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

Year 6 parents/carers 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 April  Student magazine Parent Student

May

Admission form/Allergy letter/Home school agreement June Uniform information Parent Parent and student

June Starkholmes virtual tour June Bus information June Pastoral Profiles June Geography on a plate June Pyramid ‘worries’ activity June Social medial/blanket consent/GDPR forms June Hand Activity June Form Room and Timetable Information Student Parent and student Parent and student Student Student Parent Student Student

2 July - to be confirmed

Current COVID regulations permitted

Visit to school for tour and to meet Year Manager 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

Student with one 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

Y6 Welcome Magazine

Our current year 7 students collated information in PHSE lessons on how to welcome year 6 students to Highfields. Our students produced a magazine in their form classes and we have taken relevant sections from them all to pass to your child. Please access via the link below: https://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/parents/year-six-information/year-6-magazine/

We hope this will give your child a little insight into what it is like at Highfields, from a current year 7 perspective, in advance with them starting with us in September.

Reminder of information previously issued: Year 6 cashless catering system – online form completion by 30 April

In order to help us plan effectively for your child starting with us on Wednesday 1 September, we 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 – thank you to the parents/carers who have already completed this by the 30 April deadline, for any outstanding please complete and return as soon as possible.

We run the cashless catering 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 ensure the cashless catering information is completed and returned as soon as possible. If you have not received an email in connection with this, please contact

Mrs Green at Highfields School (tgreen@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk)

Year 6 induction sessions – Friday 2 July 2021

We would 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.

Thank you Year 7 Team