Welcome to Early Years.

It is with pleasure that we welcome you and your child as they start their educational journey with us.

This booklet has lots of important information to support you both into our Early Years setting.

Staff are committed to ensure that children have the happiest and most successful transition into school. We strive to achieve our motto of “being the best you can be” from the moment they first walk through our doors.

For further information please contact Mrs Stubbs (Assistant Headteacher EYFS) or Miss Thomas (Reception lead)

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.

Starting Reception - Guidance Booklet

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Collecting your child

If you need another adult to collect your child, please inform school before the end of the school day.

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 precaution 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

Children in reception 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, along with a bagel. 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.

Lunch menus are available on the school website and are displayed on the classroom window.

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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 numbers change, 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

Wednesday 2nd September - parent induction meetings with your child's key worker.

Thursday 3rd September - children to attend nursery for 1 hour 8:30-9:30am/12:15-1:15pm

Friday 4th September - children to attend nursery for 1 hour 8:30-9:30am/12:15-1:15pm

Monday 7th September - children to attend nursery for 2 hours 8:30-10:30am/12:15-2:15pm 

Tuesday 8th September - children to attend nursery for 2 hours 8:30-10:30am/12:15-2:15pm 

Wednesday 9th September onwards - children to attend the full 3-hour session 8:30-11:30am/12:15-3: 15pm 30-hour children will attend: 9-3pm (from Wednesday 9th September) 

Wednesday 2nd September - All children to attend reception 8:30-11:30am 

Thursday 3rd September - All children to attend reception 8:30- 1:15pm 

Friday 4th September - All children to attend reception 8:30-3:15pm

Bloxwich Academy nursery 30-hour children to attend reception full time from Wednesday 2nd September (8:30-3:15pm) 

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. 

 

What can a school nursery setting offer your child (1)