Information for Parents/Carers for September 2024
Dear parents and carers,
We are nearly at the end of the school year, which means we are already working hard thinking about and preparing for September. Thank you to all of you for your support this year, it is much appreciated.
I thought it would be helpful to send you some information so that you are all ready for the new school year. For some of you, this will simply be some useful reminders. But if you have children moving up through school for the first time, some of this may be new to you.
Start of the school day
Our Reception to Year 5 school day will continue to begin with a staggered start, 8.50am-9.00am. It helps to provide a less stressful start to the day for children and families. It also enables parents and carers to talk to members of the Senior Leadership Team in the yards every day.
However, Year 6 children will continue to have a fixed start time of 8.50am. It works well for our oldest children moving on to High School, as it ensures they are in a habit of having a fixed start time, which they will at High School.
End of the school day
The school day will continue to end at the following times:
- 3.15pm for Reception to Year 2 children
- 3.20pm for Year 3 to Year 6 children
Please make sure your child’s end of day collection arrangements are made before the start of the school day. Our school office is very busy and it creates additional pressure and work passing on changes to end of day arrangements during the school day, except in an emergency.
The yards
We would like to encourage Year 5 and Year 6 parents to remain off site at drop off and pick up time from September. This helps support our older children to become more independent and high school ready and helps reduce pressure in the very busy yards. Thank you for this.
Can I also politely remind everyone that any dogs MUST be carried whilst in the school yard. Unknown dogs can be frightening to our children and can also behave unpredictably. Many thanks for your continued understanding of this.
Please can you remind your children to come off their bikes or scooters once they enter the school yards. Once in the yards children need to push their bikes/scooters to keep everyone safe.
Uniform
On PE days our children should continue coming into school in their school PE kit. Sports leggings are not acceptable as they are not part of our school PE kit.
All children must be in full school uniform. Please see Advance Diary Dates for a reminder of the uniform before you start shopping for the new school term!
- A polite reminder please that leggings are also NOT part of our school uniform and are not acceptable school trousers.
- Black/navy skirts or trousers are not part of our uniform.
- Navy jumpers and cardigans are not part of our uniform.
- We ask our children to wear black shoes please.
Thank you for your support for the new school year.
Jewellery
If you are thinking about your child getting their ears pierced, then the very start of the school holidays is a good time. Children must remove any earrings for PE for health and safety reasons and must be able to do this themselves. Covering up any newly pierced ears is not an acceptable alternative. So the six week summer break is a good chance to get this done. Only one pair of small studs can be worn in school, this is again for health and safety reasons.
Classes, staffing and transition for September
Your children are finding out this week who their new teachers are for September. We will also share this information with you.
Almost all children in school will meet their new teachers on Wednesday 3rd of July. It is a whole school transition day. All children should come to school on that day in their school uniform (no PE kits). They should come into school via their NEW school entrance for next year. They will then spend the whole day (except current Nursery children) experiencing life in their next year group, so that they are ready for their first day in September! One Year 1 class will be meeting their new teacher in small groups over the coming weeks, rather than spending the 3rd of July with them – this is as they are not returning to full time teaching until September for health reasons. But they will still ‘move up’ for the day to their new classroom to experience Year 1. I will share this information with this class in advance, when I share the class and staffing information.
Reception / Year 1 / Year 4 / one Y5 class / Year 6 entrances are in the Key Stage One yard.
Year 2 / Year 3 / one Y5 class entrances are in the Key Stage Two yard (next to the field).
Nursery transition
Nursery children should attend their usual Nursery and/or KEEP sessions as usual on 3rd July. The new Reception staff will spend some time that day visiting them in the Nursery and bringing them to visit the Reception spaces. You will find out who their new teacher is at the meeting for parents/carers on Monday 1st July.
Parents of children moving into Year 2
You will shortly receive separate information inviting parents/carers to see your child’s new class inside the main building, as we know moving buildings can be a big, but exciting change. If you have already had children in Year 2, do not feel you need to attend this. It is simply an opportunity to come and have a short look inside for those of you who haven’t had children in our main building yet.
We are really looking forward to next year, after a restful summer. If you have any questions or queries before the summer term ends, please just get in touch via the school office.
Miss Kate Byrne and Nigel
