TRANSITION TO PRIMARY ONE
WELCOME TO KELLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL
Starting school is a very exciting time for both you and your child. We are really looking forward to getting to know you and your child as they begin their school journey here at Kellands. We hope that this next stage in your child's life is a really positive experience!
Here at Kellands we take a play based approach to Primary 1, encouraging our children to explore, be curious, creative and to have fun.
We wish you all a very warm welcome to the Kellands Family!
If you have any questions or concerns please feel welcome to get in touch with me via email or contact the school.
caroline.brunton@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Kind regards,
Caroline Brunton
Depute Head Teacher
P1 Transition Calendar 24.25.docxDates for your diary
Here is an overview of the Transition Activities planned for this term.
The Everywhere Bear
Join Mrs B for a story!
what do we do on the first day of school?
On the first day, children are in reduced groups to ensure a smooth transition.
On the first day that your child is due to attend school, please bring your child to the primary 1 garden area for your start time.
Your teacher will be ready to greet you. When the children are ready to go inside, the teacher will show each child where their peg is and where to put their belongings.
Please pick your child up from the Primary 1 garden area. If there are any children who are unsettled, we will work with you to support them in this important transition.
For week 1, children will be in smaller groups. You will get details of which group your child is in before the end of term. These smaller groups will allow the children to explore their new environment and get some familiarity with new routines and relationships.
A meeting time will be arranged for your child to meet 1-1 with their teacher in the afternoon in week 1 or 2. This meeting allows for the teacher to work 1-1 with your child for up to half an hour to get to know your child and carry out some initial assessments around early literacy and numeracy. Parents should bring their child to the main office at this time where they will be asked to wait while their child works with their class teacher.
Our Transition Visits to Primary!
what SHOULD MY CHILD WEAR?
We ask children to wear our school uniform, this includes:
School sweatshirt (royal blue)
Shirt, blouse or polo shirt (white or blue)
Trousers or skirt/pinafore (black/grey)
Shoes or trainers, preferably black/grey
You can order schoolwear here: "kellands" – Schoolwear Made Easy and we also have a swap shop where you can obtain good quality, pre-loved uniforms throughout the year.
Children will also need to bring warm, waterproof clothing to school every day as the weather can change.
As well as at break times, outdoor play is part of our daily curriculum and children will be playing outdoors rain or shine! Children have the right to fresh air and to play outdoors daily. If the weather is severe (heavy rain, heavy snow, severe wind or severe sub-zero cold) children can stay indoors.
The children's school uniform will be their play clothes in P1 - they will be encouraged to get involved in all the learning activities on offer so we apologise now for the washing - they will get messy!
TAKE A TOUR OF OUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Our learning environment is consistently being reviewed by our teachers in order to meet the needs of the learners in the year group, and to provide the best learning opportunities for our young people.
Please watch the tour below to see what the space looks like, the configuration of the room may have changed when you see it in person, but this will give you a good idea of the environment and how it is set-up . As the video plays, please click on the small icons that appear on screen to see/hear more information about why we have these specific areas and how they can support your child's learning.
what WILL MY CHILD NEED?
Please ensure ALL your child’s belongings are named. Finding the owner of a stray black gym shoe is a near impossible task!
SCHOOL BAG It should be easy for your child to open/close.
PAINTING APRON No explanation needed here – except to say black paint will be with you for life!
PENCIL CASE Your child may take colouring pencils and a writing pencil to school however, we have plenty resources here and we encourage the children to use the school resources.
GYM KIT IN DRAWSTRING/TIDY BAG Shorts (blue, black or white), t-shirt (white or house colour) and gym shoes. Remember if your child is wearing tights they will need to take socks. Ear rings and jewellery should be removed and long hair should be tied back. Gym t-shirts can be ordered through the school office.
WATER BOTTLE Children are encouraged to have a water bottle in class to rehydrate; it must have a sports top and only contain water – no juice please.
PLAYPIECE You can give your child something to eat during morning interval. We try to encourage healthy eating and remember playtime only lasts 15 minutes! NO NUTS are allowed in school at all. Children may bring juice to school for break time only in a carton or plastic bottle, no cans or glass bottles, please. In case of leakage or damage to belongings please ensure that juice is safely wrapped up.
PURSE If your child has to take money to school, please put it in a named purse or envelope. A purse is also very handy for carrying precious things home eg. a lost tooth.
A BOX OF TISSUES these are always really handy and appreciated if you could provide a box of tissues.
Please do not encourage your children to bring special items/toys from home. Precious items can become lost and cause upset.
TIMINGS OF THE SCHOOL DAY
In the first term in P1, we have a shorter lunch and an afternoon break. This is because we find our little ones are often tired and need that break in their day. We will review this over the term and if they are settled, we will bring the school day in line with the rest of the school and have a longer lunch break and no afternoon break.
HOW WILL MY CHILD BE LEARNING THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY?
In Scotland, we have the benefit of curriculum guidance which spans both nursery and the early stages of primary school. Curriculum for Excellence ‘early level’ is intended to support the implementation of a responsive, continuous play-based curriculum for children aged three to six.
At Kellands we will be ensuring that our learning and teaching is developmentally appropriate, and research led. Play will continue to be the main vehicle for learning in the early stages of school. Your child will be learning both indoors and outdoors and within a variety of contexts. We are looking forward to sharing how we are developing play and learning over the year. You can view our Play Policy here:
https://sway.office.com/U5MvrWURz6iAybUf?ref=Link
In P1, the skilled interactions, experiences and spaces children learn in are integral to our early level curriculum.
Creativity and child centred learning is integral to our approach at Kellands.
WHAT HAPPENS AT BREAKTIME?
Please provide a small snack for your child to have at break times.
Children will be outdoors so please ensure they have warm enough clothing (labelled of course) and shoes that allow them to run about outside.
We have Pupil Support Assistants (PSAs) who cover at both playtime and lunchtime. PSAs are there to support children in their play and problem solving, administer first aid and to be someone the children can go to at break and lunch times.
What happens if my child presents as being unwell at school?
If this happens, we will send for you or the person you have chosen as your emergency contact.
Please wait until your child is well again before sending them back to school. If your child has to take medicine in school, you will need to complete the medicines form - your child’s class teacher can give you this. We will only administer medicine prescribed by a doctor.
Remember to phone the school to tell us if your child is ill. We must account for all children and will contact you if we have not heard and your child does not appear in school.
What happens if my child needs to visit the dentist/ doctor during school time?
We realise it is not always possible to fit in various appointments after school. If you have an appointment during the day please let us know beforehand and collect your child from the main door as teachers are not allowed to send children out unaccompanied during school hours.
How will i be given information in the future?
Important messages will be given by letter or groupcall text. School newsletters are regularly emailed out with any information or any exciting events which have happened in school. You can tune into our online assemblies where we share house points, postcard winners and any achievements by house members. You can contribute to this by emailing your child's achievements to the school, stating which house they are in.
Please look at the Parents section on this website to see holiday dates and forms for ordering school uniforms. There is also a school Facebook page on the link at the bottom of the website. We send out texts so please make sure we have an up to date mobile number.
If you want to get in touch with school, please just email or pickup the phone.
We will be using an online profiling app called Learning Journals to share children's learning in school.
CAN I HELP IN SCHOOL?
We love to have volunteers in school and now that Covid restrictions have lifted, this is something we would like to bring back. We have local authority guidance to follow which includes a PVG check before we can welcome you into the setting. However if you feel you would like to volunteer in school, please do get in touch with us.
TRANSITION WORKSHOP
Take a look at our transition workshop to find out about P1 at Kellands!
WHAT'S IT LIKE IN P1?
Some former P1's tell you how it really is to be a Primary 1 at Kellands School.
KELLANDS KINDNESS SHANTY
P1 pupils wrote this fantastic song to finish off an Under the Sea context. It is based on our Kellands value of being kind.
Some activity Ideas
As you begin to think about the transition from nursery into primary 1, we have provided you with some suggested activities to help to prepare your child for school. We encourage children to be as independent as possible and by working on some of these activities you will help your child to achieve this and make the transition into school a little easier for them.
Activity ideas.docxstarting school social story.pdfStarting school Social Story
Here is a story about starting school at Kellands that you might like to share together. If your child has any questions or worries not addressed in the story, please feel free to email me (caroline.brunton@aberdeenshire.gov.uk)as this is an editable document and we can easily add bits in if need be!
Story Time
This story will be our first context for learning when we start Primary 1. You can enjoy it together over the holidays.
