New to Early Years 2026

We are always busy at school learning new things and having fun, but learning at home is just as important in supporting your child’s development.

Talk to your child about starting school and help them feel excited about the new experiences ahead—new activities to explore, new routines to learn, and new friends to meet. Between now and the start of term, it can be helpful for your child to begin practising simple self‑help skills, such as having a go at putting on and taking off their shoes and clothing in the morning and at bedtime. This should be a calm and positive experience, giving them the confidence to become more independent. These skills will support them in school during everyday activities, such as dressing up in the role‑play area, getting ready for outdoor learning, or preparing for PE.

We kindly ask that children joining us are toilet‑trained. However, we understand that all children develop at their own pace. If your child is still working towards this, please get in touch with us before they start. We are here to support you and will work together to ensure your child feels comfortable, confident, and ready for their new school journey.

Packed Lunch

If your child brings a packed lunch, please ensure it is in a suitable container clearly labelled with your child’s name.

School dinners are available at a cost of £10.50 per week for Nursery children. In Reception, school dinners are provided free of charge. Full information about school meals can be found on our School Day page.

Snacks

Children have a daily snack provided in school, so there is no need to send one from home. We ask for a £1 per week contribution for Nursery and Reception to support the cost of snacks. Typical snack items include fresh fruit such as apples, satsumas, bananas, and vegetables like carrots and tomatoes, along with items such as breadsticks or crackers with soft cheese.

Outdoor Clothes

We access the outdoors in all weathers, including when it is wet or muddy. Please ensure your child has wellies and a waterproof jacket in school every day. All items must be clearly named.

Sun Cream

During warm weather, please apply sun cream at home before school and send your child with a labelled sun hat. These items should be clearly marked with your child’s name.

Spare Clothes

Please provide a bag of spare clothes, as your child may need changing during the day due to spills, messy play, or weather conditions. This bag should be replenished regularly, and all items should be labelled.

PE Kit

Children will take part in PE sessions that help them develop a range of physical skills, including coordination, balance, and spatial awareness. To support independence, please practise taking off and putting on tights, socks, and shoes at home. Named PE kits should be brought to school at the start of each half term and will be sent home for washing at the end of the half term. Children should not wear earrings on their PE day.

Book Bag

Your child will be able to select a book from the lending library to share at home- they will need to bring a book bag to take this to and from school.

We have an ‘open door’ policy within our EYFS. We welcome you to talk to us regarding any matters. This is achieved through:

• Daily contact with yourselves at the start and end of school days.
• Weduc– our communication app
• Regular Newsletters that inform you of all the exciting activities we have planned for your children.
• Appointments
• Parents evenings
• An annual written report on your child’s progress
• School events, such as the Summer Fair and Christmas Market Event

Weduc is an app that we use throughout school which has proven to be successful in many ways. This is one form of contact. We use this app to;

• Share your child’s work
• Share pictures of your child within their school environment
• Send out notices, letters, reminders and any other bits information

There is also a function available for you to send a private message to the class teacher. Staff are not able to reply to messages on Weduc during teaching hours. Staff will read any messages that you may have sent and they will respond accordingly. If the message is urgent, ie regarding pick-ups, inhalers and medicines etc, please contact the school office and a message will be passed on to the appropriate class teacher.

Every Friday we like to celebrate the children’s achievements in our Phase 1 and 2 assembly. One or two children from each class will be selected to receive a PRIDE award. We like to share these special times with you, therefore if your child is receiving an award, you will be invited to the assembly via Weduc.

Throughout the year we regulalry invite you in to spend some time with your child in their learning environment. This is a chance for you to explore some of their favourite things to do in school, look through their work books and speak to the class teacher.