11
Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage Induction Booklet For Reception Parents WELCOME to West Monkton Primary School
Welcome to the Early Years
Foundation StageInduction Booklet
For Reception Parents
WELCOME
to
West Monkton Primary School
“A school where everyone has the courage and confidence to fly.”
Dear Parents/Carers
We are looking forward to welcoming you and your child to West Monkton Primary School in September.
We want this to be the beginning of a happy and successful time for your child, and a supportive partnership with you. However, we recognise that starting school can be an anxious time for both children and parents. The aim of this booklet is to provide you with practical information and some useful advice to help make your child’s transition into the Reception Class as smooth as possible.
Making a flying start
Ready for School?
By this time of year, many children are ready to begin school. They may already have experienced Pre-School education and will have learned many skills and will understand a great deal. Most importantly as Parents you are your children's most important educators so there are lots of things you can do to help prepare your child at home.
Your child will be well on their way to being ready for school when they are comfortable with:
Knowing many stories, rhymes and songs Knowing what their name looks like Showing an awareness/interest of letters and numbers Knowing about the different reasons for writing Communicating well Listening carefully Talking to other people outside the family Respecting and getting on with other people, with good manners Asking questions Accepting a routine Saying what they would like Wanting to learn Sharing a book everyday
All these things continue to be important at school, especially the ‘wanting to learn’.
Children find starting school easier when they have: Parents who have found out what to expect at the new school Parents who encourage their growing independence Parents who give reassurance and encouragement
One of the best ways for you to help your child do well at school is to take a positive interest in what happens there. When children know their teachers and parents are interested, they are more likely
to be successful learners. When your child starts school, the support you give them and continue to give them over the years will have an enormous influence on their achievements.
Useful skills
When your child starts School, it would be helpful if he/she could do these things:
Take off coat put on a coat change shoesand hang it up
Dress and undress Use a tissue Use a knife and fork
Use the toilet wash and dry share toys and take turnsproperly and flush it hands
Help tidy their toys away
Making a markLearning about writing
The process of learning to write is a gradual one which takes a lot of effort and concentration. Children must learn:
How to hold their pencil How to use the piece of paper How to make their marks go in one particular direction
These basic skills help your child to become a fluent and effective writer.
Drawing and colouring is an important part of this process, which helps to develop the strength and co-ordination needed to control the pencil as well as confidence in making marks.
For a long time children’s writing will be no more than squiggles and marks. This is a very important first stage of early writing and needs lots of praise and encouragement, BUT during this time they are also developing an understanding:
That their own names can be written down using these marks. That parents use writing to make shopping lists and send cards and letters etc. That different letters stand for different sounds. That they themselves can make shapes that look like writing. That the marks have particular shapes and that these turn up in different words. That these shapes and marks can be put together to make words to write stories
and give messages.
How parents can help
Parents can help by: Praising and encouraging your child’s attempts at writing Showing an interest in what your child has written. Ask them about it. Join in. Listening seriously when they explain what their writing says, if they want you can
scribe their message next to their own writing. Drawing attention to letters and words all around them, e.g. Mail through the door.
Letters and words in shops, in books, on videos and the television. Letting your child watch you writing: reading what you have written to them and
telling them who the letters and messages are intended for. Encouraging them to add their own writing to your letters, cards, or make their own
labels for toys, possessions and friends. Looking at alphabet books together
Books and stories which play with words and rhymes will help children to discriminate between sounds, an important skill for reading and writing. Children love listening to these sounds and rhymes.
Repeated words and phrases can encourage children to join in. Children who have heard a lot of story language will start to use it in their play and in their writing once they start to write their own stories.
A typical day in Reception Class
(Please note that this is only an example of a timetable we may use and it is subject to change depending on the needs of the children).
8:45am Miss Paling and Miss Merrick will greet you at the school EYFS gate, as all the children come into class. Children hang up their coats independently, and self-register.
9am – 9:30am Whole class phonics
9:30am – 10.30am Continuous provision/ Adult led activities
10.30am – 10:50am Break time.
10.50am – 11:40am Continuous provision/ Adult led activities
11:40am – 12pm Story / singing and prepare for lunch.
12pm – 1pm Lunch time.
1pm Afternoon registration.
1pm – 1:20pm Whole class learning
1.20pm – 2:30pm Continuous provision/ Adult led activities
2.30-2.50 Fruit break
3:10pm Children are collected by parent or another adult as approved (please note we will not release a child to another adult without the parent’s prior permission and would ask that you please complete the enclosed Permission to Leave Site form including a password.)
Some practical informationSchool Uniform All children are required to wear school uniform. We believe that by wearing the school uniform, children are encouraged to take pride in belonging to the school. School polo shirts, sweatshirts, cardigans and PE T-shirts may be purchased from Jual Clothing and/or Taunton Uniforms (on East Reach).
Boys Grey trousers or shorts School sweatshirt-Maroon
White or blue polo shirt Waterproof outdoor wear to be worn during OPAL play Wellington boots that can be kept in school
Girls Grey skirt or trousersSchool Cardigan/sweatshirt- MaroonDuring the summer, girls may wear a red gingham dress.
Waterproof outdoor wear to be worn during OPAL play Wellington boots that can be kept in school
It is very important that children have waterproof clothing and wellies otherwise they will not be able to join in with OPAL during playtimes.
Shoes All children must wear black shoes suitable for the active life in school. (No trainers)
Bookbag Children to bring in a named bookbag with logo. This will stay with them until the end of LKS2.
P.E The children will have P.E every week so it is vital that your child has their full P.E. kit in school each day of the week. It can be left on their peg during the week and we will make sure it returns home at the end of each half term for a good wash! Should you wish to take it home weekly for a wash please ensure it is back on their peg on Monday mornings.P.E. Kit includes:
Black shorts Blue t-shirt Black elasticated back plimsoles In wintertime dark jogging bottoms and hoodies All kept in a drawstring bag (with logo if possible)
Please ensure that all items are named – it helps enormously when getting changed! ‘Mynametags’ are fantastic named sticker labels that work on clothes, shoes, drinks bottles and more. They even wash without peeling! You can order on-line or see the school office for a form.
Please be aware that jewellery is not allowed to be worn in school and cannot be worn during P.E. lessons under any circumstances
What is OPAL?
OPAL stands for ‘Outdoor play and learning’ and this has become a big part of our school culture. Play is essential to the mental and physical wellbeing of children and this is something we at West Monkton strive to enrich.
It helps to improve the quality of play times with a beneficial impact on behaviour and less frequent accidents. This is due to children being more engaged in activities such as building their own dens, playing in the mud kitchen, digging in the sand or mud along with much more. Loose parts play is another important part of OPAL as it allows children to use resources such as tyres, material, old furniture, dressing up items, crates etc, that will all be used in any type of play that the children want to engage with.
The school playground has been divided into different zones for different types of play but of course the children are able to take any play wherever they would like. As a school we are very fortunate as we have been growing our bank of resources that the children can use during play times. It has been a great opportunity for both staff and children to come out of their comfort zones and think more outside the box. Researchers have found that this encourages children to be more active and requires them to be more creative, imaginative and boost their social skills and problem-solving abilities.
As you will see above in the uniform section, we have asked that wellies are brought into school and these will stay here each day. The children will have a named peg on a welly rack. We have also asked that waterproof clothing is brought in and kept at school for play times, this is because children will be going out to play in all weathers. We have certainly seen a popular game of jumping in the puddles! If the children do not have these items in school, then they will be unable to join in with OPAL.
Forest School
Over the last year we have been very excited by the opportunity to develop our onsite Forest School. We have a dedicated teacher within the school who has designed it and helped to deliver sessions to some of the current children.
Forest school is another way to enrich the children’s education as it allows them to learn other life skills in an outdoor environment. They will be able to take part in lessons that involve learning about nature, building dens/bug houses, toasting marshmallows on the fire pit and other fun activities.
When the time comes for your child to attend Forest School you will receive further information from us, including clothing to be worn.
Food, drinks and snacks
Please note that West Monkton Primary School is a ‘nut free’ zone.
From Monday to Thursday children can bring a healthy snack (fruit or vegetables) to eat in the morning.
On Fridays children may bring in a treat snack.
Please ensure snacks are labelled with your child’s name.
Most children bring in their own water bottles each day, but water is available inside and outside the classroom. Please avoid fizzy drinks and no glass bottles. Please ensure these are also named.
Some children do not take advantage of the free school meals and prefer to have a packed lunch, if this is case for your child only pack foods you know they like and are able to eat independently. The lunch box needs to be named.
Enclosed in the school pack will be an application for universal school meals, free fruit/veg and school milk and the Permission to Leave Site form. Please ensure these are completed and returned.
Details about Breakfast Club and the after school club (Kingfishers) will also be enclosed in the school pack.
We hope that you have found this booklet informative. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us in school.
Contact information
School: 01823 412582Email: [email protected]
Useful websites:www.foundationyears.org.ukwww.jollyphonics.co.uk
YouTube is a useful site for learning the jolly phonics songs and actions.www.phonicsplay.co.ukwww.abcdoes.com
