Welcome to Garden Primary School

1. Welcome to Garden Primary School Reception registration meeting Learning, growing and achieving together.

3. Ivy Gardens Children’s Centre The Centre, which is located on our school site offers a variety of services for families. Do you have a child who is 2? Do you know anyone in the Pollards Hill area who has a 2 year old?

4. The Early Years Foundation Stage (new curriculum September 2012) Prime areas Communication and Language Physical Development Personal, social and emotional development Specific areas Literacy Mathematics Understanding the world Expressive arts and design More on the curriculum at the Reading and Writing workshops

5. Attendance and Punctuality • Children need to be in school, ready to learn at 8:55am. • The Reception day often starts with a phonics session so it is very important you child is at school on time or they may miss this. • Please be there to collect your child at 3:00pm as it can be upsetting for your child if you are late. • Please inform an adult in your child’s class if someone different is picking your child up. • Your child should only be kept off from school if they are ill. Please telephone the school on the first day of absence. • Holidays should be taken in school holidays. • We are aiming for attendance of 95% and above. • If your child’s attendance falls below expected • levels you will be contacted for a meeting

6. Rewards for good attendance • Termly certificates for attendance • Special rewards at the end of the year for • excellent attendance. • ‘Be there bear’ awarded half termly to the class with best attendance and punctuality in the Foundation • Stage.

8. What your child will need… School Uniform Book bag Swimming kit Lunch (P.E. Kit is not needed until Year 1)

9. School Uniform • Please make sure your child can manage their uniform e.g. tights, belts, etc. • PLEASE NAME ALL OF YOUR CHILD’S UNIFORM. • Earrings, if they have to be worn, studs only please. • Please no other jewellery or watches. • Shoes, black shoes, please ensure your child can manage their own laces if you choose lace-ups for them.

10. Swimming We are very lucky to have a swimming pool at Garden Primary Your child will swim every other half term. They will need a -swimming bag, -swimming costume or trunks, -swimming hat -a towel Swimming costs will be advertised in September. Your contributions are the only way we can keep the swimming pool open.

11. Lunch 11:45-12:45 • School dinner or packed lunch • Please register for Free School Meals even if you decide not to take them- The office needs the forms in July • We are a Healthy School, please provide your child with a balanced lunch e.g. sandwich, yoghurt and a piece of fruit. • No fizzy drinks, sweets, chocolates etc. • Staff encourage children to leave whatever they don’t eat in their packed lunch box. • It’s important you let us know about dietary requirements even if your child is having packed lunch.

12. Head Lice • Lotions available from the chemist, only use a lotion if you are sure your child has head lice. • ‘Bug busting’ – wet combing your child’s hair with lots of conditioner on. • Please speak to your child’s class teacher if you have concerns.

13. Home school partnership • - Home School contract • - Swimming contract • Parent Review Days, Autumn and Spring terms • School report in the Summer Term • Weekly newsletter • Please inform us of any changes at home that may affect your child. • Changes in contacts for example, mobile phone numbers. • Reading log, please sign and make comments regularly, more on around this at the reading and writing workshops

14. Would you like to be a Garden Primary Reading Champion? • We want all children at Garden to be lifelong readers and love books! • Can you volunteer in school for 2 or more hours a week to hear children read on an individual basis? • Training and support given! Please speak to Ms Ruthven at some point if interested.

15. School Trips and Parental Contributions We want to plan an exciting and enjoyable year for your child in Reception, trips are never profit-making for the school. We kindly ask for £2 per child each half term, this money goes towards a variety of resources such as cooking ingredients. Autumn Term Trip to the Polka Theatre by coach, usually around £10.00 Summer Term Trip to the Farm, usually around £15.00 There may be other events we ask contributions for in the year such as Sports Week, drama workshop, dance workshops. We always try and give you as much notice as possible for trips and offer you the option of paying in instalments.

16. What next? You will be informed of your child’s class and start date in July. Children will be staggered in to Reception in small groups. Reading and phonics workshop- please book on to your sessions in theNursery. Register for Free School Meals with the school office, even if your child will be packed lunch. Purchase any uniform you need or give your order form to the office. ‘Meet the Teacher’ in July. There will be an opportunity to meet your child’s Reception teacher. You will be sent a letter home in July about the class your child will be in.

17. Bookstart resources In the Summer holidays… Summer reading challenge at Pollards Hill Library, please keep the reading with and to your child over the Summer Holidays! Reception Holiday project, please complete with your child and return.