Welcome Pack Reception 2020

Welcome Pack Meet your staff:

Mrs Malley Reception Teacher

Miss Worsley Reception Teacher

Mrs Smith Teaching Assistant

Mrs Carr Head Teacher

Mr Catterall Deputy Head Teacher

Mrs Cahill Assistant Head Teacher

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Arriving On Tuesday 8th September 

On the first day, please bring your child around to the Reception class (blue) door at the time given on the enclosed list. DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.  Please arrive at the time you have been given. This will ease congestion and help us to settle the children.  Please tell a member of staff your child’s name. We will help you find your child’s peg in the cloak room. Children will hang their coats and named pump bags on their pegs. The coat pegs are arranged in alphabetical order by Christian name, either in the big cloakroom in the Reception classroom or in the smaller cloakroom on the other side of the class. We will then show the children where to put their: * Named water bottle * 1 Named healthy snack

Arriving From Wednesday 9th September  From Wednesday 9th September, the reception children can arrive between 8.45am—8.55am.  All children come in through the main reception class door at this time.  Please do not put your child’s water bottle in their packet. If it leaks, it can spoil their reading diary and book, which are costly to replace.  Line up at the door with your child. Adults please hand over your children at the door, this will develop their independence and quicken up the settling in process.  Be brave, it is very emotional when your child starts school. Try to drop your child at the door as quickly as possible. We will help take them off you if they are upset but they will settle very quickly.  After 8.55am the door is locked and children will need to come into school via the office. All arrivals after 8.55am are marked as late. Please ensure children are on time as they can be very upset and embarrassed when entering their class when their peers are settled.  Please don’t leave children unattended whilst waiting for the doors to open.

Home Time      

All children will be collected at 3.30pm. During the first few weeks, we will open the doors early (3:20/3:25) to help with dismissal.

To begin with children will be collected from the blue classroom door that they came through in the morning At first, you will need to let us know who you have come to collect. It will take us a few weeks to be able to recognise a child’s usual adult, so please bear with us! It will get quicker dismissing children as we get to know you.

If an unfamiliar adult (to staff) is going to collect your child, please let us know in advance. You must contact the office or tell a Reception member of staff.

At home time, we will call the child’s name and send them out to you. The children will wait in class until a teacher has called their name. We want to make sure all children are safely dismissed with their adult.

We have an open door policy and are always happy to talk to parents. All that we ask is that you wait until we have dismissed all the children at home time before speaking to us.

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What to Bring Each Day Named Healthy Snack Monday—Thursday children may bring one named healthy snack into school for morning break. Please send it in a named little paper food bag or SMALL re-useable named tub for fruit or veg. Friday is treat day.

Please make sure it is labelled. All the children claim the sweets and chocolate are theirs!

Food Ideas * fruit * veg sticks *dry low-sugar cereals *half a brown bread sandwich* bread sticks * dippers * cheese strings * dried fruit *crackers No yoghurts or fromage frais please as we have no fridges to store and NO NUTS.

cheese

Named Water Bottles  Children may bring in a named water bottle each day to school  Please only fill this with tap water.

Named Reading Packets  Check the packet and clear out letters/pictures every night.  PE Bags and Reading Packets will be given on their first day at school.

Food Information School Dinners  We will help to settle children into the routine at lunchtime.  It is very exciting going to choose what they would like to eat on their own tray. Children are encouraged to eat and drink healthily.  Please complete Form 2 below to state any allergies or intolerances.  Our school Catering Manager plans a delicious menu with many options, click below for a sample: https://www.walmsley.bolton.sch.uk/Parents/lunch-menu Packed Lunch  Clearly named healthy lunch in a lunch bag or box.  You may wish to put in a small ice pack to help keep it cool.

Fruit for Schools / Birthdays  In the afternoon, children are provided with free fruit and veg from the ‘Fruit for Schools’ scheme funded by the National Lottery.  Children can see Mrs Carr for a Birthday Treat! Please do not send in sweets, cakes or chocolate for the class.

School Ready Toileting  Children are expected to toilet themselves i.e. wipe their own bottoms etc!  Accidents do happen. Don’t worry! We will send soiled clothes in a securely fastened carrier bag in your child’s packet. We will not tell you at the door.  Please return any borrowed clothing as soon as possible, washed and ready for the next child. We are always grateful for spare underwear and uniform donations.  Try to encourage boys to wee in the toilet, not on the seat or floor!

Use a Knife and Fork  Practise using a knife and fork and cutting their own food up at mealtimes or opening fruit.

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Getting Dressed and Undressed  Encourage your child to dress and undress themselves, including fastening and undoing buttons.  Practise putting on and zipping/unzipping coats.

Homework    

This is now compulsory for all children of school age.

It is a great way to show an interest in your child’s education.

Children will get daily reading/phonics homework and weekly literacy and maths homework.

We also have an online maths programme called Numbots.

Parents Meeting   

Whole class ‘meet the teacher’ evening in the first few weeks We hold individual Parents meeting before Christmas to discuss how your child has settled into school. This is held during the school day.

Parents Evening meeting in the spring term.

Classes Next year our reception class will be operating as 2 classes within an open plan unit.

When the children initially start school, we will complete some baseline assessments. After these have been completed and we have had time to observe friendship groups we will group the children into two mixed ability classes. They will be in these groups for registration and teacher led inputs on the carpet and guided activities. After this input the children will all mix as one unit together in the learning environment.

As soon as we have put the children into classes we will let you know whose class your child is in. Your child’s key worker will then be their class teacher.

Tapestry https://tapestryjournal.com/

We use an online learning journey called Tapestry. This is secure and you can only access it with a password. Tapestry can be accessed from an app on your mobile phones or from a computer. It allows you as parents to see what your child is learning in school and you are able to comment on observations and the children can also share your activities and experiences at home. Children love sharing news and achievements on Tapestry – such as dance class, visiting a new place etc. Text, images and videos can be easily uploaded via PC, tablet or by using a mobile app - anywhere there's an online connection. It is only accessible to staff and people you allow: As well as parents, we can also set 2/3 additional family members up with access to your child's learning journey so that they too can share in these treasured moments.

Please complete the form below (Form 3) writing e-mail addresses and family relationship to those people that you wish to share in your child's learning journey.

Below is a brief guide to Tapestry:

Tapestry keeps you in touch with your child’s day wherever you are…

As parents, the first day of handing over your child to the care of another can be an emotional time. As your child adjusts to experiences without you at their childminder, nursery, or school, most parents continue to want to share in these times. Tapestry facilitates this, by enabling a personal journal, or diary, to build over time. Photographs, videos and notes of special moments are not only recorded, but can be made available regularly and often immediately to you.

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Use iOS or Android apps to receive new entries in your child’s journal celebrating their achievements and exciting activities, individually or with their new friends and the staff looking after them. Contribute to this growing journal by commenting on the journal entries, or even adding your own. Let your child’s teachers know what your child loves doing at home by sending photos and videos back, helping them understand their development at home. Your child’s other relatives can also be set up with access to the Tapestry profile so you can all share the excitement of the growth of your child.

Also share these special moments with your child at any time by logging into their Learning Journal, using your own password. In addition to the simple pleasure of seeing your child’s enthusiasm in describing their day, talking together about the pictures and video clips in their journal helps to develop your child’s language skills and build their self-esteem.

When your child leaves their first early education provision, the teachers there can provide you with a copy of their Tapestry learning journal to keep and treasure, as an electronic file or paper copy, as well as enabling you to download and keep the videos that have given you an insight into their first independent experiences. Your child’s Tapestry journal will be used during Years 1 and 2 at Walmsley CE School.

GDPR / Birthdays When Christmas/Birthdays arrive, we cannot give out lists of children. You could ask your child who their friends are / or sometimes we can name invitations for you - just send in invites, filled in with the details.

On your child’s birthday, they may wear their own clothes and bring a £1 donation for our ‘Birthday Bun’ money box. At the end of the year, this money is donated to a charity, chosen by Year 6.

Woodland All EYFS/KS1 children use the woodland behind church as an ‘outdoor classroom’. We take one group of approximately 20 children one afternoon a week with 2 members of staff. We do go out in all weathers, except extremely windy or icy conditions.

We have lots of fun looking at the trees, plants and wildlife, making dens, having picnics, making woodland ‘art attack’ pictures and sculptures, with lots of imaginary play and exploration. We will also learn about being safe in a woodland environment, as well as about how to care for it. The children will also talk about some simple rules which will cover safety and our expectations for good behaviour when in the woodland.

Although we provide waterproof clothing, your child will need to wear appropriate ‘comfy’ clothing on their Forest School day. These dates will be sent out in the Autumn term. When needed, we apply sunscreen and/or bug-spray. Please see our separate Forest School Handbook.

Health The School Nurse During the Reception year, the school nurse will come into school to check your child's height and weight.

This is a quick, informal check which you will be informed about before it is due to happen.

Hearing Reception children are not routinely screened for hearing, as this is done in Year 1. However, if school staff are concerned about your child's hearing, they will let you know.

Eyesight Every child in the Reception year will have a visual screening test by the NHS Orthoptic Service. Parents will 5

be notified in advance of this screening test. If a problem is found you will be asked to attend an appointment at the hospital.

Bumps and Bangs During the school day, your child may have a minor accident. Most are dealt with by our staff and we will administer first aid if required and send a slip home in your child’s packet and ring If we feel we need to, we will talk to you at the end of the day or telephone you during the day to discuss an injury with you. If your child bumps their head, we will administer first aid in the usual way and always send a slip, so that you are aware that the injury has been to the head. Occasionally, depending on the injury, we may ask you to come to collect your child if we think it necessary.

Illness/Medication/Health If your child becomes ill during the school day, we will contact you only if we feel that they need to be sent home. Please ensure school always has 3 up to date emergency contact numbers.

If your child is unable to attend school due to illness, please telephone school before 9.15am on 01204 332650.

Please keep children at home if they have a high temperature, sickness or diarrhoea. You MUST allow a 24 hour 'clear' period before you allow your child to return to school after vomiting or diarrhoea.

If your child needs to finish a course of antibiotics and needs four doses a day we will help-please hand in the medicine to Mrs Murphy or Mr McDonnell and complete the required form.

We do not administer any other medicines unless a care plan has been agreed with school and supporting documentation provided from a GP or specialist.

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RECEPTION 2020/2021 WELCOME PACK FORMS Please complete all information below and detach from the booklet and return to school ASAP. Form 1: Names Full, legal name of child ...............................................................

Your child’s PREFFERED name We will put the name that you write below on everything that we label up for your child; books, name card, coat peg, forms, lists etc. Please put the name that you want your child to be known as in school. It should be the name that they are referred to at home and it will be how we will refer to them in school. It is the name they will learn to write and it cannot be changed mid-way through the year.

I wish my child to be known as ……………………………………………………………………………

Form 2: Food Information Please state any food/drink allergies or intolerances. This will apply to school lunches and any cooking done in class.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………

Form 3: Tapestry Please allow the following people access to my child’s online learning journey. Please ensure you have permission from each individual before sharing email addresses for GDPR reasons. By filling in this form, we will take this as permission for using and storing your email addresses.

Full Name

E-mail addresses (please write as clearly as possible)

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Relationship to Child

Form 4 Permissions for Reception Staff (You will receive an additional official data form from our office) Yes

No

I do give permission for my child to go to Forest School and have sun cream / bug spray applied.

I do give permission for my child to taste food/cook in school.

I do give permission for my child to have photographs taken to be used for @walmsleysch twitter and our school website.

Please update us of any changes throughout the year or time in school. We are not being nosy, it is completely confidential but things at home can really affect children and it helps us to be prepared and to deal with it. (Such as relationship changes, bereavements‌)

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Form 5

All About Me! (Child or adult to complete together – pictures/labels too please!)

Can you write your name?

My friends

My Family (Who lives in your house/step families)

I like…

I can… (Please Tick) Write my name _ Draw/colour a picture _ Go to the toilet by myself _ Use a knife/fork _ Put on/fasten my coat _

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I don’t like…