Welcome to St. Thomas’ C.E. Primary School Parents’ Meeting: 14th June 2017 www.st-thomas.co.uk

This evening we aim to… begin our partnership together. provide you with the opportunity to meet all of the staff working with your child. give you a clear overview of our school day. provide you with the chance to ask questions. www.st-thomas.co.uk

Key staff members Mr Moss – Head Teacher Mrs Toft – Deputy Head Mrs Parker –KS1 Leader & SENCO & Year 1 teacher Miss Johnson – EYFS Leader & Reception teacher Mrs Fleming – Reception TA Mrs Moss – EYFS HLTA www.st-thomas.co.uk

When will my child start? All children will start on Tuesday 5th September 2017 at 8.50am. Please feel free to bring your child into the classroom. Please take time to settle them to an activity. All staff are available to discuss any concerns or pass on any information. An invite will be sent out to the children. www.st-thomas.co.uk

Our school day Our day begins at 8.50am Lunchtime – 11.45am until 1.00pm Our school day finishes at 3.15pm www.st-thomas.co.uk

What will my child need to wear? White shirt/polo shirt Royal blue jumper/cardigan Grey trousers/skirt/pinafore/shorts Black shoes White/grey/black socks During the summer a pale blue gingham dress may be worn www.st-thomas.co.uk

What will my child need to bring? Water bottle Book bag P.E. bag Warm coat Pair of wellingtons No jewellery Long hair tied back www.st-thomas.co.uk

What will my child need for P.E.? White t-shirt Blue shorts Velcro pumps Please could all items be named and placed in a drawstring P.E. bag. www.st-thomas.co.uk

Forest Schools afternoon Every other Tuesday afternoon we take part in Forest Schools workshops within our outdoor environment. This is provided by Learning in the Woods Forest Schools Group. Children wear their school top & jumper but their own trousers or leggings. www.st-thomas.co.uk

School dinner or packed lunch? A government initiative provides all Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 children with the option of a healthy, nutritionally balanced free school meal each day. You are automatically included within this scheme. If you would like to opt out please pop to the office for an opt out form. Please complete an allergies form within your pack. www.st-thomas.co.uk

What is the Early Years Foundation Stage? The Early Years Foundation Stage (E.Y.F.S.) is the stage of education for children from birth to the end of the Reception year. It is based on the recognition that children learn best through play and active learning. www.st-thomas.co.uk

The E.Y.F.S. Curriculum Prime Areas Personal, Social and Emotional Development Physical Development Communication and Language Specific Areas Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World Expressive Arts and Design www.st-thomas.co.uk

The E.Y.F.S. Curriculum Across all areas of learning are 3 important characteristics of effective learning: Playing and exploring – engagement Active learning – motivation Creating and thinking critically - thinking www.st-thomas.co.uk

that meets the needs of all of your children. The first few weeks We will get to know your child, explore what they already know and can do and use this information to help us develop an exciting, challenging curriculum that meets the needs of all of your children. Each child has their own home/school partnership book “My Learning Log” where we share home learning, communicate successes and provide you with the opportunity to add to the learning we do in school by adding photos, drawings, pictures, children’s writing and your annotated notes of things your child has worked on or visited at home. Learning log are in your pack please collect these at the end of the meeting. Also some books to share with your children as a gift from the school and an information pack with lots of forms to go through. www.st-thomas.co.uk

Letters and Sounds - Phonics An approach to teach children to read quickly and skilfully by: Recognising the sound each letter makes. Identifying the sounds that different combinations of letters make. Blending these sounds together from left to right to make a word. www.st-thomas.co.uk

How we teach your child to read www.st-thomas.co.uk

Getting the balance right! Learning to read Phonics Developing reading strategies Reading to learn for purpose and pleasure Quality texts Key authors Talk about books Engagement and motivation Set date for first weeks- reading meeting-afternoon and early evening Monday 11th September www.st-thomas.co.uk

Medical Matters If your child has any allergies or medical conditions, please let staff know so we have the correct medication on hand if it is ever required. If your child is absent for any reason, please give the school office a ring at the start of the school day. If your child suffers from sickness or diarrhoea they should remain at home for 24 hours after symptoms stop. Let Nikki know any allergies tonight. www.st-thomas.co.uk

This information is confidential to the school and is not shared. Pupil Premium If you as a household receive one of the following benefits: Income support Income based job seekers allowance Child tax credit Guarantee element of state pension credit Income related employment and support allowance Then school may be entitled to apply for additional money to support your child’s individual needs within school. This information is confidential to the school and is not shared. www.st-thomas.co.uk

Please can you help us! Velcro shoes & pumps. Names on all items so we can always get them back to you! Try to dress them in polo shirts and skirts on P.E. days. Please could children practise independently getting changed for P.E. www.st-thomas.co.uk

Please can you help us! You will do some lovely activities with your child, please could your photograph these and include them within the ‘My Learning Log’ book. If you have any concerns, no matter how small, please do pop in to share them. www.st-thomas.co.uk