Starting School

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Welcome to

Drymen Primary

School

Our Vision

We care for ourselves

We care for each other

We care for our environment

Our School Values

• Kindness
• Perseverance
• Teamwork
• Hard-working
• Honesty

Our School Profile

• 104 children
• Organised into 5 classes
• Range of partners
• Active PTA
• Nursery provision

Our Achievements

• HMIe 2024
• Eco Schools Award
• Rights Respecting Schools

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Our Achievements

• HMIe 2024
• Three evaluations of Very Good and one Good:

-High standards of attainment maintained over time.

-Children were well behaved and engaged well in lessons.

-Highly committed staff team.

-Wide range of partners and strong focus on emotional wellbeing.

-Children experience a wide range of learning opportunities, indoors and outside.

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Transition

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• Mr Hurding is Interim Head of nursery and school

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• School staff visits to nursery

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• Pre-school children visit school

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• Nursery and school staff handover

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• Transition Hub-website

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Curriculum

Typical School Day

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• A typical school day

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• 9.00am Smart Start activities
• Registration and lunch orders
• Numeracy learning and activities
• Morning break 10.30-10.45am
• Literacy learning and activities
• Lunch 12.15-1.15pm
• Interdisciplinary learning (Social Subjects, Expressive Arts, RME, Science, Technology)
• Expressive arts (Art, Music, Drama) /Health & Wellbeing (PE, Health education)
• 3.15pm Finish

What Literacy looks like in P1

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Children will experience a breadth of activities to support their learning and development of skills in literacy.

They will develop skills for listening, talking, reading and writing.

• Learning through play
• Phonics – introduction to letter sounds
• Key words- foundations for reading
• Writing (initially mark-making/drawing)
• Opportunities to talk and share
• Developing listening skills

What Literacy looks like in P1

Listening and Talking

• Listen for sounds in the environment.
• Listen to stories/rhymes and instructions.
• Key listening skills are taught.
• Take turns when talking. Encourage your child to wait rather than interrupt.
• Encourage asking questions/asking for help.

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Pre-Reading Skills

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• Rhymes – develops phonological awareness. Helps children to hear sounds and sound patterns.
• Read stories with your child, look at and talk about pictures.
• Talk with your child; ask questions to encourage them to speak about things they have been doing.
• Curiosity-Encourage asking questions/exploring how things work/why things happen.
• Jigsaws/puzzles/matching games.

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What Literacy looks like in P1

Phonics

• Children will be introduced to 2 letter sounds per week and 3 key words. (Active Literacy)
• Letters sent home.
• Important to support and encourage children to practise and learn sounds. Begin to blend letters.
• Once children know almost all letter sounds they will move onto a reading book.

Pre-Writing Skills

• Explore mark-making with a range of implements-pencil, pen, paintbrush, natural materials, fingers. Work towards a pincer grip.
• Malleable play- playdough, sand, flour/water, clay.
• Develop fine motor skills-scissors, threading, tweezers, pegs, draw, paint, colour, ‘write’.
• Anti-clockwise circles in preparation for letter

formation.

• Following a line.

What Literacy looks like in P1

What Numeracy looks like in P1

Children participate in a wide variety of activities to explore and develop their learning of each concept:

• Teacher led counting, sequencing numbers
• Mental Maths games/activities
• Learning through play (Children leading)
• Active Numeracy/Maths stations
• Practical investigations/exploration
• Written calculations

What Numeracy/Maths looks like in P1

What Numeracy looks like in P1

What Numeracy looks like in P1

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PE

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PE

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• Twice a week
• Indoor and outdoor (weather)
• PE uniform – white t-shirt, navy shorts/leggings.

Each term we have a different focus �(sometimes more than one)

• Ball skills (throwing/catching)
• Games (football/tennis)
• Fitness
• Gymnastics
• Dance
• Athletics

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Outdoor learning

We recognise that learning outdoors is beneficial for children’s wellbeing and gives opportunities for children to lead learning and apply skills in new contexts.

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Outdoor learning

Outdoor learning

Preparing for school:

Learning through play at home...

• Establish a good sleep routine.
• Get the environment right – limit screen time.
• Encourage independent imaginative play.
• Encourage outdoor play in all kinds of weather.
• Allow your child to think about, take and manage risks in their play.
• When moving to a different activity, give a warning to allow them to bring their play to a close.
• Give your child the opportunity to take turns and to experience not always being first.
• Encourage use of kind words-please/thank you.

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Preparing for starting school

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Developing your child’s independence is helpful. Being able to organise themselves helps them become ready to learn.

Some skills to work towards before starting school:

• Dress independently
• Independent personal care-toileting
• Fasten coats and shoes
• Open snacks, lunchboxes, water bottles
• Put clothes in a tidy pile (PE)
• Get everything they need out of their bag independently e.g. water bottle, home learning bag

Starting each day...

• Door open from 8.50am-9 am for P1 children.
• It is important to arrive at school by 9am.
• Please telephone to let the school know of any absence by 9.15am.
• Please collect children from school promptly at 3.15pm to avoid causing them unnecessary distress.

Playtimes

• Almost always outdoors-dress for the weather!
• P1 playground Term 1
• Support staff supervise
• P7 Buddies
• Loose parts play
• Snack before break in Term 1
• Wet playtimes (only in very wet/stormy weather)– children will remain in class and have access to indoor play.

P1 Checklist

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What to bring to school

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In August a reminder will be sent in the homework diary to indicate everything your child will need to bring to school.

• Water bottle with a sports cap (labelled)
• Paint shirt (labelled) – will stay in school
• Indoor shoes (labelled) – will stay in school: please check these regularly to ensure they are safe
• Packed lunch (on days when child is not a school lunch)
• Wellies/waterproofs can stay in school if you wish.
• Spare socks and trousers/shorts.

Useful Advice

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• Bring homework folder (issued by school) with the homework diary every day.
• Letter tin – bring every day
• You can order from home or your child can make their own choice.
• Please avoid children bringing toys from home.
• LABEL ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING!

Lunches

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• Order through Parent Pay daily (no cost)
• Lunches can be pre-ordered at home or ordered in school.
• Children select from the menu or Pack or Home lunch.
• Teacher will read the lunch choices to the children
• They will order on the board
• Please ensure you tell us about any food allergies.

Medicine

• You will have to sign some paperwork in the office before we can give medication to children. A Care Plan may be devised for children who have ongoing health conditions.
• All medicine is kept in the office.
• Inhalers – kept in office/classroom.
• Please advise us if there is any change to medical information.

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Communication

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• Class teacher will collect children from the playground in the morning and ensure they are safely collected at the end of the day.
• You may wish to pass on information at this time.
• If it is something that you need to talk to us about that will take longer you may wish to phone to make an appointment.
• Please notify school immediately of any changes of contact details including address, phone number, emergency contacts.

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School App/ Twitter

Communication from school

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• Most communication from school is via email.
• Some letters will be sent home in school bags e.g. NHS services, permission forms for outings. Please check regularly, complete and return promptly.
• Google Classroom is used to communicate home learning tasks and to share learning. You will be issued with login details.
• Homework diary can be used as a home-school communication tool.
• Drymen Primary School website https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/st/drymenprimaryschool/

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We will...

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• Be happy to help you.
• Find out what your child can do already.
• Support your child to settle into the school routine.
• Help your child to achieve their potential.

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