Information for parents 2023
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“We produce happy, confident and resilient children who are independent, ready and eager to learn”
Welcome
Welcome to Little King’s; the kindergarten for pupils at The King’s School, Gloucester. We are proud of our rich history, the traditions that we uphold and of the all-round education that we provide. We have close links with Gloucester Cathedral, including the education of all choristers. We welcome pupils of all faiths and of none.
Here in Little King’s, we start the journey for your little ones from the ages of three to five.
These first years are very important in building the foundations for your child’s future. Our caring and experienced staff will make sure that your child has the very best start possible.
Children come to school with a wealth of learning, which has been acquired during the first three years at home. We aim to build on these foundations, through the provision of a curriculum which is stimulating, structured and balanced; which engages the child physically, intellectually, socially and emotionally; and which develops the child’s skills, concepts and attitudes. We make sure that your child is treated as an individual.
As a result of our very individual curriculum, we produce happy, confident and resilient children who are independent, ready and eager to learn because they have had the very best start.
We can’t wait to get to know you.
Sarah Beard Head of Little King’s
Who we are
Head of Junior School
Head of Little King’s
Pre-School
Reception
Mrs Anne Haas
Mrs Sarah Beard
Mrs Sarah Beard
Mrs Emily Perry
Mrs Amanda Pugh
Mrs Louise Cousins
Mrs Nicky Fear
Mrs Georgina Southgate
Mrs Helen McVittie
Mrs Sarah Jelf
Miss Georgina Baldwin
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School Communication
Open communication between parents and the school is encouraged and is essential to our successful partnership. Your child’s class teacher should be your first point of contact by email, telephone call or via a pre-arranged meeting. Email addresses for all staff can be found on the school website: https://www.thekingsschool.co.uk/parent-information/staff-list
As a guide, if you email during the working week, you should expect a response within 48 hours. This will allow a member of staff to look into your concern. Please remember that our teaching staff are not in school during the holidays, so it is recommended that you contact the main school reception in Paddock House outside of Term time if anything is urgent via office@thekingsschool.co.uk or you can leave a message on the main school number: 01452 337 337.
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Junior School Office and Little King’s
01452 337 302
Mrs Nicky Parkin
Mrs Sarah Mills
Miss Rhian Esfandiarinia
Aftercare (3.30pm - 6.00pm)
Medical Centre
website
junior@thekingsschool.co.uk
01452 337 329
01452 337 318
KingsSchoolGlos
@KSGJunior
@KSGJunior
www.thekingsschool.co.uk
The website, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook will keep you up to date with news, events and photographs of our busy school days.
Changes of any contact details should be given to the Junior School Office.
At King’s we want your children to be happy. No concerns should be allowed to fester and all issues, however small, should be raised between parents and teachers as early as possible.
School Website
As well as a round-up of news, events, photographs and videos on the #SchoolStories pages, the School website contains lots of useful information for parents.
The lock icon on the bottom left corner of each page gives parents quick access to lots of useful information such as term dates, uniform lists, staff contact details and the lunch menus.
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How we will contact you
We have the following tools and Apps to ensure you are kept up to date with your child’s progress, events at School and able to communicate with other parents of children in Little King’s. When your child joins Little King’s you will be sent the login details for the Apps listed below.
Tapestry
Online App for all regular communication about your child’s progress and events. More details below.
My School Portal (MSP)
Used as a central point for all forms, letters, your child’s reports, personal information and SOCs sports match information, clubs and activity bookings.
Chatter Letter
Little King’s weekly newsletter sent via MSP on a Friday.
Classlist
All parents are invited to sign up to the Classlist App when their child starts at King’s. Classlist is a parent-to-parent App which helps parents connect with other parents and stay in the loop with what’s happening in School. It is secure, GDPRcompliant, with clear community guidelines.
School Cloud
An online booking system used to book parents’ evening appointments.
Clarion Call
Used to contact groups of parents via text message.
Telephone/Email messages
Will be swiftly attended to by the Junior School administration team. The school has a policy of answering emails within 48 hours of receipt during the working week.
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Pick Up/Drop off Routine
Early Morning Routine
We have a choice of two early morning drop offs.
Drop off 8:15am
Drop off 8:30am
L ate children
Park Street gate.
Outside Junior School Reception.
Will be expected to sign in at Junior School Reception in the foyer.
Parents may not take their child directly to their class.
Early Birds Club
This starts promptly at 7.45am and must be pre-booked via My School Portal to ensure staffing is correct. (Late arrivals will have to wait for morning drop-off that commences at 8.15am). Drop off for the Early Birds Club is at the blue gate on Paddock.
Please note, parents may not enter the school building at any time unless accompanied by a member of staff.
Pick Up Routine
12.45pm (Pre-School morning sessions)
3.15pm (Reception and Pre-School full day)
After Care in Little King’s
Children are handed over to parents at the Park Street gate.
Children are handed over to parents at the blue gate on Paddock.
Various pick up times including 4.00pm, 4.30pm, 5.00pm, 5.30pm and 6.00pm
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Afterschool Care and Holiday Club
Afterschool care for Little King’s children is run by Little King’s staff, from 3.10pm - 6pm. If you wish to book your child into Aftercare please email: aftercare@thekingsschool.co.uk .
Holiday Club is provided by Atlas Camps for Little King’s children and runs throughout all the School holidays, including the Half Term holidays. To book a place please visit Atlas Camps website: https://atlascamps.co.uk/asc/kings/index.php. For any queries please phone Atlas Camps on: 0800 7720743, or email: info@atlascamps.co.uk
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Tapestry
Tapestry is an easy-to-use and secure online learning journal, which helps us to build a very special record of your child’s experiences, development and learning journey through their early years and primary education.
Using photos, videos, and diary entries, we, in partnership with you, will ‘weave’ the story of your child and how they are growing and developing. The Tapestry platform then works seamlessly to enable these memories to be kept as a permanent record of each child’s unique journey.
All information held in the platform is stored securely and can be downloaded and shared as required. You are then able to view your child’s progress, the activities provided for them, and how much fun they’re having, whilst also uploading your own comments and media.
The communication between staff and parents that Tapestry enables, helps build a shared understanding of how every child can reach their full potential, from birth to the end of primary school. The Tapestry online learning journal is also available as an easy-to-use, secure app, meaning capturing key learning moments, and videoing milestones are even easier.
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Forest School Activities and Outings
Throughout the year we undertake ‘Forest School’ activities on a weekly basis within the grounds of King’s School, mainly in our ‘Secret Garden’. As part of these ‘Forest School’ experiences we may also take the children out and about, by minibus, to visit the Forest of Dean, Crickley Hill, Robinswood Hill or Colwall Orchard near Malvern.
Each time we make these visits, the school will provide lunch and snacks. All dates of intended visits will be advised in advance.
For these weekly activities and trips may we ask that you provide clothing and boots appropriate for the weather and outdoors.
Should you wish to discuss these arrangements, or anything to do with ‘Forest School’ further, please speak to Mrs Southgate or Mrs Fear.
“Outdoor play is an integral part of a child’s learning opportunities and can hugely benefit their mental and physical health and wellbeing”
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Health and Well-being at King’s
Food
A healthy snack of fruit will be provided at first break. Children are asked to bring in a reusable, well-labelled water bottle. They are encouraged to drink water regularly to keep hydrated. Drinking water to fill bottles is readily available around the school. Please note that the School has committed to avoiding single use plastics.
All children have a school lunch. Staff and pupils eat together. If a child has a special dietary requirement (eg. as a result of an allergy), parents are asked to inform the school.
The school has a NO NUTS policy. This includes items labelled “may contain nuts” hence home-baking, although lovely, is not permitted as allergens cannot be traced, therefore cakes, sweets and chewing gum are not permitted. For special occasions, Haribo sweets or similar are the best solution but a Halal/Vegan option must also be provided.
Well-being
At King’s, the well-being of our pupils is of utmost importance and we are passionate about every child being able to benefit from support to improve resilience, mental health and self-esteem. A vital part of our well-being service at King’s also includes our School Nurses: Rachel Griffiths, Clare Balding and Louise Hann who are all trained nurses.
The Welfare Team is here to promote and support physical and mental health and well-being to the whole school community.
Medical
It is essential that we have up to date medical information on all pupils. Parents are asked to update the school with any changes subsequent to the Medical Form completed at Admissions stage. It is helpful if parents discuss individual cases with the Class Teacher.
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Medication to be administered after an illness must be handed to Junior School Reception or the Class Teacher with a written explanation of dosage and administration times. Please label all medications and indicate if the medication is to remain in school.
Illness
If a pupil is unwell, he or she should remain at home. Please notify us if you are aware that a child has a contagious illness.
If your child has suffered sickness or diarrhoea please allow 48 hours from the last bout until your child is eating normally before he or she returns to school as it is unfair to expose other children to unnecessary risk of illness.
If a child is absent owing to illness, parents should telephone or email the Junior School Office as soon as possible. Messages may be left on the answer phone. In the case of emergencies arising at school, we will, of course, provide appropriate attention and care from our School Nurses, if required.
Leave of Absence
If you wish to take your child out of school for any reason, please request permission from Mrs Anne Haas, in writing, at least one week in advance before confirming your arrangements.
Please note that parents are not permitted to take their children out of school during term time for holiday purposes as the curriculum at King’s is full and there is very little opportunity to catch up missed work.
Please see the Attendance Policy on the website https://www.thekingsschool.co.uk/parent-information/policies for the regulations to which parents are expected to adhere regarding absences.
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King’s SMART
In Little King’s and Junior School we strive to be King’s SMART at all times. This is what we mean by being SMART:
SMILE
Be friendly and considerate
Be helpful or supportive
Think about how our words or action make others feel
MANNERS
Enter and leave classrooms in an orderly manner
Walk, do not run, when inside
Step aside and/or open doors for each other
Stand when visitors enter the classroom
Treat each other and all adults with courtesy
AMBITIOUS ATTITUDE
Arrive on time
Be ready and properly equipped
Listen, focus, think contribute and take turns in discussion
Be co-operative
Take care with our work and appearance
Strive to do our best
RESILIENCE
Overcoming adversity both academically and socially
Embracing challenges
Persisting in the face of setbacks
TEAMWORK
Work together with others
Bringing talents together to reach a goal
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“Being King’s SMART forms the basis of our code of conduct and helps to create a considerate learning environment”
Uniform
Before your child’s first day, their teacher will advise you of the timetable for the term and on which days different items of uniform should be worn, such as for Forest School or PE.
School Uniform Suppliers
The King’s School appointed uniform supplier is Stevensons; a family-run, specialist uniform and sportswear provider who currently supply over 550 schools across the UK.
Prior to ordering uniform, we recommend that you refer to the King’s Uniform lists on the school website, to ensure that you are purchasing the correct items for your child.
https://www.thekingsschool.co.uk/parent-information/uniform
Families can purchase school uniform and sportswear via the Stevensons website, or over the telephone. They offer a 180 day returns policy to exchange unused uniform.
By phone
To place orders or for queries. Contact hours: Monday to Saturday: 9am to 5.30pm. Sunday: closed. Tel: 01727 815 700 or email: customerservices@stevensons.co.uk . During the busy summer period their phone lines will be open for longer.
Online
It’s easy to shop at http://www.stevensons.co.uk with low-cost postage and packing and FREE returns.
Please register for an account initially, then search for The King’s School, Gloucester and add our school to your account. You can then see the uniform and sportswear relevant to Little King’s children.
Under the image of the clothing, it clearly identifies which items are compulsory. Please also check the ‘more information’ tab for each garment, where details are given about that item - for example which sports the item is relevant for, whether it can be sourced from other retailers, etc.
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King’s Klobber
Second-hand uniform is available from King’s Klobber. The shop is run by parent volunteers and stocks good quality used uniform. King’s Klobber is not open to parents, instead an online shop has been set up. Please go to http://www. kingsklobber.co.uk and place your order.
Payment needs to be made through the website checkout.
Payments are via PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account; you can use your debit card.
Orders placed by midnight Wednesday, will be processed on Thursday and given to your child. If you have a query regarding King’s Klobber, please contact the School’s Main Reception on 01452 337 337 or email kingsklobber@outlook.co.uk . If you wish to send in King’s branded items, you will be given a 25% off coupon for future use at King’s Klobber. You can also sell items through Classlist.
Other items
Children must not bring expensive toys or watches to school as no responsibility can be accepted for their loss or damage. Similarly, watches with step counters may only be worn as long as they cannot send messages or photographs.
Hair
Long hair must be tied back with navy blue accessories. Please avoid close shaven hair styles.
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Photography
Parents are asked not to take photographs at events. In many cases an official photographer and/or videographer may be on hand to record the event. In some cases, this may be allocated to a staff member using a school device. In addition, it is stipulated that any photographs purchased may not be shared on any form of social media.
In productions and events that will be photographed or videoed, Junior School staff members will be considering the placement of the children whose parents or guardians have refused permission for images of their children to be used, so they can be edited out if needed. At times these children may stand aside for images that will be used externally but will always be included in photographs just to be used for internal records.
“Throughout the year, we warmly invite parents to attend a variety of events including a Nativity, Easter Bonnet Parade and Sports Day”
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How parents can support the school
The KSPA
The King’s School Parents’ Association. This is a group made up of volunteer parents who support the school through fundraising events. The Little King’s children enjoy a wide variety of fun events put on by the KSPA, including a Christmas Fayre, Easter activities, film nights. They also run a monthly 100 Club, please visit their page on the school website for more details:
https://www.thekingsschool.co.uk/king-s-community/kspa
New members are always welcome and much appreciated. If you are interested, please contact the Junior School Office, or take a look at their page on the school website: or email kspa@thekingsschool.co.uk
STEAM Group
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths at King’s.
This is a group of parents with a background in these disciplines who meet regularly to promote and support the STEAM subjects within the school. Again, newcomers are always welcome - please contact the Junior School Office.
King’s Klobber
Volunteers to assist with the second-hand uniform shop are always sought after. Please contact kingsklobber@outlook.com
King’s Community Choir
This is a friendly group of singing enthusiasts, consisting of parents, staff and former pupils. In the Lent Term they rehearse for a performance in the Lent Term Concert in the Cathedral. Please see their web page for more details:
https://www.thekingsschool.co.uk/king-s-community/ community-groups#Community-choir
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“We are proud of our strong King’s community and value the partnership between our school and families”
How to help your child to prepare for Reception
Starting Reception is a great adventure and begins with a smooth transition from Pre-School. The children will have previously experienced opportunities to have worked within the Reception Class environment and amongst the staff, making for a seamless move.
In Reception your children will be encouraged to pursue their own interests supported by enthusiastic, caring adults in an enabling environment.
Writing / Handwriting
We use the scheme Pearson Rocket Phonics to teach the sounds of letters. Children are taught to learn the letter sounds rather than the letter names. The sounds are taught in a systematic pattern to support their early writing and reading skills. Children learn to form letters and hold their pencil correctly from the beginning. We enjoy writing such things as stories, poems and non-fiction but strongly believe in writing for a purpose, providing a more meaningful experience. From the beginning children are encouraged to mark make and write within their play and learning, anything from a label, short caption, shopping list, recipe, invite, cards etc.
Reading
Reading begins with wordless books concentrating on developing the early reading skills that children need to become competent readers. The children are taught how stories work, including the order and direction in which they are read. By telling stories in their own words they learn to use the information derived from the illustrations to develop their oral skills. Reading is seen as an enjoyable experience and only introduced when the child is fully ready. Children’s reading abilities emerge at very different rates and there is no right or wrong time for your child to begin to read; they will progress in their own time and should be individually encouraged. Our aim is to begin to foster a life-long love of reading.
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Maths
Maths is not restricted or defined as only individual sessions but seen as a tool to use everywhere and this is what we model and encourage. Our aim is for the children to gain a deeper understanding of number and maths concepts. The majority of maths activities are practical and linked across the curriculum, for example during forest school activities the children create 2D shapes pictures from sticks, they learn about shape properties as they realise their square needs four sticks of the same length. Water play and cooking provide great opportunities for capacity, weight and measures and setting a table, or sharing a snack provides super problem solving skills.
More formal recording comes as their skills grow.
The Reception class aims to provide a happy and secure environment where each child can develop to their full potential, however it manifests. We believe that this development is best helped when teachers and parents are working together.
Many of your children will have had lots of experiences either within our Pre-School or other Nursery and preschool environments; however parents often ask what they can do to further prepare their child for starting Reception. We hope the suggestions listed will help.
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Helping your child to gain independence
Encourage your child to:
• Dress and undress themselves with the minimum of help.
• Ask when they want to go to the toilet.
• Cope with their own toilet needs.
• Use a handkerchief properly.
• Use a knife and fork properly.
• Take care of their belongings.
• Put things away after use.
• Learn their surname and to have some knowledge of their address.
• Develop some road sense as you travel about.
Helping your child to play
• Provide opportunities for your child to develop physical control and co-ordination, e.g. climbing, skipping, rough and tumble activities, throwing, kicking, building with bricks, making models, cutting and sticking, scribbling, drawing, painting, colouring, doing jigsaws and sewing.
• Provide opportunities for them to use their imagination, e.g. dressing up, painting, role play.
• Provide opportunities for them to explore their environment, e.g. playing with water and sand, dough, cooking, gardening and observing their immediate surroundings.
Playing with your child
Play sets the stage for learning. Your involvement as they play can support and encourage their early learning experiences.
• Encourage them to LOOK and LISTEN.
• Sort objects according to colours, shapes and sizes.
• Play games e.g. I Spy, Dominoes, Find the difference puzzles.
• Make and colour patterns.
• Watch and listen to TV and radio together.
• Listen to music together.
• Join in with songs and rhymes.
• Encourage them to TALK and THINK.
• Talk to them about the things they do and see.
• Extend their vocabulary and sentence construction by example rather than correction.
• Talk about the things they discover.
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• Welcome their questions and answer them as best you can.
• Ask them open ended questions –
• What do you think?
• What could happen next?
• What could happen if I do this?
• Encourage them to REMEMBER.
• Teach them Nursery Rhymes and songs.
• Help them to recall previous experiences.
• Encourage them to take short verbal messages to other people.
• Play simple memory games with cards, e.g. pairs.
Giving your child experiences
• Allow them to share your activities, e.g. cooking, cleaning, gardening, shopping, and cleaning the car.
• Encourage their questions.
• Try and plan opportunities to see the world around us e.g. to travel by train, upstairs on a bus, a visit to the zoo, seaside or the swimming pool.
• Use every opportunity that presents itself for talking, looking, listening, thinking, counting, reading, e.g. pointing out notices and what they say – bus stop, numbers on buses and homes, counting cars, cows or sheep, collecting and sorting flowers or shells etc.
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Giving your child every opportunity to love and learn about books
• Get your child to talk about the pictures in books.
• Encourage them to look at the book, starting with the first page and ending with the last.
• Tell them stories and rhymes.
• Help them to tell their own stories.
• Look at books together.
• Read to them regularly.
• Let them pretend to ‘read’ their favourite stories.
• Encourage them to guess what is going to happen.
• Take them to the library to choose books.
• Be seen to enjoy books yourself.
• Make scrapbooks together.
Encouraging your child towards writing
• Give plenty of varied materials for drawing, tracing, colouring and painting.
• Encourage your child to write using squiggles/marks on paper. This is the beginning of writing so praise your child when they do this.
• Let your child make their own shopping list, write letters and write messages, using the above method of recording.
• If your child wants to write their name, teach them to write
it in lower case letters with a capital letter at the beginning.
• Show them how to draw the numerals.
• If your child is interested in the individual letters, it is helpful that you teach them the sound a, b, c and not the names of the letters A, B, C.
Handwriting
Some children before they start school like to learn to write their names and some letters. It is very important that children learn to form letters and hold their pencil correctly from the beginning. If a child writes incorrectly at home, when they start school they have to relearn how to form the letters correctly. Many children find this quite difficult as they have got into bad habits with writing, which then becomes difficult to correct.
Please DO NOT use capital letters except for the first letter of your child’s name. We look forward to welcoming your child to Reception and we aim to have a long and happy friendship with you and your family. We hold an informal Parent Reading Evening during the first week of school. However, if there is anything in this booklet that you would like to discuss further, please do ask.
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32 The King’s School Gloucester GL1 2BG Tel: 01452 337337 Email: office@thekingsschool.co.uk Web: www.thekingsschool.co.uk
