wear an old coat to school that can get dirty. The children will also be provided with aprons and wellies.
Will my child go on school trips?
Yes! We love school trips in Early Years. These range from visits to local shops or somewhere further afield like a castle! Wherever we go we ensure that your child’s safety is our top priority.
Parental Support
What is expected of me as a parent?
We encourage parents to take an active role in the child’s school life. This will include; reading at home, completing homework, attending parent workshops (where possible), attending parent meetings, keeping school up to date with any changes in circumstance and most importantly making sure your child is prepared for the school day e.g. having a good sleep, eating a healthy breakfast. If you find you need any help, or even just someone to talk to at any time, please remember to call the school office or our Family and Child Support Officer, Sarah.
Will I ever be able to come into school?
We have half-termly Stay and Play sessions or workshops where you can come in and work and play alongside your child. These workshops cover a range of activities including Phonics, Reading, Maths and Arts.