Starting School

Information about your first days and weeks at school

Your Child’s First Day at School

Monday 7th September

Your child's first day at school will be Monday 7th September. The children can arrive at school from 8.40-9.00am. The twenty minute period is to allow for pupils with siblings in Years 3,4,5 and 6 to come to school in family groups.

You should enter the school via the main playground gate and exit via the gate at the rear. Staff will be on hand to help the children get into the classroom and, as we are trying to minimise visitors to our site, we would ask you to encourage your child to come into school independently.

It can be a daunting time but we find that children quickly adapt if they have a clear and consistent routine. The children will only be staying for the morning session and we would ask that you come to collect your children at 11.45am. Whilst the children are part time (this week and next), we would ask you to come to collect them via the gate to the rear of the school and to leave the same way, as our main playground will be in use.

Your Child’s First Weeks at School

We have currently planned the following timetable for your child to transition into full-time school:

Friday 4th Sept 9.30 - 10.30am children to visit the school for a stay and play session with staff. Please come to the main playground gate at 9.30am and staff will show you the Reception classroom. You can then return via the same entry point to collect your child from the classroom at 10.30am.
From Monday 7^th – Friday 11^th Sept children can arrive at school from 8.40-9.00am. The twenty minute period is to allow for pupils with siblings in Years 3,4,5 and 6 to come to school in family groups. You should enter the school via the main playground gate and exit via the gate at the rear. The children will only be staying for the morning session and we would ask that you come to collect your children at 11.45am. Whilst the children are part time (this week and next), we would ask you to come to collect them via the gate to the rear of the school and to leave the same way, as our main playground will be in use.
From Monday 14^th September children will also stay for lunch and should be collected from outside their classroom at 1.30pm.
From Monday 21^st September children will be in school full time and should be dropped off at 8.40-9.00am and collected between 3.00-3.20pm from outside their classroom. You should now use the school one way system always entering through the main playground gate and exiting via the church.

Our Daily Routine

Timings of the School Day

Our school day is organised to incorporate short periods of adult- led learning with challenges and provocations that stimulate child-led learning in our indoor and outdoor classrooms.

School Starts

Morning Welcome Routine - Register and Prayers

Session 1 - Class/Group learning followed by child-led learning inside and outside

Break

Session 2 – Phonics followed by child-led learning inside and outside

Lunch break

Session 3 - Class/Group learning followed by child-led learning inside and outside

Class Based Worship

Home Time Routine - Story time, getting ready for home and prayers

As the year progresses, the amount of time spent in whole class and group learning increases to help children make the best possible progress.

School Readiness

You can help by preparing your child for school. A few simple ideas are below:

Reading the enclosed booklet so that they become familiar with different people and places within the school.
Sharing stories about trying something new or even starting school.
Listening to our staff reading some stories so that your child becomes familiar with them.
Playing simple games together to encourage turn taking and build resilience.
Familiarising your child with what their name looks like will help them to find their peg and their clothes.
Encouraging them to put on jumpers, coats, shoes etc., by themselves will make them more independent.

It is particularly important that they can use the toilet independently and remember to wash their hands. Please note there are cubicles and urinals in the boys’ toilets.

For many children this will be an easy transition and they may have no questions about school. If your child is more nervous please don’t worry – it is natural and we are here to help.

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