Parents/carers of current year 6 students

Welcome to Highfields School!

If you are reading this, then you must already be interested in our school and what we are doing.

All we wanted to say here is don't worry. Over the coming weeks, we are working on how we can best help you smoothly make the move to being a Highfields student. We are thinking through all the issues and concerns you might have - what is the school like? How will I find my way around? How do I buy the uniform? What will happen with the buses?

We are planning ahead so that we can provide a transition process that is most likely to succeed in an academic year that may continue with year bubbles, limited contact and school cross-over opportunities.

To reassure you, the current year 7 have settled in very well, many coped better with our virtual transition than our normal one. We also want to keep you all as involved as possible to ensure you are fully informed across the whole process.

We are hopeful of inviting students and one parent/carer in to visit us on Friday 2 July for a short length of time at designated times during the day. However, this will be confirmed nearer the time when further announcements are made by the government.

We will keep updating everyone through the school website, but really specific messages will come from Mrs Green. She is the 'Year Manager' for year 7 and your first point of contact. Mrs Green has already emailed some information to parents/carers of our year 6 students via our WEDUC communication system.

If your family haven't received an email from Mrs Green, please email with your name and primary school so she can add you to our communication list (tgreen@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk).

September 2021 – Transport to school

The link below is to the Derbyshire County Council website that aims to answer any questions you may have on school transport in September 2021: https://derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/your-child-at-school/travel/school-transport.aspx

The site provides information on the options available for travelling between school and home, including details on free bus travel, timetables and DCC plans and policies for school transport.

Programme of events for year 6 students starting in September 2021

From 1 April you should all now be receiving information and activities for your child to complete, that will best help them make a smooth transition to Highfields School. Please make sure that you have download the Weduc app so that you receive all communications.

We will keep updating you on key information, but below are a few pieces of information and activities that you will expect to see before the start of term in September. Activity work and information forms must be returned by the deadline date to allow us to process the information to support your child.

From September, the transition programme will continue with some very focused ‘year 7’ time and activities. The first day of school is a dedicated to year 7 students only - this is Wednesday

1 September.

We will keep in touch to make sure students have the best possible transition experience in this climate. Our priority remains that students feel part of our community and to allay as many worries as possible whilst beginning to outline our expectations. In this way, together we will be able to ensure that every student begins their Highfields journey as smoothly as possible.

Date Received Document For Student or Parent

March

Download Weduc app to receive all communication Parent

April Cashless catering form Parent April Student magazine Student

May

Admission form/Allergy letter/Home school agreement Parent June Uniform information Parent and student June Starkholmes virtual tour Student June Bus information Parent and student June Pastoral Profiles Parent and student June Geography on a plate Student June Pyramid ‘worries’ activity Student June Social medial/blanket consent/GDPR forms Parent June Hand Activity Student June Form Room and Timetable Information Student 2 July - to Current COVID regulations permitted Student with one be confirmed Visit to school for tour and to meet Year Manager parent and Head of Year - time slots allocated to ensure COVID regulations are adhered to School will email with details nearer the time as we need to ensure we are allowed additional students on site at this time

2 July Information Booklet

July Library/Accelerated Reader activity August ParentPay information to pay for locker, and load school dinner money account Parent

Parent and student Student

Deadline date

Deadline 12/3

Deadline 30/4

Deadline 15/5

Deadline 6/7 Deadline 2/7

Deadline 19/7

Year 6 cashless catering system – online form completion

In order to help us plan effectively for your child starting with us on Wednesday 1 September, we have issued the first of several electronic forms that we will be asking year 6 parents/carers to complete and return to us over the coming weeks.

You should be in receipt of the cashless catering system information emailed from Mrs Green. We run this system to minimise the amount of money in school. The system allows student accounts to be topped up online through ParentPay or by cheque or cash. The system recognises each individual student and can provide full details of their individual cash balances, records cash spent / received, shows where money is spent, ie on what food and on any specific date and time of day. The system works the same for all students whether they pay or have a free school meal.

Please can you ensure you complete the cashless catering information by 30 April and contact Mrs Green at Highfields School if you have not received an email in connection with this.

Over the coming weeks remember to look out for our year 7 magazine compiled by our current year 7 students specifically for new year 6’s starting Highfields. We would also like to remind you to keep Friday 2 July free for our induction sessions – we will confirm full details as soon as possible in June after government guidance has been released.

We look forward to meeting your child soon, but if you have any queries in the meantime, please contact us.

Year 7 Team