St. Ursula’s Catholic Primary School
Reception
– September 2025
“With
God at the heart of our St Ursula’s family, we welcome all as we learn and grow together.”
Head Teacher’s Welcome
Dear Parents and Carers,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you to St Ursula’s Catholic Primary School. St Ursula’s is a happy and successful school where “With God at the heart of our St Ursula’s family, we welcome all as we learn and grow together”.
In our school, we have happy, hardworking children, dedicated staff and supportive parents and Governing Body. We have the highest aspirations for all our children and through our partnership with parents we aim for them all our children become the best learners that they can be.
We welcome you as parents and carers, we thank you for entrusting your child to us, and we look forward to a happy and successful partnership over the coming years.
Kind regards,
Mr Ashburn
Headteacher
Welcome to Reception at St Ursula’s Catholic Primary School. We hope that the information that follows will be useful as you support your child in preparing for Reception.
It is important to note that we have a staggered approach to starting in Reception. This is to allow the children to settle into school and become familiar to their new environment in smaller groups which gradually increase in size. It also means that the Reception children do not all start at the same time –although they will attend school for the entire day on the days that they do attend, they won’t attend on consecutive days within the first 2 weeks.
Start dates will be staggered between Wednesday 3rd September & Tuesday 16th September . All Reception children will be in school full time as from Wednesday 17th September. A letter will be sent to parents indicating specific staggered sessions for their child.
Children born in the Summer term (June, July, August) will start first, followed by children born in Spring. Children born in Autumn (oldest in the year group) will start last.
School hours: 8.45am – 3.15pm. (Gates open @ 8.35am and close at 8.45am)
As a Catholic school, Religious Education is at the heart of our school curriculum. Religious Education, which focuses on developing an understanding of Catholicism and faith in God, forms part of our weekly timetable.
We start and end of each day in prayer and, when possible, we attend to Mass at St Dominic’s Church at different times during the year.
Help your child to make the sign of the cross before and after prayers.
The Reception classes are called St Luke’s and St Helen’s.
Children who are already in our school Nursery will be given an opportunity to visit their new classes before the end of the term.
Children who are new to St Ursula’s will have their settling-in sessions at the start of September. More information will follow in the letter which outlines the staggered school starting dates.
School bags
The children will need a school bag with their name on it.
Pupils may only use the school bag shown here –other bags are not permitted.
Please do not attach key rings or toys to the bags as this makes the bags too bulky to fit into the storage crates that are used in class.
Write the child’s name on the outside of the flap on the bag as this helps the children to find their bags with ease. (Name only).
Children may not bring any toys to school in their bags.
* Children wear a uniform to school each day.
* All items of clothing must be clearly marked with the child’s name.
* The names on clothing items must be checked regularly to ensure that they haven’t washed out.
• Check the uniform policy on the school website very carefully. Uniform stockists available in back of hall at end of session for ordering.
• Information in packs about ordering online.
• Children are not allowed to wear any jewellery in school.
• No ear rings are allowed so if ear piercings are to be done, this should be done at the end of July as the ear rings will need to be removed by the start of September.
• Parents will need to remove ear rings before child enters class.
• Watches may only be worn from Year 2.
• Hair: Longer hair must be tied back. Hair accessories – colours of school uniform. Please check policies on website for more detailed guidelines.
• When the Reception classes start school in September they will wear their Winter uniform although the rest of the school will wear Summer uniform. This is to avoid having to buy a Summer uniform for only a few weeks.
• All pupils are required to wear their Winter uniform after the October halfterm break.
• Summer uniform is worn from Easter.
• Elasticated ties are recommended for Reception pupils.
• Children should not wear a belt with their shorts / trousers as this makes it difficult when they need to get to the toilet.
*Girls may wear white ankle socks or plain grey / red knitted tights with their winter uniform.
*Boys wear grey socks.
*Flat school shoes with Velcro are to be worn (no laces).
*Trainers may only be worn on days when the children have P.E. Trainers must not have laces.
*Flat black or grey ankle boots may be worn during the winter months.
Some Reception children may still be prone to accidents if they are unable to get to the toilet soon enough. If this is your child, please send a full change of clothing into school in a bag that is clearly named for Staff to use if the child needs to be changed.
*School blazers may be worn but on rainy days a waterproof coat will be needed as the children will play outside every day, irrespective of the weather.
*Children should learn to put their coats, cardigans / jumpers on and take them off.
They should learn to turn jumpers, cardigans and coats the right way around. Teach them to pull their sleeves through so that they can put their blazer /coat on by themselves (Adults will support the children to do this, but children should be learning to do this by themselves).
P.E
The children will be told which Sports House when they receive information about their class allocation in July. Children remain in the same Sports House throughout Primary School. Siblings are in the same Sports House. Each Sports House has a different colour t-shirt.
The children will need to wear a coloured Sports House t-shirt, jogging bottoms, a black sweater and trainers to school on the days when they have P.E.
Toilets
Although some children might still have an occasional accident when starting school, children should be fully potty trained. Should this not be the case, please speak to Mrs Butler (SENCO) before leaving today as an Intimate Care plan will need to be put in place.
Please familiarise children with using the toilets in different settings - this should be done regularly before they start school as some children are reluctant to use toilets that are different to the toilets that they have at home.
The boys will have the use of the urinals as well as a conventional toilet. If they are not used to using a urinal, please help them with this before starting school.
Remind the children to flush the toilet after use. Some children don’t like the noise that the toilet makes when it is flushed. Helping them to get used to the sound at home makes the transition to school easier.
*If children are inclined to wet themselves, they will need to be changed. The Admission documents that need to be completed online will include a Consent form which must be signed to allow Staff to change a child. If this form is not returned, Staff will be unable to change the child and the parent will have to come into school to change a child should they wet themselves.
* If children are inclined to wet themselves, we would advise that a complete set of spare uniform be sent into school for children to be changed into. These items of clothing must be named and should be checked regularly to ensure that they still fit.
Snack and lunch
• All children must have a water bottle in school with them each day. The water bottle may only contain water (no squash, flavoured water or sparkling water).
• The fruit for Snack Time is provided. Snacks must not be brought from home for Snack Time.
• Milk must be ordered. Milk for under 5’s is free. Once the child turns 5, the milk must be paid for. See information in pack.
All children remain in school for lunch. Children may have a school dinner or a packed lunch.
• Parent have to order the children’s lunches in advance if they are to have school dinners. Please check the menu on the school website for a full list of intolerances & allergies before ordering.
*Meals can be ordered for the entire week. More information about ordering lunches will follow at a later stage.
* The menu always includes a vegetarian option.
* School dinners are free for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.
* Parents will be asked to bring a packed lunch into school if no lunch has been ordered.
• If the child is a fussy eater, or is unlikely to eat the options that are available, please send a packed lunch into school for them for that day.
* Children may become anxious about lunch times if they don’t like the food options that are available. Avoid this by ordering foods that they are likely to eat. Although we can encourage children to eat different foods, we cannot make them eat. If there is a food that they don’t eat at home, please don’t select it for lunch.
• If your child likes only some of the lunch options available during the week, they could have school dinners for some days of the week and a packed lunch on other days – this is quite common and works well. When sending lunches, be mindful of foods that can cause choking –more guidance will be sent out. NUT FREE school. Small cake / biscuit as occasional treat, limit sugary foods, no sweets / chocolate bars.
*Please ensure that the child is able to feed themselves. Staff will help to cut the food up.
Early Years Framework
• The children follow a topic-based curriculum which promotes many opportunities for play-based, child-led learning. They will be offered opportunities to stimulate their thinking but are encouraged to explore for themselves.
• Within a typical day, children will participate in Enhanced Provision activities as well as teaching (carpet) sessions aimed at developing their Communication & Language, Maths skills, understanding of the natural world and people/ communities around us, Expressive Arts & Design as well as R.E.
• After the October half term, reading books will be sent home for the Reception children. Children are expected to read at home at least 5x per week once their reading books are sent home. (More information about reading will follow once the children have started school).
• Children will also have a reading sheet sent home each week, as well as an additional sheet to support their learning in school – may be Phonics / Maths activities / activity linked to other areas of learning. These will have to be returned each week.
Getting ready for school
Children should be encouraged to develop their independence before starting Reception.
According to Development Matters (Assessment Framework),3 – 4 year old children should be demonstrating the following:
They should be:
increasingly independent as they get dressed and undressed, e.g.: putting coats on and doing up zips.
increasingly independent in meeting their own care needs, e.g. brushing teeth, using the toilet, washing and drying their hands thoroughly.
Useful skills to practice with your child in preparation for school include:
• Support language development by regularly talking to your child – less screen time.
• NHS Start for Life – Early Learning & Development.
• https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/early-learning-development/
• https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/toddler/learning-to-talk/learning-to-talk-3-to-5-yea rs/#video-talk-to-each-other-when-out-and-about
• HENRY Programme – supporting families with helpful hints about developing healthier lifestyles, including tips on food, sleep, screen time & dealing with challenges. https://www.henry.org.uk/
Support children in developing their independence before starting school:
Feeding themselves independently.
Saying short prayers; making the sign of the cross;
Attending Mass during the year;
Using the toilet independently; If children are likely to wet themselves, please send a full set of spare uniform in a bag for changing. Consent to change children form included in pack. Completed form must be given to class teachers. If not completed & returned, Staff will not be able to change child, parent will be called to change child.
Washing and drying their hands;
Blowing and wiping their own nose and throwing the tissue into the bin;
Taking their jumper off, turning it the right way around and putting the jumper on;
Putting on their own coat;
Putting on and taking off their own shoes;
Play turn-taking games;
Recognising their own names;
Looking at books independently;
Developing an awareness of colours, shapes and numbers in their environment;
Drawing, painting, cutting;
Tidying up toys.
Going home at the end of the day
• It is important that you talk to your child regularly about starting Reception.
• Explain that they will stay at school to learn and play with the other children.
• Assure them that someone will come back to collect them at the end of each day.
• Make sure that they know who will be collecting them at the end of the day. Being unsure about collection arrangements can unsettle children.
• Think about a password that you can give the School to be used if anyone other than yourself is to collect the child.
• Please let the Staff know if anyone other than yourself is to collect the child. The person who is collecting the child will have to provide Staff with the password that you have given us.
• We are not able to release the children to anyone under the age of 16.
* If there are siblings in school, please fetch the Reception children first to avoid distress when they see all their friends leaving.
Working in partnership
SENCO:
SENCO introduction – SEND, EAL,
~ Toileting (Intimate Care Plan required if children are still in nappies).
~ Feeding (children should now be feeding themselves and should not be drinking milk from bottles - effect on speech).
~ Children should be walking – not carried / being pushed in buggies – need to develop stamina & gross motor skills in preparation for school.
~ Working together and communication
Home School Support Worker
Breakfast Club
After School Club – see website for details – new provider starting Sept – provider known to school but extending provision within school.
Admission forms
Admissions documents will be sent out electronically. Must be completed electronically & returned to school by 4th July.
(See Office if you think you will have difficulty submitting these documents electronically).
“Permission for schools to provide intimate care” – Consent to change child in school – must be completed & handed to class teacher.
Thanks & Conclusion
We look forward to working in partnership with you to give your child a strong foundation on which to build their future learning.
