A Very Warm Welcome To
St Willibrord’s Roman Catholic Primary School
New Starter Booklet for Early Years Foundation Stage Parents
Dear Children and Parents,
We are looking forward to welcoming you and your child into our school family. We want this to be the beginning of a happy and successful time for you at St Willibrord’s.
We do recognise that starting school can be an anxious time for both children and parents and a time with lots of questions. 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 Nursery or Reception class as smooth as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
EYFS Team
Making a fantastic start to school
Being a parent is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world and we believe that you are their first and most important educators. The support and encouragement you give to your child throughout their school life will have a huge impact on their achievements and successes.
Getting ready for school
Below are a few ideas of things you can do with your child, or make sure that they can do, which will make a real difference to their education right from the start:
- Listen and sing lots of songs and rhymes
- Listening games
- Playing with shapes
- Playing with numbers
- Drawing and colouring
- Respecting and getting on with other people, with good manners
- Talking to people outside the family
- Saying what they would like
- Be willing to have a go at something new
- And perhaps most important – share a book together everyday.
Useful Skills
When your child starts school it would be helpful if they could do these things for themselves:
Uniform
All uniform and clothing must be labelled with your child’s name/ initials.
Uniform does not have to have the school logo on but uniform with the school logo on can be ordered from:
Panache Schoolwear – Droylsden
0161 301 5570
Change of clothes
We ask that all parents provide a bag that can be left on their child’s peg with a change of clothes in the event of an accident in school. All clothes to be labelled.
Learning in Reception and Nursery is not always clean! We love messy play, we allow the children to explore and be creative. Therefore, we do apologise in advance if your child looks like they’ve had an amazing time that day.
The Curriculum
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the stage of education for children from birth to the end of the Reception year. It is based on the recognition that children learn best through play and active learning.
There are seven areas of learning, including three prime areas:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
And Four specific areas of learning:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
There are also three characteristics of effective learning based on how young children learn. These must be taken into account when we plan and guide children’s activities.
- Playing and exploring
- Active learning
- Creating and thinking critically
In the final term of their Reception year, a profile will be completed for your child. This provides parents and carers, practitioners and teachers with a well-rounded picture of a child’s knowledge, understanding and abilities, their attainment against expected levels, and their readiness for Year 1. In Reception, the children will be observed and assessed through their play in order to gain insights and make reasonable judgements against the Early Learning Goals. We will use the terms ‘emerging’ or ‘expected’ to describe our judgements.
‘Development Matters’ document:
Special Education Needs and/ or Disabilities (SEND)
We are an inclusive school that welcomes and celebrates diversity. All staff believe having high self-esteem is crucial to a child’s emotional well-being and academic progress. We have a caring, understanding team who look after all of our children.
If you would like any further information, feel you would like to share any concerns regarding your child or would like to raise that other professionals (Health Visitor, Community Paediatrician or Speech and Language) are currently working with you and your children. You can make contact with the school office and speak to Miss Key, our SENDCo.
Medical Information/ Allergies/ Eating
Please ensure all up to date information is shared with the school office before your child starts in September. It is your responsibility to keep school updated on any changes or developments.
How to keep in touch
Telephone: 0161 223 9245
E-mail: school office: admin@st-willibrords.manchester.sch.uk
The website is regularly updated to keep you informed. Please visit our website and have a look around!
Facebook page: St Willibrord’s RC Primary Clayton Manchester
Instagram page: stwillibrords
We are really looking forward to supporting your family as your child takes their next step in their learning journey. Please do contact us if you have any questions, now or indeed in the future.
Meet the adults in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Miss Key Mrs Hardman
Early Years Lead Lead Teacher in EYFS
SENDCo
Reception Teacher
Mrs Ball
EYFS teacher
