Early Years Unit

Information for starting F1

Children start in Foundation stage 1 in the September of the year in which they are 5 years old. All children will start in the September for mornings only, however they will stay all day in the term in which they are 5 years old.

 If you have registered your child for lunch and the afternoon session in F2 a member of staff will take them through. You need to pick your child up from outside the class of F2 at 3:10pm.

 Our induction process consists of a half day visit for the children to meet the class teacher, Teaching Assistant  and Headteacher. At the end of this afternoon we will invite you to attend an informal meeting with the classteacher and Head teacher to allow for a chance for you to discuss any questions you may have about your child starting school. This usually ensures that your child settles easily and happily into the new routine. The staff are very experienced in dealing with anxieties or concerns from both the child or carer.

We would like to encourage all parents to support their child's learning by reading with and to your child. This encourages the life long habit which will enrich and educate them. Reading at home is the basis of your child's homework so please feel free to make comments in the home/school diary. You will be given a guide to reading at home and a talk about how the Oxford reading scheme works in school and what books to take home. There is a blue/red box  in the entrance where book bags are kept while at school. Pencils and crayons are provided at school for children, so they do not need to bring any from home. We do not encourage children to bring toys to school, as they may be broken or lost, however, we do have a show and tell time for each child.

Information for F2

Children start in F2 in the September when they are 3, and under government funding are entitled to 5 funded sessions (please note top up fee is required). A half a day induction takes place where there is a chance to meet staff and learn about the routine. A lunch Club is in operation at an additional cost to bridge two sessions making a full day.

8:40-11:55am

11:55-12:45-Lunch

12:45-3:10pm

The daily routine for F1

Our school day starts at 8:50am with registration , but foundation stage children may come into the classroom at 8:40am onwards when the class teacher will be there. This is a time when you may wish to stay and share a book with your child, or even a school friend. At this time, you may need to give the teacher important information, but if you have a concern that requires more time then please arrange an after school appointment, with some indication of your area of concern so that teachers can prepare relevant information.

Don’t forget to give your child a note for school, or telephone about absences and illness. The morning playtime is 10:30am.

Lunch break is from 12.10-1.00pm  when children eat either their packed lunch or a school dinner in the hall. Lunch boxes are stored on a clearly labelled red trolley just inside the classroom. Please do not send nuts or nut products for lunch boxes as we have several children with severe nut allergies. After lunch, unless it is raining, the children have an outdoor play where they are cared for by dinner supervisors, who are trained to deal with all but the most serious situations, when a member of teaching staff will be involved.

Please remember we always need a contact number in school!

The school day ends at 3:10pm when bus children will be counted and escorted onto the bus. The rest of the children will be brought out to you at the front of the school where you can wait for them. Please do not wait for them along the path near the classroom as this is very narrow and can easily become congested. Please reinforce the message that your child must NEVER leave the school grounds alone. The child must say they can see you before they leave the class teacher. We encourage all the children to bring a piece of fruit in for break time and a labelled water bottle but nothing else due to our commitment to healthy eating. The fruit can be placed in the fruit basket in class. Please make sure it is named. We are part of the government scheme for free fruit for younger children; This is an EXTRA piece of fruit for them to eat every afternoon.

F2 routine

8:40-9:00am doors open and activities provided to settle children. Free play with structured activities are provided inside and outside. Circle time:this is based around the topic which is being conducted.  Next is snack time then outside play. We spend time with our dance teacher and using instruments in music, and we welcome any parents with an interesting skill to come and talk to us! Milk/water, biscuits and fruit are provided for snack time where all the children sit socially together.  A range of activities are provided around the six areas of learning in our outside area.  We are very lucky to have a covered area so we play out in any weather, so dress your child appropriately.  We do ask for all children to provide a water bottle/wellies and a sun hat ( ALL NAMED) to keep in F2.

Our Unit

School and pre-school news letters will keep you informed and up to date. F1 and F2 share the same projects each term and take part in joint learning as a unit. For these topics we want to welcome items for the display tables.

If you can spare the time, we like to encourage any families who live close to walk their children to school. We hope that you find this booklet useful. If you have any questions about our school, or particular problems, please feel free to find a member of staff who will be happy to help you.

We are here to welcome you.

F2 staff: Anna, Michelle, Sophie, Lucy, Michelle, Amanda

F1 staff: Mrs Haselgrove and Mrs Freeman

School Uniform

Our school uniform, including P.E clothing can be purchased from:Merry-go-round, Twyford Mill, Oxford road, Adderbury.