Welcome to Early Years.

It is with pleasure that we welcome you and your child to Bloxwich Academy Primary. This marks the beginning of a very exciting journey that we will all be making together. This page provides a wealth of important information to support you with the smooth transition of your child into our academy.

All the staff at the academy are committed to ensuring your child has the happiest and most successful transition into the academy and at all times we strive to achieve our motto of “being the best you can be”. The academy motto encapsulates what we want for all of our children; to ‘be the best they can be’ from the moment they first walk through our doors.

We believe at the academy we provide your child with the very best start to their educational experience. But integral to that, is our partnership with our parents, which is at the heart of our practice and we will endeavour to give you the support and information you require.

If you should require this please contact Nicola Stubbs (Assistant Headteacher EYFS) or any member of the EYFS team.

Starting School

Starting school is the next big change in the life of your child. It is important that we support children to settle into school as smoothly as possible. Initially, you will want to ensure that your child is happy as they enter and there may be occasions when your child is upset and reluctant to leave you.

The staff may suggest leaving your child once they have entered school so they can settle on their own. If such an occasion arises, please be guided by staff, as they are experienced in handling such situations. Children often calm themselves after only a few minutes. Our dedicated and caring staff will support you and your child every step of the way.

Nursery

Parents can choose from the following options:

Option 1

Morning session 8:30am – 11:30am (3 hours per day, 5 days a week) 15 hours government funded.

When places are offered in option 1 children are expected to attend 5 mornings a week.

Option 2

All day session 9:00am – 3:00pm - 30 hours government funded - 5 days per week for working families. (Parents/carers to provide a packed lunch for their child)

Apply using the link below.

30 hours free childcare - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Option 3

Afternoon session 12:15pm – 3:15pm (3 hours per day, 5 days a week) 15 hours government funded.

When places are offered in option 3 children are expected to attend 5 afternoons a week.

Please contact Mrs Stubbs (Assistant Headteacher) for more information

nstubbs@bloxwichacademy.co.uk | 01922 710226

When children start nursery, parents are encouraged to take their child into the nursery classroom. To encourage independence, we ask that the children enter the cloakroom alone as soon as possible. Our wonderful caring staff will offer support to them as necessary.

At the start of each day please walk your child round to the reception entrance where our staff will welcome you and your child. We will be on hand to offer any support your child may need if they are a little upset or are reluctant to say goodbye to you. 

The morning session takes place from 8:30am - 12:00pm Monday to Friday.The afternoon session takes place from 12:50pm - 3:15pm Monday to Friday. In between sessions, children take lunch in the dinner hall.

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Collecting your child

At the end of the school day your child will leave at the same door as they arrived at when you dropped them off. To ensure your child’s safety can we please ask that you do not call their name, but wait for your child’s teacher to dismiss them to you. This may take a little longer at first until the staff get to know familiar faces.

If you need another adult to collect your child can we please ask that you inform school before the end of the school day? A message can be left with the school office on 01922 710226. In line with our procedures, we ask that all parents complete a list of carers and contacts for our database/emergencies.

Notice - The main gates are locked between 8:30am - 9:00am and 3:00 - 3:30pm.

We ask that you collect your child promptly to avoid your child becoming upset. Parents with older children are asked to collect their reception child first. If you are delayed, please phone the school to let us know.

THE SCHOOL MUST BE MADE AWARE OF ANY ADULT WHO IS NOT ABLE TO COLLECT A CHILD. 

School Uniform

We like the children to look and feel smart in their school uniform. Our uniform consists of a white polo shirt, black skirt/trousers, black cardigan/jumper and sensible plain black shoes. To encourage the children’s independence, we ask that their shoes have Velcro fasteners to enable them to take them on and off. A full list of school uniform can be found on our school website.

Your child will need to come to school dressed in their PE kit on their allocated PE day. The kit includes black joggers or leggings, a white T–Shirt, a black zip up top or hoodie and black Velcro trainers. (Please do not send your child in with shoes with laces).

We will let you know the day your child will be doing PE when they start in September. For safety procurations we ask that you remove earrings on PE days.

Young children often have toileting accidents when they first start school as they get used to new adults and new surroundings. From time to time they may also get wet from water play and creative activities. We would therefore appreciate it if you could send in a supply of spare named clothes in a bag which we can keep on your child’s coat peg.

Uniform can be expensive to replace if it gets lost. We do our very best to locate missing items and return them to their owners. In supporting with this, please label all items with your child’s name.We do not encourage toys being brought in from home as they can get lost or broken. However, we do have weekly ‘show and tell’ sessions where the children are encouraged to bring in something special from home to talk about to their friends. This helps the children with their confidence and listening and speaking skills.

Please ensure that all uniform, coats, hats, gloves etc are clearly marked with your child’s name. With the exception of plain stud earrings, please leave all jewellery at home.

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Lunchtime Information

All children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free hot meal provided by school as part of a government initiative. You have the option of providing a packed lunch for your child if you prefer.

School dinners encourage social interactions, as well as fine motor skills. Children really enjoy the lunches and extra time they have for free play with their friends.

All children in our nursery and reception classes are provided with a carton of milk and a piece of fruit free of charge. Please inform us if your child has any allergies.

Please see more information regarding Free School Meals HERE

We will provide your child with a named water bottle for them to keep in school and to drink throughout the day.

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Absence & Medical

If your child is unwell or unable to attend school for any other reason, please inform the school on the first day of absence. The school office will then pass the message onto your child's teacher.

If your child contracts an infectious illness, in fairness to the other children, they must remain at home.

Please be aware that if your child has any sickness or diarrhoea they must remain off school until they have been clear of symptoms for 48 hours.

Chronic Medical Conditions

These include asthma, diabetes and epilepsy. If you child has any of these medical conditions, please let us know using the supplied form in your starter pack.

Prescribed medication must be marked with the child's name and dosage. A medical consent form must also be completed. These are available from the school office.

Medical Information and Allergies

If your child has a medical concern/allergy, please inform the staff at your induction meeting. Parents are always contacted if there is a health concern.

Emergency Contact Information

We require a minimum of three contact telephone numbers in the event of an emergency. Please ensure that if your contact numberschange, you update these with the school office. If your child is taken ill or has an accident, you will be contacted immediately via your contact number.

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What will your child learn?

Children in nursery and reception will learn by playing and exploring, being active and through critical thinking, which will take place both indoors and outdoors. Children will learn through a mix of adult-led taught sessions and through the activities that they choose to access. During play, your child's teacher/teaching assistant will support your child to apply the new learning they have completed during carpet sessions.

Children will be taught and assessed through several areas of learning: 

Prime Areas

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Physical Development

• Communication and Language.

Specific Areas

• Literacy

• Maths

• Understanding of the World

• Expressive Arts and Design

Your child will have a learning journey where evidence (including written notes and photographs) will be gathered to show the progress they have made. This evidence will be used to judge where your child is in their learning. 

At the end of reception, the children are expected to have met the Early Learning Goals (ELG). Your child's class teacher will give further information on this. If you have any further questions, please speak to your child's teacher. 

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Important Dates

Tuesday 11th June | 9:00-9:30am: Induction meeting in hall

Tuesday 3rd - Wednesday 4th September 2024: Nursery meetings with parents. Appointments will be confirmed with your child's teacher at the induction meeting on July 6th 2023

Thursday 5th & Friday 6th September 2024: 1 hour and 30 minute settling in session. We initially stagger these hours as part of our transition programme.

Monday 9th & Tuesday 10th September 2024: 2 hour settling in session

Wednesday 11th September 2024: Children start their funded 3 hour session

If your child is taking longer to settle we can make adjustments to the transition period to suit individual children

 

 

Tuesday 3rd September 2024: Bloxwich Academy Nursery children to attend Reception from 8:30-11:00am.

Children who attended other Nursery settings will not attend today.

Wednesday 4th September 2024: Bloxwich Academy Nursery children to attend Reception from 8:30-12:00pm

Children who attended other Nursery settings will not attend today.

Thursday 5th September 2024: Bloxwich Academy Nursery children to attend Reception from 8:30am-1:15pm 

Children who attended other Nursery settings will not attend today.

Friday 6th September 2024: Bloxwich Academy Nursery children to attend Reception from 8:30am-3:15pm 

Children who attended other Nursery settings will not attend today.

Monday 9th September 2024: Bloxwich Academy Nursery children to attend Reception from 8:30am-3:15pm 

Children who have attended other Nursery settings to attend Reception from 8:30-11:00am.

Tuesday 10th September 2024: Bloxwich Academy Nursery children to attend Reception from 8:30-3:15pm

Outside settings to attend Reception from 8:30am-1:15pm 

Wednesday 11th September 2024: Bloxwich Academy Nursery children to attend Reception 8:30am-3:15pm 

Outside settings to attend Reception for the full day 8:30am – 3:15pm

30 hours to attend the full day from the beginning of the school year. 

 

Safeguarding Our Children

Our safeguarding policy is as follows:

• The school has a duty of care to all children and follows local authority guidelines on all safeguarding issues

• Children identified as vulnerable through child protection issues are monitored with the appropriate agencies

• Persistent absences are treated seriously with appropriate steps taken to protect the child. This may include court

• All staff in this school are subject to safer recruitment procedures on employment and receive continual child protection updates.

Raising a concern

If parents have a concern, firstly discuss this with the class teacher. If this is unresolved, please make an appointment with the Assistant Headteacher (Mrs N Stubbs). A further appointment can be made with the headteacher if necessary. The schools complaints policy can be viewed HERE

Photographs

We often take photographs of the children for assessments, displays or the school website. We have consent forms available for you to give permission.