I am delighted to welcome you to our fantastic school which has a village flavour and a family atmosphere. This character underpins our partnership with parents which is essential to our success and our approach to school life. We work alongside our families, guaranteeing that school is supported by parents and parents are supported by school so that children can shine.
Vision and Ambition
Our vision is centred on our commitment to excellence in learning. We are ambitious for all children and they, in turn, are ambitious for themselves. Achieving academic success is an essential aspect and our aim is for all children to leave Year 6 as confident, responsible and competent learners who are more than ready for secondary school.
Igniting the Future
Our curriculum is stimulating, thought-provoking and creative. We want to ignite children’s interest in the world around them, and for that interest to lead them to fulfilling and imaginative lives. Our children, encouraged by expert practitioners, are enthusiastic and curious learners, secure in the knowledge that they will always be valued as individuals and supported with gentle hands and open hearts to develop their talents and explore their interests.
Thank you for your support in making your child’s start to Reception and full-time schooling a positive experience.
Miss Stockley
The Team
Dear Parents/Carers and Children,
Welcome to The William Hogarth School! We are so excited that you will bejoining our school family this September. This year will be full of fun, friendship, and new adventures.
In this pack, you’ll find everything you need to know to get ready for your first day and the exciting journey ahead. If you have any questions, just ask – we’re here to help!
Miss Gaitantzi
Early Years Team Leader
James Upton
Early Years Teaching Assistant
Early Years Teaching Assistant
Cowell SENCO and Inclusion
Emma Preston
Miss
Scholarship
Key Stage 2 SATs, 2023/24
Year 1, Phonics Screening Check, 2023/24
Applications, Admissions and Fees
Our Nursery is term-time only. Children may join Nursery the term after their 3rd birthday Children must be toilet trained. Please complete the Nursery Application form to register your child.
We offer a fully flexible solution to support families in meeting their childcare needs – please contact the school office team to discuss your requirements.
ALL 3 and 4-year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare and early education per week for up to 38 weeks per year.
Some families may be eligible for 30 hours free childcare per week. Please check your entitlement .
If you are not eligible for 30-hours free childcare, additional sessions are charged at £30 per session. * Fees are subject to review annually*
The Nursery Day
The Nursery Day is split into AM and PM sessions
8.45 am – 11.45 am Morning Session
Drop-off and pick-up are via the dedicated EARLY YEARS GATE on DEVONSHIRE STREET opens. A member of the team will be on hand to welcome you and your child. Please say “Goodbye” to your child (bags, coats and belongings
12.30- 3.30 pm Afternoon Session
Drop-off is via the MAIN SCHOOL OFFICE on DUKE ROAD. Pick-up is via the dedicated EARLY YEARS GATE on DEVONSHIRE STREET. A member of the team will be on hand to welcome you and your child.
11.45 am – 12.30 pm NURSERY LUNCHTIME
Lunches, Snacks and Drinks
LUNCH
If your child is staying for lunch, all children eat in the dining hall where there is a real family atmosphere and sense of coming together. Children are encouraged to socialise and show off their excellent manners whilst refuelling!
Our delicious school lunches are provided by caterers, Taylor Shaw. There is always a huge selection available (meat, vegetarian, halal, veg and salad etc) for the children to choose from. All food is cooked and freshly prepared on-site daily by our experienced catering manager, Jeanie. Children select their lunch at the start of the day (we recommend having a look at home together) and a weekly menu is included in the newsletter.
Sample Menu
All children in Nursery can enjoy a hot, school lunch (£2.53).
If your child would prefer a packed lunch, this is fine. Our only request is that it is healthy (no sweets, chocolate or fizzy drinks please) and nut free
SNACKS
All children in Nursery are offered some fresh fruit to keep them going!
In addition, milk is available free of charge to pupils aged under 5 years. Once pupils turn 5, they can continue to receive milk daily by signing up to Cool Milk.
Water is always available for the children to access in the classroom. We recommend that your child brings a plastic, reusable bottle to drink from throughout the day.
School Uniform
The governors, staff and children believe that school uniform creates a sense of belonging, pride and ownership in the school. It is our school policy that all children must wear school uniform.
What should my child wear?
The William Hogarth School uniform is a smart grey pullover or cardigan, white polo shirt and grey trousers, shorts, skirt or pinafore. Shoes should be black – we do not recommend laces until your child is able to tie these independently.
We have kept our school uniform as simple as possible so that it can be purchased from most high street stores and supermarkets at a reasonable cost. There is no requirement to wear items with the school logo. The official school uniform provider is Stevensons. All uniform can be purchased online from the official stockist.
Alternatively, our pupil leadership group - The Entrepreneurs - run a frequent second hand uniform shop in the school playground outside the office after school on most Fridays, as well as having their own online shop hosted by Uniformd
As the children are outside every day, Nursery children also need a pair of wellies and a good outdoor coat to keep in school.
All uniform items must be clearly labelled with your child’s name.
HAIRSTYLES
Long hair must be tied back with black, white or yellow bands.
What your child needs everyday
Learning to achieve
We love learning and achieving together!
What your child will learn at school
Key Stages
The National Curriculum at The William Hogarth School is divided into three stages:
• Early Years Foundation Stage, ages 3-5
• Key Stage 1, ages 5-7
• Key Stage 2, ages 7-11
Key Stages 1 and 2: Mathematics
English Science
Computing
Spanish (Key Stage 2)
Design and Technology
Religious Education
History
Geography
Art and Design
Music
Physical Education
Personal, Social and Health
Education
Characteristics for Effective Learning Learning Outside
Playing and exploring
Children investigate and experience things, ‘having a go’.
Active learning
Children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements.
Creating and thinking critically
Children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.
Outdoor provision for Early Years children is extensive. It includes a dedicated, recently refurbished playground with wooden equipment, trees to climb and a grass area. We also have a school pond full of frogs and other wildlife!
Our ongoing playground improvement project now involves development of a much larger Forest School zone which will be for children of all ages.
Learning in Nursery
At our school, your child will learn through play, exploration, and meaningful experiences. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is made up of seven key areas of learning, designed to support your child’s development and prepare them for the future. The seven areas of learning, split into Prime Areas and Specific Areas
Prime Areas
These are the foundation blocks for learning. Children develop these first.
1. Communication and Language
�� Listening, understanding, speaking
Children learn to listen carefully, talk with others, ask questions, and enjoy stories and songs.
2. Physical Development
�� Moving, handling, self-care
Children develop coordination and strength through play, and learn to look after themselves (e.g. getting dressed, washing hands).
3. Personal, Social and Emotional Development
�� Confidence, relationships, emotions
Children learn to share, take turns, build friendships, and understand their feelings.
Specific Areas
These build on the Prime Areas and support more formal learning.
4. Literacy
�� Reading and writing
Children explore books, learn sounds (phonics), recognise letters, and start writing words and sentences.
5. Mathematics
�� Numbers, shapes, problem-solving
Children count, sort, and explore patterns, shapes, and simple addition or subtraction.
6. Understanding the World
�� People, places, nature
Children learn about their environment, families, traditions, seasons, and use simple technology.
7. Expressive Arts and Design
�� Art, music, imagination
Children paint, build, sing, dance, and role-play to express their ideas creatively.
Enriched curriculum:
clubs, trips and visitors, cooking, music, PE, events
MUSIC
Weekly music lessons are a highlight of our school curriculum. Delivered by experts, the children have the opportunity to sing, compose and play a range of tuned and untuned instruments.
TRIPS AND VISITORS
To further enrich our curriculum, Nursery children are offered a range of opportunities. Examples include:
• Journey sticks to Chiswick House and Garden
• Joining the library
• Posting Christmas cards and letters
• Kitchen gardening (CHG)
This year’s visitors have included:
• Community police team
• Careers workshop speakers
• Ducklings!
• Zoo lab
We really value giving children the opportunity for rich and varied experiences, and the chance to develop their talents and build new skills whilst at school. As well as our programme of enrichment activities, all children have access to our dedicated library and cooking suite.
Getting involved
Friends of William Hogarth School (FOWHS)
We have a thriving and committed group of parents and staff whose aim is to populate the school calendar with communityfocused events like the Christmas and Summer Fairs, as well as family bingo, cake sales and other fun activities. Their current fund-raising aim is redevelopment of the outside space at the school, as well as providing opportunities for the children that may otherwise not take place. Each class has a dedicated ‘rep’ who helps to get everyone involved in school life. Everyone is automatically a member of the Friends when they join our school.
Preparing for your child’s first day
Books
Books are a fantastic resource to help your child feel enthusiastic starting Nursery.
• Starting School, Janet and Alan Ahlberg
• Billy and the Big New School, Catherine and Laurence Arholt
• Lucy and Tom Go To School, Shirley Hughes,
• Harry and the Dinosaurs Go To School, Whybrow and Reynolds
• Topsy and Tim Start School, J & G Adamson
Independence
Help them to practise independent skills like:
• Using the toilet (flushing and wiping)
• Putting their coat on (zippers and buttons)
• Shoes (velcro and slip-ons are recommended, plus which foot in which shoe)
• Using a knife and fork
Routines
• Set up a consistent bed-time routine. Change is much easier to deal with when you are not tired!
• Practise counting in your day to day life. Look for familiar shapes in objects around you and numbers on houses and buses.
• Model writing in a positive way. Encourage your child to write their name on anything thing they produce. Only use capital letters at the start of names.
• Daily insights into classroom learning and enrichment
• Dynamic social media style newsfeed, with separate message streams to help differentiate what is important to you
• Instant language translation
Key Dates This Term
To support the children in making a successful start in Reception, we host a number of special ‘Getting Ready for Big School’ events so that children and their families can get to know the setting and staff before September.
Storytime and Create 2 – 3 pm Friday 27th June In the school library
Stay and Play 10 – 11.30 am Tuesday 1st July
Nursery Mini Music Makers 1.30 – 3pm Thursday 10th July , In the school hall
Please contact the school office to book your place.
You are warmly invited to join the fun at:
• the summer fair, Saturday 5th July, 11 am – 3 pm
• Family singing assembly, Thursday 10th July, 9.30 – 10.15 am
• Reception and Nursery cake sale, Friday 11th July, 3.30 pm
Key Dates : September 2025
Getting to Know Your Child
Between Wednesday 3rd – Friday 5th September, families will be invited to come into school individually, so that the staff can spend time getting to know you and your child better. This is a really useful way to ask any questions and share information about your child’s interests. Please book your appointment today or via the school office.
These are the answers to what we find are the most frequently asked questions. If you have any questions that are not answered here, please contact the school office who will be happy to help.
Absence
We have a ‘first day response’ policy.
If your child is absent from school, it is very important that you let us know the reason for absence as soon as possible by contacting the office on 0208 994 4782. If no message is received by closure of registration, a member of the office team will telephone to find out why your child has not arrived at school.
Attendance and Punctuality
Regular and punctual attendance is an important part of a child’s educational development. Our high attendance figures are only achieved as a result of strong parental support.
Term Time Holidays
Leave of absence is only permitted for exceptional circumstances
Requests for holiday in term time will not be authorised unless there are very exceptional circumstances.
Absences
We know that children’s immune systems adapt when they start in a new setting. Other than sickness, absences will be classified as unauthorised. This information is published as part of the school’s annual statistical record and in your child’s annual report.
Medication in school
School staff can only administer prescribed medicines in their original container, where the dosage is three times a day or more. Parents will need to fill in a Medicines Form at the school office to provide consent. It is also
possible for parents to visit the school at break or lunch to administer medication.
Allergies & Epipens
We require 2 inhalers to be kept in school at all times. One inhaler is located centrally in the welfare room, the second is store in the medical box in your child’s classroom. This ensures immediate access to inhalers throughout the school day.
We require 2 epipens to be kept in school at all times. One epipen is located centrally in the welfare room, the second is store in the medical box in your child’s classroom. This ensures immediate access to epipens throughout the school day.
Mobile phones and devices
Some parents choose to give their children mobile phones in Years 5 and 6. These phones must be turned off and stored in the school office during the day.
We recommend that the Schools Mobile app is installed on all devices.
Parents must ensure mobile phones are on silent or airplane mode during assemblies. We ask that parents put their phones away at the end of the school day, so that they can collect their child with a smile.
Jewellery, toys and personal possessions
Unless requested by the teacher for something special, children should not bring toys or other items in from home. It is all too easy for something to become broken or lost and this causes upset.
No jewellery should be worn at school except for a watch (no smart watches please), stud earrings and certain religious items.
Children are not be allowed to wear earrings or other jewellery for PE. They will need to remove this independently, or cover with tape.
The school accepts no responsibility for any items that are lost or damaged.
Homework
We value the support that parents give the school by helping with homework, although we understand that the pressures of time and other commitments sometimes makes this difficult.
For Nursery children, the school expectation is that children are read with daily, for 10-15 minutes. We will send home phonics resources and books as well.
Internet Safety
We offer a wide range of ICT opportunities to our pupils and believe in teaching the skills needed to access the technology on offer in the world responsibly. Each classroom has access to an interactive whiteboard. In school, internet access is age-appropriately filtered.
Children and parents are asked to read and adhere to our Acceptable Use Policy.
E-Safety
Use it wisely! We recommend that parents install the Schools Mobile app on all devices that children access outside of school.
Your child’s progress Learning Ladders
You will be invited to join ‘Ladders at Home’ to give you insights on your child’s progress and achievements throughout the year. Annual reports are embedded within Learning Ladders so remember to sign-up.
Parents evenings and reports
Reports are produced at the end of the summer term. Parents also have the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress at twice-yearly parent teacher consultations.
Booking clubs and trips
We are a cash-free school. All clubs and trips are booked electronically via ParentPay
If you would like to have a meeting with your child’s teacher, please make an appointment.
Welfare concerns
Please do not be worried about speaking up or asking for help. If you wish to discuss something complex or confidential, please contact the school office who will be happy to arrange a meeting with the Designated Safeguarding Leads:
Avril Stockley or Katie Rees.
Equality of opportunity
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential and that it is our job to help your child overcome any barriers or challenges with learning. We work hard to ensure that all children have access to a fully inclusive curriculum and can take part fully in school events.
Special
Educational Needs
Katy Luciani is our very experienced school SENCO and also works across the Local Authority as a Mainstream Inclusion Cluster Leader.
All pupils in our school study the National Curriculum. It is estimated that approximately 20% of children nationally will experience learning difficulties at some point during their education.
We believe that there are considerable benefits for all pupils in catering for special educational needs in the mainstream class. Some pupils may, however, at times require more specialised teaching which is better provided within a smaller group.
All classroom staff working in school have been trained by the Autism Education Trust. They are very experienced in adapting learning to meet all the children’s needs. All classroom staff have been trained to Gold Standard Trauma Informed Practice.
Class teachers are responsible for the support and progress of all pupils in their class. Teaching assistants may work in your child’s class to provide support for children in the classroom and in small group tuition, under the guidance of the class teacher.
Special provision is provided for those children with an EHC. Our school has experience in teaching pupils with a wide range of learning difficulties.
More able pupils
We recognise that all children are individuals with their own specific set of needs, gifts and abilities. Children who exhibit a particular flair are supported with stimulating and enriching materials appropriate to their needs. We take part in opportunities for such pupils to meet and work with pupils in other schools when available.
Charging policy
All education during school hours is free. We do not charge for any activity undertaken as part of the National Curriculum.
Voluntary contributions
When organising school trips which enrich the curriculum and educational experience of the children, the school invites parents to contribute to the cost of the trip. All contributions are voluntary. If we do not receive sufficient voluntary contributions, we may need to cancel a trip. If a trip goes ahead, all children will participate, regardless of whether a contribution has been made or not.
We do not treat children differently in our school. So, if a parent wishes
their child to take part in a school trip or event, but is unable or unwilling to make a voluntary contribution, their child will be allowed to participate fully in the activity
We invite Early Years families to make a termly voluntary of contribution of £10 towards consumables that enrich the curriculum offer.
All children study music as part of their normal school curriculum. There is no charge for this. If you wish your child to join RockSteady or have individual or group keyboard and / or piano lessons, a charge will be made by the relevant companies and peripatetic music teachers. Parents in receipt of certain benefits may be exempt from payment.
Pupil
premium
We ask all parents to check whether their child qualifies for the Pupil Premium Grant. This grant provides significant additional funding to schools. Details on how to check your eligibility can be found on the website and via the school office. Someone different collecting your child
Please contact the school office if someone different will be collecting your child at the end of the day, even if this is another parent who is known to the school. We will never send a child home with someone without your permission.
Emergency arrangements
We will, of course, endeavour to keep the school open if at all possible. In the event of emergency closure, parents will be contacted via text and the information will be published on our website and Twitter feed, @Hogarth_the.
Please make sure that the school office always has up to date contact details for yourself and at least 2 emergency contacts.
