We believe very strongly that the Reception aged children should be introduced to school gradually. All children will initially attend school part-time. Some children will be ready sooner than others for full-time education. As a general rule most children are ready to attend school full time by mid October. Your child’s class teacher will discuss when your child is ready for full time education with you during the first few weeks of school.
Preparing your child for school
When the children start school it is helpful if they can:
- Dress and undress themselves unaided i.e.
- Turn clothes the right side out
- Put shoes on correct feet
- Do up buttons or zips on school clothes.
- Put on their own shoes. If your child is unable to tie up shoe laces, it is better to buy slip-on/Velcro shoes.
- Recognise their own clothes, shoes and P.E. bag.
- Remove outer clothing and hang it up neatly.
- Use the toilet without supervision including knowing that he/she should ask to go whenever necessary, flush the toilet and wash and dry his/her hands afterwards.
- Tidy and clear away toys and games.
- Wipe their nose.
- Respond to the instructions of an adult.
- Know and recognise their own name.
- Use “please” and “thank you” appropriately.
- Open their sandwich box and manage their drink container.
- Use a knife and fork.
- Listen to a story quietly.
When your child is used to school routine he/she may wish to stay to lunch. We endeavor to make meal times as happy and relaxed as possible, whilst maintaining a high standard of table manners. Hot lunches are cooked on site by Edwards and Ward. Dinner money should be paid in advance. School lunches will need to be paid through Parent Pay. This on line method of payment ensures that you are in total control of your payments. There is an information sheet with this welcome pack.
Packed Lunch
Packed lunches may be brought to school. Please make sure containers are secure and named.
Absences
Please telephone the school first thing in the morning each day your child is absent from school. If a child does not turn up before 9.25 the school office will make a phone call to check where your child is.
Holidays in Term Time
Holiday in term time is not permitted and absences will be unauthorised. If you feel that there is an exceptional circumstance around requesting leave of absence for your child during term time, please complete a ‘Request for Leave of Absence Form’ available from the school office.
Holidays which are taken for the following reasons will not be authorised:
- Year 6 children to be absent during SATs week
- holidays taken due to availability of cheap accommodation
- occasional days out
- holidays that overlaps with the beginning or end of terms/long weekends
Medicines
The school is not obliged to administer medicine, but we do recognise that asking parents to come to school to administer a prescribed dose is not always realistic. If you need to request that the school administer medicine during the school day, please ask the office for a medicine administration form which you will need to fill in.
Lost Property
Named items are returned to the child. Un-named items are collected and placed in the lost property bin in the hall. Please ask if you are unable to find missing articles.
Money
From time to time you may be sending in money for various activities. Please send in any money in a sealed envelope clearly marked with your child’s name and the activity it is for.
Break Times
Children in Reception share the playground with the Year 1 and Year 2.
Through the National Fruit and Vegetable Scheme all children in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 are given the opportunity to have a piece of fruit each day. This may be a carrot, an apple, a banana, a satsuma or a few tomatoes. We will encourage children to eat the fruit or vegetable available each day, but will obviously not force them to. If you would prefer to send your child with a piece of fruit or vegetable, then please do so. No other form of snack is permitted at break time.
Milk can be ordered through Cool Milk. Forms are available from the school office.