Welcome to Reception

You will have a home visit with your child's class teachers.  This will be arranged at the Reception Parents' Welcome Event in the Summer. These are a great opportunity for the school to build relationships with the whole family and form an important part of the transition into Reception. 

Children will have a staggered timetable for the first few weeks to ensure their transition is as smooth as possible.  This will be given at the Parents' Welcome Event  in the Summer and available in the Reception pack. 

These are the things your child will need to bring to school with them most days:

· Named school and PE uniform

· Named water bottle/lunchbox

· Named book bag (to take their work home in)

· Shoes (named) that your child can manage by themselves (e.g. Velcro – no laces)

· Sunhat (named) for sunny days

· Sun cream already applied on sunny days

· Warm coat (named) for colder days

· Warm hat and gloves (named) for cooler days

· Spare clothes (named) in case of accidents

· Named rain coat on warmer days when rain is predicted

Starting Reception is a very exciting time for you and your child. As a team, we will endeavour to make this as special and enjoyable as possible.  Whilst dropping off your child, members of the team are always on hand should you need a brief chat or help settling your child.

When your child starts school it is natural for them to have some fears and anxieties about saying goodbye.  Helping your child get past their fears will go a long way towards encouraging healthy separations. 

• Treat departures in a matter of fact way.  Say “I love you and I will see you after nursery”, give them a hug, kiss and leave.  It will send them a message that you feel comfortable with their key person and that they can be comfortable too.
• If you apologise for leaving it can convey the message that you are doing something for which you want your child’s forgiveness.  It is better to say a positive goodbye.
• If you ask your child’s permission to depart it gives your child more power than they need or can use.  Tell them you are leaving now and you will see them at the end of nursery.
• It is best to say goodbye rather than slipping away.  Although disappearing may help avoid a scene today it may jeopardise your child’s trust in you and the nursery staff, causing difficult goodbyes in the future.
• Try and be patient if your child acts out when you are reunited.  The longer you are gone, the harder it is for your child to hold themselves together.  Once reunited they will feel safe enough to let out a day’s worth of emotions all at once.  Acknowledge their feelings and tell them they have been missed.

School milk is an important part of a child’s diet. Milk provides a number of health benefits.  All children who are under 5 years old or are registered as pupil premium are eligible for free milk. If you are not entitled to free milk you can pay for your child to have it at school.  Please visit www.coolmilk.com to register your child to receive free milk or wish to pay.

Tapestry is an easy-to-use, secure online learning journal which enables staff and families to capture, share and celebrate each child's  individual achievements and milestones. Learning and progress is documented through photos and videos and an ongoing dialogue between home and school.  Please give consent via the School Gateway app to use this system.

Check out their website for tutorials and guides on how to maximise the online platform.