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Staff

Mrs Cooper Headteacher
Mr Hodges Deputy Headteacher/Year 6 teacher
Mrs Roberts/Mrs Finch Office staff

Mrs Greening Classteacher
Mrs Warrener Teaching Assistant am
Mrs Young Teaching Assistant pm

27 children in the class (8 girls 19 boys) with at least 2 adults at all times

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Timeline for Starting School

Monday 4^th September . Summer born children only from 9.00 am – 1.00pm. (including lunch)

Wednesday 6^th September. Spring born children also start 9.00 am-1.00pm

Thursday 7^th September. Autumn born children also start 9.00am -1.00pm, so all children are in.

Children come in the main door in the mornings, where they are greeted by Mrs Greening and Mrs Warrener.

Monday 18th September all children may start full time if this is appropriate for them.

First two weeks 9am till 1.00pm including lunch. After that a normal school day is 8.40-9 staggered entry and then pick up at 3.15.

Lunchtime pick up (1.15 after 18^th) is always at the main door. 3.15 is at the outside classroom door from the playground.

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What is the Early Years Foundation Stage ( EYFS)?

The 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.

It is developed around 4 themes that underpin the EYFS

1. A Unique Child- Observe what a child is learning

2. Positive Relationships- What adults can do

Enabling Environments- What adults could provide
Learning and Developing- Children’s achievements through the above

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Areas of learning…

PRIME AREAS

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Communication and Language

Physical Development

These are crucial for developing children's learning and come before anything else.

SPECIFIC AREAS

Literacy

Mathematics

Understanding the World

Expressive Arts and Design

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A typical day in our Foundation Class…�

8.40 Welcome and self register. Morning activities.
9.00-9.20 Phonics
9.20-10.10 Literacy directed group work/ child initiated learning
10.10-10:30 Assembly (after first half term)
10.30-10.45 Breaktime with the whole school
10:45-11.00 Story/sharing time with snack and milk
11.00-11.15 Numeracy whole class carpet work
11.15-11:45 Maths directed group work/ child initiated learning
11:45-12:00 Singing
12:00-1.15 Lunch
1.15- 1.30 Registration/sharing time
1.30-2.45 KUW/EAD/RE/PHSE/Reading/ CIL
2.45 Story/reflections on learning
3.15 Home time.

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Snack time

Free fruit is provided by the government and so is milk for all four year olds. Milk can be paid for through www.coolmilk.com once your child turns five
Children have access to their water bottles all day as well as set times when they are encouraged to drink plenty. Please ensure that water bottles are filled and in school every day.

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Playtime and lunchtime

At the start of term, we have early use of the playground before the other children come out, then back to the classroom for snack while the rest of the school play
After the first two weeks if they are ready, they go out with the rest of the school. At first they are accompanied by adults and they are always with buddies to start with until they build confidence
For the first two weeks, the Reception class have lunch with their Year 6 buddy, who accompanies them to the playground

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Lunch

School lunches are provided by Chartwells. They are varied and healthy, with lots of choice each day.
School lunches are free until your child reaches Year Three.
Most children start off trying the dinners. If your child really doesn’t manage well with the school meals, they can have their own packed lunch
Children are encouraged to use a knife and fork independently, and show good table manners from the start.
Parentpay accounts will be set up for choosing lunch in September. For the first two weeks, please look at the menu with your child and fill in and return the paper form in your packs on your child’s first day.

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Full time/part time?

It depends on the individual child.
A child who is tired, with low well being, will not make good progress.
Flexible-even on a daily basis sometimes!
Please speak to us and let us know your plans for Term 1. This can be changed at a later date, according to how your child is settling.
Compulsory school age is the beginning of the term following your child’s fifth birthday so for Summer born children this is not until Year One!

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What can you do to help your child’s learning before they begin school?

Develop independence and resilience (but also teach them to ask for help when they do need it)
Make sure they can dress/undress by themselves including zips on coats and putting on their own shoes (velcro is best)
Make sure they are toilet trained, including wiping, and can wash their hands and wipe/blow their own nose.
Teach them to tidy up after themselves, including putting lids on pens, putting things back in the correct place.

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What can you do to help your child’s learning before they begin school?

Sharing books - talk about the pictures, characters, plot.
Encourage mark making, shopping lists, drawing.
Messy play and developing hand strength
Encourage children to talk and listen, including following simple instructions. Have a two way conversation.

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What can you do to help your child’s learning before they begin school?

Practise counting at any time - climbing the stairs, shopping, meal times.
Play board games, taking turns.
Sing number rhymes and songs together.
Recognise numbers in the environment

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Tapestry

We use Tapestry to observe and assess the children. https://tapestryjournal.com/
You can add observations and comment on our observations. It is a two way partnership.

Please sign the permission form (if you haven’t already) to share photos with you and the rest of the class

We will set up the pupils during the Summer holiday and you will be emailed when the account is active. We will share photos and videos throughout the Summer to support the transition process.

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Medical

Children do not manage well at school when they are ill. Please keep them at home!

For sickness and tummy bugs, the child needs to be off for 48 hours after the last bout of sickness
Head lice do happen. Please check and treat if necessary.
Call or email the school office/Mrs Greening by 9am if your child is going to be absent that day.
Prescribed medication can only be administered by the office if the appropriate paperwork is filled in
Appointments should be outside school hours where possible but if not, please collect children from the office not the classroom.
Children can suddenly become ill and therefore it is important that we know we can contact you or another adult relative/friend at all times. Please ensure that the school is kept up to date with your contact details.

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Other matters…

Please let us know the normal collection arrangements for your child at the start of term by email to ag@stjohnsprimary.org. This can be a list of family members or friends allowed to collect your child-it doesn’t have to be exact arrangements if that’s not possible.
On a daily basis, please let us know if someone different is collecting your child or if you are going to be late via a phonecall or email to the school office and classteacher.
Let us know if anything outside school, however small could be affecting your child.
A class weekly newsletter is published on the school website on a Friday afternoon. www.stjohnsprimary.org
Expect dirty clothes! Messy is play is so good for learning in EYFS.
Expect exhaustion! Good sleep, routine and diet are important.
Term dates www.eastsussex.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schools/termdates/

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During the year….

More detailed learning meeting in late September once children are settled

Individual Parents evening in October and March

Children will attend assemblies and do PE lessons when they are ready as a class, usually after the first half term

Stickers/wow moments/Star of the Day

TRIPS-Pizza Express, Blackberry Farm

EVENTS-Nativity, sports day, harvest-church and cooking

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What should my child bring:

Bookbag. No large bags such as rucksacks please-they do not fit in the cloakroom.
Water bottle-with a sports cap rather than an opening lid and NAMED please.
Sunhat if needed
Waterproof coat in all weathers please-(children should be able to put their coat on and fasten it themselves)
Wellies in winter
PE bag including a change of clothes and underwear please. A name on the OUTSIDE of the PE bag is really helpful.
No toys from home please

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Checklist:

Return questionnaire and Tapestry form if you haven’t already done so
Fill in Pupil Premium eligibility forms if appropriate and return to school (link on website page)
Buy uniform and shoes, including the correct colour PE bag, book bag and children’s own water bottle (any type). Check with me if you are unsure of the colour.
Name all items clearly, especially if second hand or belonging to siblings (a picture or coloured label can help your child identify their own things)
Email a family photo to ag@stjohnsprimary.org by the start of September and any collection arrangements
Check emails for Tapestry notification when account is set up
Fill in lunch form and return on first day

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��Thank you! We look forward to working in partnership with you.��See you at the buddy picnic on the 7^th July�� (These slides are on the starting school page of our school website.)