Welcome to Leen Mills Primary School

We would like to welcome you to our school. This is a new and exciting time as your child is getting ready to start school. The Foundation Staff are looking forward to getting to know our new children and their families. Head Teacher Mr Tew Foundation 2 Leader Mrs Turner Foundation Teacher Miss Horton Foundation TA Miss Tomlinson Foundation TA Mrs Jenner

The Foundation Stage The Foundation Stage begins in nursery settings and continues through to our Foundation Unit. We help the children to learn through playing, exploring and being active. This means children will take part in a range of fun, practical activities; some of which are adult led, some guided by adults and some will be child-initiated. We follow the EYFS Framework which explains how and what your child will be learning. It is very flexible so it can be adapted to the children’s needs and interests.

The Foundation Stage Curriculum 7 Areas of Learning Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning. The 3 Prime Areas Personal, Social and Emotional development. Communication and Language. Physical Development The 4 Specific Areas Literacy Maths Understanding the World Expressive arts and design

We are so busy we don’t need to bring our own toys to school We are so busy we don’t need to bring our own toys to school. It would be very sad if they got lost or broken

Starting School Starting school can be an anxious time for both children and their parents. We aim to make this transition into school as smooth and happy as possible. To do this we have a morning transition visit during the Summer Term Tuesday 4th July or Friday 7th July 9.30am – 11.30am build up to full time days in September Thursday 7th September 8.40am – 11.45am Friday 8th September 8.40am – 1.15pm The children will stay for their dinner Monday 11th September Children in full time

School Uniform This is the uniform we wear. It can be bought from Hucknall Sports. White polo shirt Black or grey skirt or trousers. Leen Mills jumper or cardigan. Blue Summer dress P.E. Kit Plimsolls Please remember to put your child’s name in every item of school uniform.

I’m sorry that my uniform got dirty today but it helps to show what I have been learning. This splodge is part of my lunch. I am trying so hard to use a knife and fork correctly when I eat. Painting helps me to develop my creativity. Sometimes I accidently get paint on my shirt as I work. This playdough stuck to my shirt while I was exploring shapes and textures. These marks were made with pens. I am trying so hard to develop my writing and drawing skills. Sometimes my uniform comes home a little wet. I learn huge amounts of Science and Maths when I play in the water tray. This grass stain shows I have been using the outdoors to develop my physical skills. The Mud Kitchen is very messy but it helps me to develop my imagination and use of descriptive language.

Book bags are available to buy from the school. They cost £3.50 Reading diary Reading books Letters Paintings Please check book bags regularly for letters and information

Start and end of the school day These are the doors Foundation 2 use to come inside. School starts at 8.45am. Doors open between 8.40am and 8.45am. School ends at 3.15pm. On your child’s first day they will be encouraged to enter the class without their parents/carers as this helps them to settle more quickly and creates a calmer atmosphere for all the children.

Breakfast club Mrs Burton helps us at Breakfast club. It is open from 7.30am. Children can arrive at anytime up until 8.30am. It costs £2.50 per morning.

Fruit and Milk All children receive a free piece of fruit daily Fruit and Milk All children receive a free piece of fruit daily. They have free milk up until their 5th birthday. Water bottles All children are provided with a school water bottle. The water is changed daily.

Lunchtimes Foundations staff sit and eat dinner with the children Form regarding food allergies/religious pack Menu at beginning of each term so you can see menu Children can bring a packed lunch. Midday supervisors play with the children and keep them safe

Learning Journey Your child's Learning Journey is a book that celebrates their experiences and learning. The Learning Journey book will include: Photographs These capture moments and sequences of your child's activity, their interests and explorations. Observations These are notes of significant moments we notice in your child's learning. Evidence of learning These could be photos of models, photos of their role-play, marks they have made, art-making - with an observation to explain what your child did or said.

Busy Bees When your child is a ‘Busy Bee’ they will be given a Caterpillar Class special bag to bring some special items into school. It could be a favourite toy, photos of people and places that are special to them and something they have made or drawn. They will be able to share and talk about what is in the bag with the class. They will have special jobs to do like collecting our milk and fruit.

A book about Leen Mills School

How can you help? Join in our stay and read sessions. Share your child’s WOW moments with us. Your child will bring home reading books to share with you. Join in our stay and read sessions. Letters and Sounds activities to play together. Volunteer to help in our classroom.

Illness and absence Please give us a ring if your child is unwell and therefore not attending school. We can give your child medicines with your written permission. There are forms at the Reception desk.

Serious Allergy This condition is life threatening. We have a child starting school in Foundation with a severe allergic reaction to all nuts, sesame, lentils, chick peas, peas and beans. This allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock) can occur through ingestion of products containing these allergens, cross contamination, touch and breathing in the odour of these products. This condition is life threatening. To minimise the risk to this child Avoid giving your child any nuts, sesame, lentils, chick peas, peas and beans or products containing them Avoid giving peanut butter sandwiches, other spreads containing nuts such as Nutella and snack bars containing nuts. Asking children not to share their lunches

We would now like to invite you to visit the Foundation 2 Unit. If you have any queries or concerns about your child’s individual needs please speak to a member of staff. We will endeavour to answer all the questions you have and put your minds at rest. We would now like to invite you to visit the Foundation 2 Unit.