Welcome from the Head of Infant School
Dear Parents,
I am delighted to welcome you to the Infant School and I hope that you and your family settle in as quickly as possible. As a Senior parent myself, I am conscious of how overwhelming it can be for both children and parents when starting a new school. I hope this guide will help answer some of your questions.
Our children are exposed to an abundance of amazing opportunities at Tanglin. In order for you to keep up to date with all of the important announcements and messages, please read our newsletter In Touch which is sent out each Friday via email. Reading the Infant School section will ensure you do not miss any important upcoming activities or events.
Once your child has started at Tanglin, your class teacher will send home a bookmark that will explain which reading or library books your child will come home with and which days they need to be returned. This will also include information about PE lessons, so you will know which days to send your child with the appropriate kit.
You may hear us refer to Milestone 1, which refers to Nursery, Reception and Year 1; and Milestone 2, which refers to Year 2.
I hope you enjoy being part of the Infant School and I look forward to seeing you around the school.
Paula Craigie Head of Infant School
Infant School Leadership Team (ISLT)
Ms Paula Craigie Head of Infant School paula.craigie@tts.edu.sg
Mrs Anna Karacan Deputy Headteacher (Academic) anna.karacan@tts.edu.sg
Mr Jon Pavey Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral) jon.pavey@tts.edu.sg
Mrs Victoria Thomas Head of Nursery victoria.thomas@tts.edu.sg
Miss Sonya Stevens Head of Reception sonya.stevens@tts.edu.sg
Mr Richard Pyatt Head of Year 1 richard.pyatt@tts.edu.sg
Mr Fraser Gerdes-Hansen Head of Year 2 fraser.gerdes-hansen@tts.edu.sg
Mr Andy Martin & Mrs Ann Prior-Lim Acting Heads of Learning Support andy.martin@tts.edu.sg, ann.prior-lim@tts.edu.sg
You can email any member of staff by using the following email structure: firstname.surname@tts.edu.sg
Infant School Office: +65 6778 5577 or email infant.school@tts.edu.sg.
Absence from School
If your child is absent due to illness, please email your child’s class teacher before 7.45am or the Infant School office if after 7.45am.
Uniform
All Infant children wear a uniform which can be purchased from the School Shop, on Level 7 of the Tanglin Centenary Building. All uniform items should be clearly labelled with your child’s full name.
All of the following items (apart from shoes) are available to buy in the School Shop:
Boys’ Uniform
• Cotton seersucker shirt in Tanglin plaid design, worn outside shorts
• House T-shirt
• Dark blue knee-length shorts
• White socks
• Black or dark blue leather shoes (not trainers or sports shoes).
Girls’ Uniform
• Cotton seersucker dress or skort in Tanglin plaid design
• House T-shirt
• White socks
• Black or dark blue leather shoes (not trainers or sports shoes)
• Simple hair accessories, ribbons or clips in black, blue, red, green or Tanglin plaid (available from the School Shop).
Jewellery (other than for religious significance or a simple analogue watch), nail polish and temporary tattoos should not be worn.
Swimming
One or two piece (top and shorts) SunSmart swimsuit (not compulsory for Nursery).
PE
• Red cotton Tanglin PE T-shirt, worn outside shorts
• Blue cotton shorts
• Trainers (white or coloured, but must not have flashing lights).
House and Sports Days
Children are assigned to one of eight Houses and required to wear their respective House t-shirts on House and Sports Days.
What Should Children Bring to School?
• Red brimmed school hat, and reading folder to protect books.
• Official Tanglin backpack, with one small keychain (if desired).
• Nursery children should also bring in spare underwear, in a Ziploc or similar bag (with their name on), in case it gets wet at school.
• Lunch and healthy morning snack in lunch box/bag which is clearly labelled with the child’s name.
*Please note that Tanglin has a no nuts and no sesame seeds policy.
• Children are required to bring in an empty, named water bottle.
• Please apply mosquito repellent and sunscreen to your child before school. Children can wear a simple analogue watch.
What Should Children Not Bring to School?
• Jewellery (other than for religious significance). Nail polish and temporary tattoos should not be worn.
• Toys, including electronic games and pets.
• Handphones, or any form of pocket computer or electronic gadget.
• Items of value.
Snack and Lunch
Meals/snacks are not provided by the school for Nursery children.
Parents of Year 1 and 2 children can opt for their child to buy a school snack and packed lunch. These should be ordered and purchased in advance via the online Parent Portal, at http://myportal.tts.edu.sg. Year 1 and Year 2 children will have lunch in the Infant Dining Room, one year group at a time. Chartwells will provide new facilities to support the efficient serving of hot meals in a setting tailored to younger children.
If your child brings a snack for mid-morning and/or a packed lunch, then we encourage parents to send a healthy snack and lunch, and we do not encourage sweets, chocolate or sugary items as snacks. Instead, parents should consider fruit, cheese, crackers, raisins, yoghurt or sandwiches. Foods which could be considered as a choking hazard when whole, such as cherry tomatoes or grapes, should be cut into smaller pieces.
Please note that Tanglin is a no-nuts zone. We urge everyone to ensure that no nuts, nut products, or products containing sesame are brought in from home.
If your child has any food allergies, please advise your child’s class teacher and the Infant Health Centre at the beginning of term.
Lost and Found
Please ensure that all items your child brings into school are clearly labelled with your child’s name so that lost property can be returned. Any unnamed items will be taken to the Lost Property Office, located on Level 1 of the Senior Faculties building, opposite Car Drop Off 2.
Infant School Timetable
Nursery Reception Monday, Wednesday and Friday Reception Tuesday and Thursday Years 1 & 2
7.55-8.10am Buses / Cars Arrive
8.10-8.15am Registration
8.50-9.05am Arrival
9.05am-12pm Developmental Play
8.15-9.45am Curriculum
10.30am-12.15pm Curriculum
9.45-10.30am Break
8.15-9.45am Curriculum
8.15-9.45am Curriculum
9.45-10.25am Break
10.25am-12.25pm Curriculum
10.30am-12.15pm Curriculum
12pm Flexible Finish*
12-12:50pm Lunch
12.50-1.35pm Developmental Play
1.45pm Departure to bus/car line
2pm Bus Service departs
12.55-1.45pm Curriculum
12.15-12.55pm Lunch
1.45pm Departure to bus/car line 2pm Bus Service departs
12.55-1.40pm Curriculum
1.40-2.40pm Co-Curriculum^ or Curriculum Time
12.25-1.15pm Lunch
*Pick-up from Infant walkway
#Pick-up from Infant Office
^Reception Co-curriculum starts from Term 2
2.50pm Departure to bus/car line 3pm Bus Service departs
1.15-1.40pm Curriculum
1.40pm (Year 1 only) Flexible Finish# (Tuesday and Thursday)
1.40-2.40pm Co-Curriculum^ (2 days) Curriculum (3 days)
2.50pm Departure to bus/car line
3pm Bus Service departs
Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
Nursery children can be dropped off at class from 8.50am. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 may be dropped off from 7.55am.
Children who arrive by car are greeted by a Deputy Headteacher. Children who arrive by bus are met off the bus by the Head of School and a Deputy Headteacher. Buses will arrive between 7.55am to 8.10am for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Nursery Buses will arrive between 8.50-9.05am.
Nursery children are greeted by the TLAs and escorted to their classrooms in small groups.
Parents collecting their Nursery child at midday should wait by the benches outside the Early Years playground for a teacher to bring the children outside.
Nursery children who stay for a full day may be collected from their classroom at 1.40pm.
Parents collecting Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 children should wait in the Infant Walkway outside of the Early Years playground around the benches nearest to the staircase towards the Centenary Building.
School Buses
Every school bus has a "bus aunty" who ensures the safety and wellbeing of children on the bus during their journey to and from school. Any instances of disagreement or misbehaviour will be reported to school. The school bus service is provided by KAL Transport and they should be contacted directly to arrange your child’s bus transport.
Transport Service Provider (KAL Transport Pte Ltd)
KAL Transport Office is located on the ground floor of the Infant School. Open Monday to Friday (during the school term), 6.45am - 5.15pm
Email: KALtransport@tts.edu.sg Tel: +65 6776 7371
Tanglin Transport Services Manager
Email: transportservices@tts.edu.sg Tel: +65 6770 3503
More information can be found at www.tts.edu.sg under School Life/School Services/Transport. Please note that the bus service is not a full island-wide service. If a bus service is essential for you, please do check that your location is served and has space.
Changes to Going Home Arrangements
Communication with Parents
Your child(ren)’s going home arrangements should be updated on the Going Home Arrangements page on the Parent Portal. Going home arrangements should be updated here no matter how your child goes home (by parent/ helper pick up or by bus) or even if your child has the same arrangement every day so class teachers can confirm the information on the system. Please note that any changes to going home arrangements must be done online before 11.30am on the day of the change. If you do need to make a last minute/unplanned change to your child’s going home arrangements, please contact the Infant Office on 6778 5577 before 1pm. If you have any queries regarding bus arrangements, please do contact the Transport Services Manager at transportservices@tts.edu.sg
Every family is emailed with a username and password for the Parent Portal once they have joined the school. A one-stop shop for all information regarding Tanglin, it features "Quick links" to the school calendar, contact directory, and other relevant sections such as the Temporary Guardianship Form for when both parents are travelling. Training sessions for the portal are run by the Marketing and Communications Team at the beginning of each academic year. If you need any support with navigating the portal, please contact communications@tts.edu.sg.
In Touch
This e-Newsletter is "everything you need to know about your child’s school" and is sent out every Friday. In Touch includes a key message from the CEO, Heads of School or other staff members, as well as links to in-depth information about each school and year group. This newsletter covers important dates, whole-school announcements, and community news and events.
Parents should check In Touch each week for announcements regarding their child's year group.
The Voice
This biannual magazine celebrates Tanglin and is published in Term 1 and Term 3. Free to read, it is available from magazine stands around the campus and online.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Reporting: Nursery Reporting:
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
These termly meetings offer you the opportunity to meet with your child’s class teacher on an individual basis, and to review your child’s learning and next steps. In Terms 2 and 3, they follow the reports, so that you can discuss these with the teacher. We appreciate that in Nursery, parents need a little more support to settle their children into school and so their appointments may be slightly longer.
You can access your child’s learning portfolio through the Seesaw app. Teachers use this platform to record their key learning achievements, giving you an insight into their progress along the Infant School journey. In addition, you will receive a summative report at the end of the year.
In Reception, you can access your child's learning portfolio through the Seesaw app. In Year 1 and Year 2, your child will use the Seesaw app to record their own learning when appropriate. Their teachers will approve each post, and sometimes write or record audio feedback to move their learning forward. As a parent, you can also respond to your child’s learning within the app. Around the middle of the school year, you will be updated on your child’s progress and next steps, as well as their approaches to learning. At the end of the year, you will receive a summative report that details their attainment measured against age-related expectations for their milestone, using the terminology Beginning, Developing, Advancing or Mastering.
Learning Showcase
Parents of Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children will be invited into their child's classroom to see their learning journey twice a year while Nursery parents will be invited once a term. This is an opportunity for parents to participate in an activity with their child and spend time in the classroom.
Outdoor Education
Infant School introduces children to the world around them through various imaginative and exciting opportunities outside the classroom. At Tanglin, children benefit socially, physically and academically from spending time with nature.
In addition to Forest School, recent Outdoor Education opportunities have included:
Nursery
• Labrador Park (Term 1)
• Chinese Gardens (Term 2)
• Teddy Bears Picnic (Term 3)
Reception
• Gardens by the Bay (Term 1)
• National Gallery (Term 3)
Year 1
• Children's Museum (Term 1)
• Jacob Ballas Children's Garden (Term 2)
Year 2
• Sungei Buloh (Term 1)
• Sleep Under (Term 1)
• Singapore Science Centre (Term 2)
• Centre Stage (Term 3)
Heads of Year will notify parents of any upcoming Outdoor Education trips via In Touch (the school newsletter sent to parents each Friday) with details including what the children should bring. The dates of the trips will also be available to view on the calendar of the Parent Portal.
Co-Curriculum
The Co-Curricular Programme offers a wide range of opportunities for Tanglin children.
Activities are available for children from Reception to Year 2. Activities are led by both Tanglin teachers and external providers onsite at Tanglin Trust School, with the majority being within the school day.
Parents are notified when the programme is open for registration via In Touch, the weekly newsletter. Registration takes place via SOCS, Tanglin’s online activities platform, which can be accessed via the home page of the Parent Portal. Please note that co-curricular activities will only begin in Term 2 for Reception children.
Sign-up for activities is not on a first come, first serve basis and places are allocated via random ballot for any activities that are oversubscribed.
Further details regarding the Programme can be found on the Parent Portal under the Co-Curriculum section.
Birthdays
Parent Volunteers
Friends of Tanglin
Children can bring in cut fruit, small cupcakes or iced biscuits to share with their friends on their birthday. You can also order freshly baked cupcakes and bakery items from our on-site caterer via the order form on the parent portal. Teachers/TLAs are happy to distribute party invitations if every child in the class is invited.
There are many opportunities for parents to help within the classroom and your child's teacher or class representative will inform you of these at the beginning of each term. Parents helping on-site are asked to exchange their Community ID for a Visitor's access card at the security guard house located at either the Bus Exit or Main Entrance and sign in at the Infant Office.
Friends of Tanglin brings the Tanglin community together by facilitating the opportunity to socialise, network, volunteer and support the school. Friends of Tanglin welcomes new families and supports our class representatives, who act as a liaison between Class Teacher and Parents. Please refer to the Friends of Tanglin overview to find out more.
Connect
You can access your class list on the school portal through the dashboard icon ‘Connect with your Class Parents!”. We aim to have a parent class representative per class at the beginning of the academic year, however this can take a couple of weeks to organise. Your class teacher can e-introduce you to your class rep as soon as they are in place.
Most classes choose to have an informal Whatsapp chat for parents in the class. Whilst all formal communication is through InTouch, The Portal, and by email, it is suggested that at least one parent is added to the Whatsapp group so that any reminders can be disseminated effectively. Your class rep, once in place, can add you to the Parent’s Whatsapp for your individual class. In the meantime, for any queries, please get in touch directly with your teacher or friendsoftanglin@tts.edu.sg and we will be happy to help!
Scan this QR code for all FoT-related links.
Check out the Friends of Tanglin Portal Page to join one of our community interest groups or if keen, please join our pool of volunteers!
You can also connect with us on social media at the Friends of Tanglin Facebook Page and our Friends of Tanglin Classifieds
Get involved!
Community events such as Welcome Drinks, Quiz Nights, Movie Night and the Christmas Fair are organised throughout the year. There are regular opportunities for parents to contribute to the school, so please do keep your eye on In Touch for upcoming volunteering activities or reach out directly to our team at FriendsofTanglin@tts.edu.sg to get involved!
ParentWise
Tanglin's ParentWise Programme was established to enable our community to connect with the school and provide a toolkit for Tanglin parents and carers to gain knowledge, increase confidence and seek assurance. ParentWise courses, information sessions and workshops cover four main themes: Educational and Curriculum Support, Parent and Student Wellbeing, Hot Button Topics and Inspirational Speakers. Sign up to ParentWise events is via the Parent Portal.
Health Centre Library
Our experienced Nursing Team who are part of Coordinated Wellbeing Services, are in the Infant Health Centre from 7.50am - 3.00pm (Monday - Friday) to care for any children who become unwell whilst in school or may have sustained an injury. Our registered nurses work closely with the teaching and Infant support staff when they accompany children to the health centre.
If a child is not feeling well enough to continue with the school day or has symptoms of a contagious illness, it will be necessary for them to go home to rest and recuperate. Parents are contacted to collect their child as promptly as possible. If your child is unwell at home with a fever of 37.5 °C or above, and/or any respiratory symptoms or symptoms of a contagious illness, please do not send them to school until they are symptom free for 2 days without the use of medication. If your child is off school with diarrhoea or vomiting, please also ensure they have been clear of symptoms for 2 days before coming back to school. This will ensure they are not contagious to others as well as giving their immune system time to fully recover.
The Nursing Team will highlight any contagious illnesses circulating via email or through the weekly newsletter, In Touch. Please feel free to pop into the Health Centre if you have any health-related queries regarding your child.
The Infant Library is on the second floor of the Infant School. Parents are welcome to visit the library between 8.00am to 4.00pm. They are encouraged to open a library account and may borrow up to 12 books to support their family read-aloud time. Parents (or carers) of Nursery children may bring the children in the morning before Nursery begins and spend some time reading together. Parents (or carers) together with the children may also visit the library together after-school. In addition to reading together, there are frequent maker-activities. Parents (or carers) are expected to supervise the children at all times, in order to, maintain a calm and mindful reading environment.
Parents can visit our Infant Library website (library.tts.edu.sg/infant) for booklists, helpful information, and to listen to our Tales and Tidbits podcast (infantlibrary.podbean.com)—ideal for parents who want to support literacy and a love of reading at home.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding involves keeping children safe from harm and promoting their wellbeing. Safeguarding is a key priority in Tanglin - it is everyone’s job to ensure that our children are safe. We welcome parents on-site as part of our community and request your support by watching a short video (scan the QR code on the left) and adhering to the safeguarding rules we have in place such as; signing in at the relevant school reception when you arrive, always wearing your lanyard and security pass, ensuring children arriving late are signed in at the office, only using toilets that are clearly marked for adults, and avoiding taking photos or videos of any children other than your own. Please help us by being a good role model at all times when you are on site –speak politely and kindly, praise children’s work and behaviour, and avoid foul or unkind language. If you have any concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child, please approach any of our Designated Safeguarding Leads (look out for the posters around the school, or any member of staff can direct you). We thank you for supporting our efforts to keep our students safe, and invite you to look out for safeguarding updates and information through our various channels.
