New Class of 2026-27
Blog 2
So I have met half a dozen of my new lovely hard-working Hedgehogs from the Done Room and am looking forward to my visit of Ashton House. I will arrange calls or visits with pre-schools after our 2nd June meeting as this is when you will tell me exactly where they are.
If you haven't already heard, there is a lot going around about Being School Ready. I will start to address this in our meetings although the below links (also see end of blog 1) are great notes that are easy to understand. I must also share this tune that will not seem to let up in my brain. Scroll down for the catchy tune. You're welcome!
Here is my take on what school ready means to us as professionals:
Can they:
- put on on a coat and jumper/cardi unaided?
- zip up a winter coat/anorak unaided?
- take off and put on school shoes/indorr shoes unaided?
- 'serve and return' a conversation with family members - and me?
- 'free play', meaning be bored and work out how to fix it?
- take physical (safeish!) risks eg climbing, carrying heavy stuff?
- be toilet independent (dressing/undressing/wiping)
- disengage from you and stay regulated most of the time?
- hold a book properly?
- recognise (write) their name?
- play alongside others without feeling unsafe, jealous or cross?
I need your cooperation with all of the above please. I will work hard to help them develop their independence skills, teach them to read and write and be ready for year 1, I want them to be happy in school but the EYFS curriculum does not allow for time every day to get them 'school ready'. Obviously each child is different and I will love them all! Now back to that tune...
Welcome to blog 1!
It is more usual for me to now use Compass for our blogs as I can send you the links directly rather than you navigating the webpage system but until September, we'll use this forum.
I am looking forward to meeting you all in the coming months. I will be doing a lot of preparation for September this term from arranging visits to preschools, to considering the curriculum and provision to making sure those first few days and meetings show our positive and warm school community. Being in Reception can seem a daunting prospect. I will aim to reduce as much of your worry as possible. How? Providing a few meetings/ stay and plays so that both you and your child can feel informed and comfortable with me and the environment whilst also starting to understand the expectations. You will receive paperwork (All About Me) that should provide a talking point for you as a family about school. It is meant to be dipped into over the summer. I will plan for the first few weeks resemble a pre-school environment and timetable of activities; getting to know really well each child as an individual is my primary goal for the first 2 weeks of school. (Yes I have a ton of paperwork to do also in those first weeks but playing and talking to them comes first. More on this in a future blog.)
But right now, let's focus on the initial stages of transition. Here are some important dates for your diary:
Tuesday 2nd June 6-7pm
school hall. Enter via Community entrance door (not reception)
Tuesday 9th June 9-12
Sign up to a 25min slot to visit the classroom, chat to Mrs Harrison while your child does an art activity with the TA.
Stay and play
Tuesday 23rd June 2-3pm
Children with Mrs Harrison. Parents and carers with Mrs Forester for tea and chat (optional)
Lunch, stay and outside play
Thursday 2nd July 11.15-12.30
Parent/Carer and child to have lunch and a short playtime outside with Mrs Harrison available. Adults need to pre-order and pay for meal. Children do not have to pay. Book with Miss Cadman in the school office.
