A HAPPY START TO SCHOOL

The aim of The LaunchPad here at Mougins School, is to provide high quality care and education for young children during their first steps along their educational journey. We offer a stimulating, creative and happy environment to enable each child to fulfill their individual potential at this formative time in their lives while fostering a love of learning. The purpose of our setting is also to provide a positive entry into our School and establish excellent relationships with parents and children to ensure a smooth transition into the Primary School. We hope you will find the following information useful and please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions or concerns throughout your child’s time with us.

Important to know and do!

• Please ensure your contact details held by the school office are always up to date.

• If anyone other than yourself is collecting your child, please tell a member of staff in the morning or call/email the school office (information@mougins-school.com) so that administration may let us know.

• If you are going to be delayed at home time, please try and let us know by telephoning the school office (+334 93 90 15 47). 

• Please ensure you complete the medical questionnaire promptly, especially if your child has any allergies. If the information changes or needs updating, please make sure Mrs Vibert is informed immediately.

• Please ensure you complete all of the paperwork and return to school before your child starts with us.

What do children need to bring?

• A change of clothes is always useful! Please leave this, in a named bag, on your child’s peg.

• A raincoat should always be brought to the school; we like to go outside as much as possible.

• A pair of wellies.

• Snacks. Your child will need a healthy snack for the morning and another for the afternoon; fruit, vegetables, plain biscuits, cereal bars or similar are ideal as we follow healthy eating guidelines and we do not allow chocolate or sweets. Please name your child’s snacks and put them in their bag. Please do NOT put in snacks containing nuts and make sure that grapes are sliced vertically (to avoid choking).

• Drinks. We can provide water but if you would prefer please provide a named, plastic bottle of drink for your child. Please do not bring in cans, glass bottles or fizzy drinks.

• It is helpful if all clothes could be named so that we may reunite any ‘lost’ items with the correct owners!

What do children need to be able to do when they start in The LaunchPad?

We understand that each child is unique and that children will start at different stages of development, but we would like your child to:

• be able to tell us when they need to go to the toilet, although we do expect accidents, especially when they first start.

• have an awareness of routine and good behaviour.

• be able to feed themselves competently.

• be able to follow simple instructions, such as ‘please put the toys away’.

It would also be very helpful if your child could practise putting on their coat on their own and have some experience of playing alongside other children.

What if a child is ill?

If your child is unwell, please do not bring them to school as it is unfair to them and other children. It is much better to have some time at home and return to school when they feel better. If your child has had sickness or diarrhoea they should remain at home for 48 hours from the last bout of illness. If your child is receiving medicine and is well enough to come to school, our Health and Well-Being Officer Mrs Vibert can administer medication but you will need to complete a medication form. In the event of your child becoming ill at school and needing to go home, we will contact you. 

Please ensure all contact details are correct at all times by informing us of any changes to medical information and emergency contact details.

Who will be looking after my child?

Miss Baker is the main teacher, and is supported by Teaching Assistants, Mrs Jo Arbuckle and Mrs Wen Ruetsch. Mrs Moon, Deputy Head of Primary, leads the team and oversees all curriculum planning and day to day organisation.

There is another teacher who work with Miss Baker: Mrs Deidda who teaches music and supports phonic teaching in the mornings.

The children will spend part of their day engaged in group activities with different members of staff. The activities centre around different areas of learning and give chidlren the opportunity to develop personal and social skills as they work alongside one another.

Miss Baker is the key person for the LaunchPad who plans the curriculum and helps ensure that every child’s care is tailored to meet their individual needs. She leads teacher directed times along with Mrs Deidda where children are taught knowledge and skills approrpriate to their level of development. 

All staff help the children to become familiar with the setting, creating a nurturing environment and building  relationships with their parents.

What time does The LaunchPad day begin and end?

Our day begins at 8.30am when a member of staff will greet you and your child at the classroom door. You will need to enter through gate 4 to access The LaunchPad. You will be encouraged to say goodbye at the door and your child will be helped to hang up their coats and bags before choosing an activity in the classroom. 

If you arrive late and the gate is locked, please ring the bell at gate 1, our main school entrance. Our afternoon lessons finish at 3.00pm each day. We will open the gate 10 minutes before the end of the school day to allow you to collect your child from the classroom door. If you need to collect your child at any other time during the day, please first telephone the School Office (+334 93 90 15 47) to pass on the message.

How will I find out how my child is progressing at Mougins School ?

We understand how important it is for you to know what your child has been doing at school and the progress they are making. We record the children’s learning and progress using an online tool called Tapestry. For this we do need your written permission and therefore you will find a form on the side to be completed. This gives you instant access to photos, videos and observations of your child in their individual learning journal. 

You will be invited to parents’ evenings during the Autumn and Spring terms and you will receive a full report at the end of the academic year. 

Of course, you are welcome to make an appointment to see our teachers at any time should you have any concerns.

How can I help my child at home?

We realise everyone is busy and many parents have many time constraints. Please do not worry; your child will make good progress in school. It is more important for your child to be happy and relaxed; we will ensure your child is stimulated and progresses through the curriculum. Please try and help your child to have early nights whenever possible. Tired children can find school much more difficult. 

However, if you would like some ideas about helping your child’s educational progress at home, do come and ask for some advice. Children will benefit from:

•  playing games with you; this will encourage turn-taking, counting and many other skills. There are many useful and worthwhile games to support your child’s learning. 

• talking with your child, looking at signs in shops, on roads etc. 

• making your child aware of numbers around you - house numbers, counting buttons as you help your child get dressed etc. This is a simple but effective way to reinforce learning. 

• reading stories, in home languages as well as English.

The curriculum overview for The LaunchPad, found below, gives you the themes and langauge learning opportunities we aim to cover.

Please return these forms to The LaunchPad