WIMBLEDON CHASE PRIMARY SCHOOL Merton Hall Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 3QB
T: +44 (0)20 8542 1413 E: [email protected] W: www.wimbledonchaseschool.co.uk Headteacher: Mr. K. Ellis B.Ed.(Hons.), M.A. (Education)
Dear Parents,
We hope the time spent at Wimbledon Chase Primary School will be happy and fulfilling for both you and your child.
At Wimbledon Chase Primary School we are passionate about learning. Children are at the heart of all we do and we strive to provide the very best in primary education, working in partnership with the local community, pupils, staff, parents and governors to pursue excellence in all aspects of school life Our school aims are, to promote a love of knowledge and understanding in all our children and the confidence to take risks with their learning. We celebrate individuality and diversity through a broad and rich curriculum, in conjunction with teaching social and moral values concerned with the good of society, the environment and the global community. Developing empathy, mutual respect, tolerance, social justice and the importance of healthy relationships and family diversity.
Our Values
Aspiration – for our children to aspire to achieve whatever they wish to achieve Inclusion - all are valued and supported Kindness and Respect - for others and for self Environmental Awareness - of the local and global environments that we live in
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive school and our community of pupils and families include a great variety of languages, cultures and backgrounds. We welcome children whatever their needs, not only for the children in our Additionally Resourced Provision [ARP], but also for any children with particular needs or learning difficulties. Our ARP has pupils with speech, language and communication needs and they are an important part of our school community.
We are extremely fortunate to have a high level of parental support and interest and firmly believe that the success of the school comes from working in partnership with parents.
The information provided in this booklet is relevant to how the school runs in normal circumstances. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic we have, at present, systems in place that adhere to guidance for safe school opening which in many cases are different to the information below. Nearer the time and following the most up to date government guidance, we will inform you of any changes to the information in this welcome booklet.
Yours sincerely
Mr K. Ellis Headteacher Key Staff
Mr Ellis Headteacher Mrs Ruffle Acting Deputy Headteacher / Phase 1 Lead (Nursery and Reception) Mrs Burnett Deputy Headteacher Mrs Warwick Inclusion Manager/SENCo and Safeguarding Mrs Knapman Assistant SENCo Mrs Newell Acting Deputy Headteacher / Phase 2 Lead Mrs Adamson Acting Deputy Headteacher / Phase 3 Lead Mrs Dotchin Parent Support Advisor/PA to Headteacher and Safeguarding Mrs Baker School Business Manager Mr Canham Site Manager
Reception welcome pack contents Page
THE RECEPTION DAY
Gate times...... 1 Collecting and delivering children...... 1 A typical routine of a reception day...... 2 Fruit time...... 2 Lunchtime...... 2 Breakfast and After School Clubs...... 3 School Security...... 3 Attendance...... 3 Health, Welfare and Medicine...... 4 Lateness...... 5
BEHAVIOUR AND LEARNING
Behaviour...... 5 Early Years Foundation Curriculum...... 5 Homework...... 6 Extra Curricular Clubs and Activities...... 6 Keeping Parents informed about your child’s progress...... 6 English as an Additional Language...... 6 Additional Needs...... 6
UNIFORM
Reception Uniform...... 7 PE Kit...... 7 Lost Property...... 7 Reception welcome pack contents Page
ROLE OF THE PARENTS
Parent Volunteers...... 8 Class Reps...... 8 ParentPay...... 8 Parents in Partnership...... 8 Friends Association...... 9 Complaints...... 9
GETTING READY FOR RECEPTION
Ways to help your child prepare for school...... 9 Learning Journey – Tapestry...... 10 First Day at School...... 11 Me-in-a-Box...... 11 Items to bring in on the first day...... 11 Arriving at School...... 11 Recommended books to share with your child...... 12
THE RECEPTION DAY
Gate times The gate to enter the school via Chase Alley is open between 7.30am and 9.00am in the morning and 3.10pm and 5.00pm in the afternoon. In between these times this gate is only accessible to the School Nursery, Acorn Nursery and Happy Faces After School Club via a video call button system. Please use the main school gate on Merton Hall Road to access the school at all other times.
Collecting and Delivering Children The teacher will welcome the children everyday as they line up outside their classrooms in the Reception playground and will be available to take any messages or important information regarding your child. For safety reasons, we cannot guarantee supervision of children before 8.50am. If you arrive after 8.50am please sign your child in at the main School Office. Please note that children arriving after 8.50am will be registered as late.
At the end of the school day parents are asked to wait outside their child’s classroom in the Reception playground. The class teacher will ensure that no child is left unattended if you are late. Please arrive on time to avoid any anxiety for your child. If someone else is collecting your child from school, please let the School Office know as soon as possible or write in the home school message book held by the class teacher. This is very important for your child’s security and confidence.
1 A typical routine of a Reception day
08.50 am Start of school and register 09.00 am Literacy - adult directed and child initiated activities 10.15 am Playtime in the Reception playground 10.30 am Fruit and story time 10.45 am Maths - adult directed and child initiated activities 11.20 am Phonics 11.45 am Lunch and playtime 12.50 pm Register. Topic based activities. During the week children will also have 2 PE lessons, a library visit, a celebration assembly, use of the computing suite 3.00 pm Story time 3.20 pm End of school day
The children are taught for a total of 22 hours (not including assembly and registration times). Children have access to the outdoor learning environment throughout the majority of the day.
Parents will receive their child’s timetable at the beginning of the year. Letters for the year group will provide you with an overview of topics and learning for each half term. There will also be regular newsletters sent via SIMS Parent app informing you of upcoming events. Information about the curriculum and school events can also be found on our school website: www.wimbledonchaseschool.co.uk
Fruit Time Each of the children will be given a piece of fruit as part of the National Fruit Scheme. We ask parents to provide a water bottle with a sports top so that children have access to a drink of water throughout the day. Please ensure that water bottles are clearly labelled with your child’s name. Free milk is provided by the Government for all four year olds. If your child has an allergy to milk please inform the class teacher and ensure this is detailed on their medical form. We endeavour to be a nut free school.
Lunchtime Universal Free School Meals are available for all children from Reception to Year 2.
School meals can be provided on a weekly basis only. We cannot order daily meals on an ad hoc basis except in case of an emergency.
You may send your child in with a packed lunch instead of receiving a Universal Free School Meal. Packed lunches will need to be in a clearly named lunch box. A drink may be included as part of the packed lunch, which should be in a suitable container. Fizzy drinks are not allowed.
2 We encourage the children to observe ‘healthy eating’ from an early age, so we ask parents not to include sweets in your child’s lunch box. We will discourage the child from throwing away any food so that you can see how much has been eaten. Our advice at the beginning of Reception is to only place three small items of food in the lunch box as some children can be overwhelmed by a very full packed lunch.
Breakfast Club Our Breakfast Club is open daily from 7.45am until the start of the school day. All pupils who attend our school are able to join. Pupils are offered a breakfast consisting of a drink, cereal and/or toast and a range of fun activities. Once you have registered to use Breakfast Club sessions you do not have to pre-book and it can be used on an ad hoc basis. Registration forms are available at the School Office or on the school website. Payments for Breakfast Club are to be paid via your child's ParentPay account.
After School Provision Happy Faces provide after school care at our school. Please pick up a form at the School Office to register or visit [email protected] Building Blocks are a local Nursery/after school club who also make an after school collection from our school from our school playground.
School Security The school is equipped with high quality CCTV cameras at the main entry points to the school. In addition, there are security locks on all external doors. Please help us to ensure the safety of children by making sure that all doors are closed and locked after you, and that you report to the School Office if you need to visit the school or collect your child during school hours. All visitors to the school are required to sign in and out and wear a badge of identification. No child will be allowed out of school during school hours without an adult and written notification.
For the safety of all children we must ask you not to bring dogs onto the school site, nor to ride, or allow your children to ride bicycles or scooters inside the school grounds. (Please note that parents are requested not to let children, whether of school age or under, play on the equipment before or after school).
Attendance Unplanned absences For all absences parents must notify the School Office each morning that their child is unable to attend. Please do this by either calling the School Office or using the absence email: [email protected] (also on the school website). In addition, if your child is absent for more than five school days in one period of illness please provide a letter explaining their absence on their return.
If you know your child is going to be absent for a few days (e.g. they have chicken pox) the school will advise you about when you need to call in again.
3 Planned absences Holidays are not permitted during term time, including visits to sick relatives, meeting up with family who live abroad, holidays due to a parent’s work/holiday time, weddings etc. If for any reason you need to take your child out of school during term time you will need to fill out a request form for Leave of Absence at least 10 days before the requested start date (including for visits to other schools, Religious observances and Visa and Passports visits).
The Leave of Absence request form can be downloaded from the school’s website: www.wimbledonchaseschool.co.uk/parents/useful-information The Headteacher will then consider each case individually.
Health, Welfare and Medicines Should your child fall ill or have an accident during the school day, we will of course administer first aid and contact parents if necessary. It is therefore very important that the school has an up to date record of parents’ telephone numbers, both at home and work. Please advise us of any change of address, phone number or place of work as soon as possible. This can be completed on the SIMS Parent app.
We also require two phone numbers of alternative contacts in case we are unable to reach you in an emergency.
For minor accidents, such as bumps and grazes, your child will take home an accident slip informing you of the incident.
With the agreement of the Headteacher the school may make arrangements to store and administer medicines. Parents requiring these arrangements must complete a ‘Parental Agreement for School to Administer Medicine’ form, available at the School Office or on the school website: www.wimbledonchaseschool.co.uk/parents/useful-information Medication must be handed in to the School Office by the parent. The medication must be in its original packaging with the dose clearly stated and named. It remains the parents responsibility to check the expiry dates of medication and replace it as necessary.
Please note that all contagious diseases must be notified to the school immediately for the sake of other children and adults (especially Covid-19, German measles and slapped cheek syndrome which are very dangerous in the early stages of pregnancy). If your child has sickness, diarrhoea, or an infectious illness, they must be kept at home and may only return to school 48 hours after the last bout of illness. We will notify parents of infectious diseases via SIMS Parent app.
If your child displays any Covid-19 symptoms please follow current Government guidance and contact the School Office via [email protected] You must not send your child to school if they or any member of the household has Covid-19 symptoms.
It is also helpful if parents could let us know of any incident at home that might cause the child to be upset at school.
Head Lice Please check and comb through hair regularly, as head lice are a recurring problem for most school children.
4 Lateness The bell goes at 8.55am and registration is from 8.50am to 8.55am. If your child arrives after 8.55am they must sign in via the electronic system in the School Office and will be given a late ticket to hand to the class teacher, they will be recorded as late on the register. It is therefore advisable to arrive at school for 8.45am in order to avoid being late.
We fully appreciate that difficulties in collecting your child will arise from time to time due to unforeseen events that may result in you being late in collecting your child from the school. In the event that the parent is running late or has made alternative collection arrangements with a friend/relative, they should ring the School Office to advise us of those changes so that both the staff and child are aware. Children collected late are required to be signed out via the electronic system at the School Office.
Parents who are regularly late collecting their children will be asked to meet with a senior member of staff.
BEHAVIOUR AND LEARNING
Behaviour All children at Wimbledon Chase are expected to behave well. Class rules, school rules and a pupil code of conduct are explained to the children and provide them with clear boundaries. Good behaviour is recognised and rewarded. Each Reception class has a reward tree where every child receives a small prize as they reach the top. Children are taught to be self-disciplined and to take responsibility for their own actions. Appropriate sanctions will be given if a child seriously misbehaves and the parents will be informed.
The school works in partnership with parents to ensure that the school is a safe and fair place for all children.
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum The curriculum taught in Reception is the same as in Nurseries or pre-schools. At Wimbledon Chase Primary School we endeavour to inspire children’s learning through creative and investigative activities.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development Mathematics • Self-Regulation • Numbers • Managing Self • Shape, space and measure • Building Relationships Understanding the World Physical Development • People and communities • Gross Motor Skills • The World • Fine Motor Skills Expressive Arts and Design Communication and Language • Exploring and using media and materials • Listening and Understanding • Being imaginative • Speaking
Literacy • Comprehension • Reading • Writing
5 Homework Wimbledon Chase Primary School has a clear homework policy. Children in Reception will be expected to read with their parents each night and complete phonic activities on a weekly basis. Parents are asked to record reading in your child’s reading record. More information will be given about this and other aspects of homework by the class teacher shortly after your child begins school.
Extra-Curricular Clubs and Activities There are a number of extra-curricular clubs and activities available at the school for Reception children. These include ballet and multi-sports. Most clubs will start after the half term holidays in the Autumn term. Reception clubs are run by private providers who will make contact with you during the first half term of school. More details will be available at the start of the new academic year.
Keeping Parents Informed about Your Child’s Progress In addition to informal meetings at the class door each day, parents are welcome to make an appointment to see the class teacher, Phase Leader or Headteacher at any time during the school year if they wish to share any concerns about their child’s progress or inform teachers of any changes in their child’s well-being. Parents will be invited to attend a phonics workshop and a Maths workshop to assist with supporting your child’s learning at home. Parent teacher consultations are held twice a year, and parents will receive a school report in the Summer Term.
English as an Additional Language Children whose first language is not English are supported by all the Early Years staff and where appropriate, by Teaching Assistants trained in EAL (English as an Additional Language). We try to ensure that the classrooms are resourced to support the multi-cultural diversity reflected in the school.
Additional Needs Individual long term outcomes for children with additional needs will be supported by the class teacher, Inclusion Manager and parents. The partnership between home and school will help to identify targets to support the desired longer term outcome. Mrs Warwick manages the schools inclusion team and is the named School’s SENCo.
6 UNIFORM
Reception Uniform Any item that doesn’t have the school logo can be purchased from any major clothing store such as Tesco or Marks & Spencer. Please ensure all items of clothing and shoes are labelled with your child’s name.
Winter Trouser Uniform Winter Skirt Uniform
• Dark grey trousers • Navy blue skirt or culottes • Plain pale blue polo shirt • Plain pale blue polo shirt • Black or dark grey socks • Navy blue school sweatshirt with • Navy blue school sweatshirt with the school logo or navy blue the school logo cardigan (www.stitchdesign.co.uk) (www.stitchdesign.co.uk) • Navy blue tights or white school socks
Summer Shorts Uniform Summer Skirt Uniform
• Plain pale blue polo shirt • Navy blue and white chequered • Dark grey shorts dress or playsuit • Navy blue school sweatshirt with • White school socks the school logo • Navy blue cardigan (www.stitchdesign.co.uk) • Navy blue school sweatshirt with the school logo or navy blue cardigan
Shoes Plain black, flat shoes with simple fastenings such as velcro. No plimsolls, trainers, boots or sandals.
PE Kit • Navy blue shorts www.stichdesign.co.uk • Navy blue jogging bottoms (for colder weather) • Plimsolls or velcro trainers. • Pale blue T-shirt with school logo www.stichdesign.co.uk
On the days that your child has PE they are to come to school dressed in their PE kits and will remain in their kits for the whole day. We will inform you of the PE days when your child starts school.
7 Bookbags Bookbags are available from www.stitchdesign.co.uk
Hair Styles Haircuts must be of a neat conventional style, with no geometrical design cut in, or dyed hair. Long hair should be tied back with simple navy blue hair accessories.
Jewellery It is dangerous for young children to wear any jewellery that might become entangled in equipment. For this reason, jewellery is not allowed apart from one small stud in each ear (if the ears are pierced). These must be covered or removed during PE lessons.
Lost Property If the item is clearly labelled with your child’s name, it will hopefully be returned to you. If your child has mislaid an item you can check the lost property box located outside the dining hall.
ROLE OF PARENTS
Parents in Partnership In addition to parents signing the Home School Agreement when their child begins school, parents are also encouraged to volunteer to help in school by joining our Parents in Partnership Project. Teachers value parental help in areas such as reading with the children, and assisting with practical activities such as cooking, sewing or art. You will receive more information about this soon after your child starts school.
Class Reps Class reps are Reception parents who volunteer for this role. They help with the communication between Reception and parents, for example passing on reminders and messages.
ParentPay ParentPay is our preferred way of making payments to the school. You will receive further information about accessing ParentPay during the first few weeks of your child starting school.
8 Friends Association All parents automatically become members of our Friends Association. We are always looking for new members to join our Friends Committee, which meets each term to organise events to support the school. Please offer your help in any way that you can.
Complaints If a parent is unhappy or concerned about anything at school, there is a formal complaints procedure, which entails contacting the Governing Body or LEA. (Information may be obtained from the school office or on the school website). However we hope that parents will discuss any concerns informally, either with the class teacher, phase Lead or Headteacher, before it becomes a serious problem.
GETTING READY FOR RECEPTION
Ways to Help your Child Prepare for School We encourage independence in the children in all school activities and we welcome parental help to achieve this aim. Parents are asked to encourage their children to:
• Dress and undress by themselves • Cope with their own shoes (velcro fasteners are useful) • Manage the toilet independently and washing their hands • Follow simple instructions • Look after their belongings • Write their name
Communication and Language Talking and listening to your child is vital for language development. The home environment can be an ideal place to develop skills by helping your child to speak clearly and giving them a richer vocabulary.
• Remark on the world around - help them to be observant • Read, chant or sing rhymes, songs and poems • Ask them questions and answer theirs
Reading Some suggestions to help your child with important pre-reading skills. Make a daily regular time to:
• Share and read stories to your child daily so they enjoy and become interested in books • Talk about the stories, the characters, the illustrator, the author and features of the book e.g. the front cover and the title • Show them books with no words so they can tell the story in their own words • Use the print displayed in your environment from posters to signs • Let them see you reading for pleasure • Most of all, enjoy the books you share as this is the foundation to a positive approach to reading
9 Physical Development and Handwriting Before learning to write, development of hand and shoulder muscle is needed to control a pencil. This can be encouraged by:
• Climbing and swinging on bars in a playground • Modelling with materials such as plasticine, play doh or clay • Tracing, colouring, drawing using a variety of crayons, pencils, pens • Painting with sponges, large/small paint brushes and finger painting • Threading, using tweezers, peeling their fruit and opening twist cap lids
Mathematics Mathematical language and concepts are linked closely to many aspects of life. These are some ideas that can be carried out at home.
• Number match - point to/name numbers in your environment e.g. on a clock, door numbers, car registrations • Cooking - weighing ingredients and thinking about temperatures • Chanting number rhymes and songs • Playing board games like snakes and ladders • Sorting objects like socks, shoes, Lego bricks • Shape match - triangular sandwiches, circular clock faces, rectangular books
Understanding of the World Encourage your child’s natural curiosity by helping them to observe the environment around them. Look at trees, leaves, creatures, and insects. Use magnifying glasses and books to develop observations.
We hope these ideas have been of some use and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.
Learning Journey - Tapestry Staff, parents and children contribute to Tapestry which is an online Learning Journal by making observations and taking photos of children’s learning, activities and experiences. Parents and staff share access to a child’s Learning Journal via an app or the website. More information about Tapestry Learning Journal can be found on the school website: www.wimbledonchaseschool.co.uk/our-learning/early-years
10 FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL
On the first day only, please arrive at your child’s classroom at 9.30am via the Reception playground (see diagram below). You are welcome to come into your child’s classroom on their first day to help them find their peg and settle them at an activity. From the second day onwards, please drop your child off at their classroom at 8.50am.
Me-in-a-Box Please bring a decorated shoe box with a few items that will help your child communicate their interests to their new classmates and teachers when they first start school. For example, decorate the box together with your child, clearly labelling it with your child’s name and place items in that represent what they like doing e.g.
• A paint brush (enjoys painting) • A sea shell (likes visiting the beach) • A postcard from Italy (Grandma lives in Italy) • A picture of the cat (family pet) • A picture from a magazine of sausages (favourite food)
We like to display the children’s boxes in the classroom as they are normally very proud of them. The boxes will be sent home at the half term break.
Items to bring in on the First Day • Wimbledon Chase Primary School book bag • Water bottle labelled with your child’s name • PE kit • Me-in-a-Box Project
Arriving at School
11 The following are examples of books you can share with your child, as pre-school children enjoy joining in with familiar stories or rhymes:
TITLE
OI DOG by Kes & Claire Gray All fans of rhyme will love the witty and simple words in Oi Dog.
WOULD YOU RATHER? by John Burningham Would you rather drink snail squash or eat mashed worms? Help a witch make stew? Tickle a monkey?.
I WILL NOT EVER NEVER EAT A TOMATO by Lauren Child Charlie tricks his sister into eating her least favourite foods.
ROOM ON THE BROOM byJulia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler A tale about a witch and her gang of friends.
HOW MANY BUGS IN A BOX? by David Carter A lift-the-flap counting book.
HAIRY MACLARY FROM DONALDSON’S DAIRY by Lynley Dodd A rhyming tale about a little dog and his other doggy friends.
THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA by Judith Kerr Sophie and her mummy are having tea in the kitchen when a tiger walks in and asks to stay for tea.
DOGGER by Shirley Hughes A tender tale about the loss (and eventual recovery) of a favourite cuddly toy.
WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury Follow a father and his family as they go out in search of a bear.
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