Welcome to
Friarswood Primary School
At the beginning of your child’s school life we welcome you to Friarswood Primary School. We hope that this will be the start of a happy and rewarding home and school partnership, with school working to provide a secure, stimulating and happy environment for your child to begin their educational journey.
This booklet is designed to give helpful information about the organisation, routines and procedures of the Nursery and Reception classes and to describe the learning activities which your child will experience with us.
Coming to school for the first time is a huge step for our children. We want to make each child’s entry into the Nursery and Reception classes an enjoyable one and we want all of the children to be happy, confident and eager to learn.
As part of our induction process we have an informal evening where parents can come and visit the school and classrooms and are able to have a chat with the Early Years Foundation Stage staff. There will also be a Teddy Bears Picnic for children, parents and other family members to visit the school together and a “moving up session” where the children are invited to come and practise being part of the Nursery and Reception classes before September. Children may be accompanied by parents if it is felt that this would be best for the child.
Every child is different and has individual needs. This means that when starting school in September each child’s induction needs to be individual in order to make their start to school a happy time. Some children will take longer than others to settle down within a different learning environment. These children may need to begin their school life by doing shorter days and if this is appropriate it will be discussed by parents and staff together as each child begins school in September.
The Foundation Stage Curriculum is organised into three prime areas:
· Communication and Language
· Physical Development
· Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The learning within Nursery and Reception is child centred and activities are planned to suit each individual child, making learning both effective and enjoyable for every individual. The majority of the children’s learning is completed through structured play activities. The Nursery and Reception classes offer a wide range of learning activities, which are designed to stimulate all areas of a child’s development- intellectual, physical, social and emotional.
Nursery Timetable
8.45am: day begins (children enter school through Nursery gate).
11.45am: home time for Nursery (children leave through same gate).
Reception Timetable
8.45am-8.55am- chance for parents to talk to Reception teacher if required.
8.55am: day begins (children should be accompanied to the Reception classroom door which is situated at the front of the school building).
8.55am- toast time (£1 per week – payable at the beginning of each half term).
11.45am: dinner time (the children may bring sandwiches from home or have school dinners), school dinners cost £2.10 per day.
3.15pm: home time (children should be picked up from the Reception classroom door).
Children must, by law, be accompanied to and from the school by an adult. In the interest of your child’s safety we ask that you let staff know whenever anyone other than yourself is going to collect your child and it would be very helpful if a photograph could be provided of this person.
Healthy Eating
At Friarswood we believe that healthy eating is fundamental. Throughout their learning the children complete many learning activities about healthy eating and keeping their bodies active and healthy. As part of our healthy eating programme a carton of milk and piece of fruit is provided free of charge for each child in Nursery and Reception. Water is also available throughout the day. All of the children in Nursery and Reception will have daily outside times as well as more structured P.E. lessons.
Partnership with Parents and Guardians
We believe that working in close partnership with parents is the way to give children the best possible education. To help with this every child is issued with a school planner which they must bring to school everyday and through which the staff may keep in contact with home and vice versa.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to come and talk to any of the Early Years Foundation Staff when you bring your child to school in the morning or at the end of the school day.
School Uniform -please see separate sheet for more detailed price list.
· Burgundy cardigan or jumper
· Sky blue polo-shirt
· Girls: a grey skirt or pinafore
· Boys: grey trousers
· Sensible black school shoes
Please note: cardigan, jumpers, polo shirts and coats with Friarswood logo are available from the school office.
Each child at Friarswood is given a Friarswood school book bag by the school governors when they begin school in September.
P.E. Kit
· White t-shirt
· Burgundy shorts
· Black P.E. pumps
· P.E. kit bag
(P.E. kit bags with Friarswood logo are available from
the school office).
P.E. Kit should be left in school during the week to enable us to use them as the need arises.
Clothes for outdoor learning activities
· Coat/jacket (preferably with a hood)
· Wellies (to remain at school)
· Sun hat and sun cream(for warmer weather)
Within the Nursery and Reception classes the curriculum is designed to include learning experiences and activities both indoors and outdoors. In order for the outdoor learning activities to take place the children will need to have suitable outdoor clothing. We would be extremely grateful if your child could bring a hooded coat EVERY DAY even if the weather seems to be sunny. It is also important that the children have the correct footwear for outdoor learning activities so a pair of wellies that could be left at school would be very beneficial.
All clothing/shoes should be labelled with your child’s full name.
Hairstyles and Jewellery
Long hair should be tied back. Boys are not allowed fashion haircuts- no ridges, spikes or hair gel please. Earrings and other jewellery are not allowed in school as a safety issue.
Toys
We discourage children from bringing toys from home as any breakages or lost toys can cause much distress.
Illness
If your child has any allergies or health problems please tell us so that we can be prepared. If at a later date your child develops any problems be sure to inform us. If your child is ill please let us know by telephone on the first day of absence.
All contact numbers must be given to Mrs Goodwin and this can be done by filling in and returning all of the school forms within this pack. If your child is ill or has an accident we may need to phone you at work or home during the school day so if your contact number changes for any reason please keep the school informed.
Below is some useful information given to us from the:
www.hpa.org.uk
Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection common in children. Usually the infection starts with a raised temperature, a general feeling of malaise and a sudden appearance of an itchy rash. The rash starts as a flat reddish spot and becomes raised and blistered.
What is the exclusion period from school?
A minimum of five days from the onset of the rash, after the blisters have dried and the child feels well.
Vomiting / diarrhoea type illnesses
What is the exclusion period from school?
The exclusion period is 48 hours from the time symptoms have subsided.
Independent Hygiene
As soon as your child begins at Friarswood we promote independent hygiene practises. This includes toileting and washing of hands etc. All of the children in Nursery and Reception classes will be encouraged to visit the toilet independently at all times. During class times, our school operates a ‘one child at a time’ policy, aside from outside times and lunchtimes when a member of staff monitors the toilet facilities.
For those children that are still developing their toileting skills ‘pull up’ nappies and wipes must be provided by parents.
We are very aware that children will have ‘little accidents’ from time to time so providing a change of clothes in your child’s school bag can be very helpful. We encourage parents to fully develop their child’s toileting skills as soon as possible.
Small and Tall Club
Small and Tall Club is a club run by qualified members of staff that provides before school care from 7.45am and after school care from 3.15pm until 6pm.
The Small and Tall Club at Friarswood also provides care for Nursery children in the afternoons.
For more details about the Small and Tall Club please contact Mrs Aitken, the Small and Tall Manager on 01782 297348.
How can you help
Encourage your child to be independent. We develop independence in the Early Years Foundation Stage by encouraging the children to do as much as possible for themselves
Talk with your child as often as you can. Listen and answer any questions.
Look at books together. Listening to stories helps your child to enjoy books. It will make learning to read easier. The local library has some lovely books suitable for children. Provide your child with paper, colouring books, crayons and pencils and encourage him/her to colour and write if they show an interest.
Enjoy singing together. Singing nursery rhymes with your child helps them to develop good listening and communication skills.
Help your child to improve their fine motor control skills by doing jigsaws, cutting out, threading and playing with construction toys like lego and duplo.
Capitalise on every day situations, for example when you are at the supermarket with your child encourage your child to notice and recognise colours, letters, words and numbers.