Reception Staff

     Miss Fox - Class Teacher- RF 

Miss Thomson - Class Teacher- RT

Parent FAQs

What is the routine on arrival?

Arrival time is 8.40am. There is a member of staff at the gate waiting to welcome all of the children and parents on entry. Your child hangs his /her coat up in the cloakroom. Children will then enter the classroom and use the provision until it is time to come together on the carpet to take the register.

What equipment will my child need to bring to school?

• A book bag (Bought from the office)

• A water bottle (Named)

• PE kit (On PE days)

• A pair of named wellington boots in a bag to be kept in school.

• Hat, gloves and scarf (For the winter months)

• Sun hat / suncream / sunglasses (A named bottle of suncream can be left in school to top-up when necessary)

What if my child loses something?

Please ensure all items of clothing/Pe kit/items brought into school are labelled clearly with their name and class. As you can imagine- Finding one lost red jumper out of 60 children is quite a task!

Will my child get dirty?

Short answer- YES! We believe a uniform covered in dirt, paint, glue is the sign of a busy and fun-filled day. We recomment buying cheaper, generic jumpers from the supermarket and getting them clearly labelled with your child's name. If you want a special jumper with the Bessacarr Bee then please feel free to order these but please be aware that your child will most definitely come home covered in fun.

Can my child bring toys into school?

We know your child may want to bring a toy in from home however, to prevent things getting lost or broken in school, it is better for these to stay at home where they are safe. If your child wants to bring something in to show the class - a special artifact, photograph, project etc - we are always happy for this to happen but please pass directly to the teacher so that they can be stored safely until the right time.

What should I do if my child is ill?

Please telephone the school office as soon as you can. Our voicemail service runs 24/7 so if you cannot speak to anyone directly then please leave a message. Please note that following a case of diarrhea or sickness your child is not permitted to return to school until they are clear of symptoms for 48 hours.

What if my child needs medicine during the school day?

You will need to fill in a form which is available at the school office - please walk round and someone will be happy to help. We are only able to administer current medicines prescribed by a doctor and clearly labelled with your child’s name.

If your child needs an inhaler, please provide one that can be kept in school. You will be asked to fill in a form so that your child can be added to our asthma register. They will have their own asthma box which will move with them around school.

What if I need to collect my child early for an appointment / we are late coming in to school one morning?

Please inform the office if you need to collect your child from school early for an appointment - wherever possible we ask to see an appointment card / letter. On the day of the appointment please go to the office and someone will collect your child for you.

If you are late for school one morning you will need to come to the school office - rather than your usual gate - as your child will need to be marked as present on the register. They will then be taken to class by the office staff.

What is ‘Free Choice’?

Children in the Early Years spend time independently planning their own learning. They ‘choose’ the area in which they would like to explore. The adults then facilitate and/or extend the learning taking place. Sometimes the free choice play will be play in which the children are exploring feelings such as empathy; sometimes they may act out scenarios in a safe environment; they may negotiate and form friendships; or develop understanding about the world we live in. These are just some examples of how free choice develops important skills for lifelong learning.

How is reading/writing/maths taught?

In Reception we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and tailor our teaching to supporting the individual needs of each pupil. We teach phonics daily following the Read Write Inc scheme and this is tailored to your child's ability. Read Write Inc is streamed across Reception and Key Stage 1 so your child may be in a group with a different adult. We offer a reading workshop for parents to attend at the start of each year to enable parents to support their children with reading and writing at home. We teach maths as a whole class and break off into smaller groups where we can target individual needs. After all of our short inputs for writing / maths we have lots of activities, both inside and out, for the children to practise their new skills in different contexts and work with the adults in the spaces to extend and embed their learning even further.

Where will my child have dinner (and what will they have)?

Your child will usually eat their dinner in the small hall. To start with they will be supported by the Early Years team but will also be encouraged to build their independence. If they are having a school dinner they will choose from 3 options in the morning these include; meat option, vegetarian option, sandwich option or jacket potato option. The menu runs on a 3 week cycle and you will be able to see this on the window at the entry into the office.

Who will be working with my child?

Your child will either be in RT (Reception Miss Thomson) or RF (Reception Miss Fox) and they will work closely with their class teacher. However due to the way Early Years works, at points your child may also work with the opposite class teacher and all the support staff that are in the setting. The children have access to the outdoor area and will engage with all members of the Early Years team.

What sort of things will my child be doing at school?

The school day starts at 8:40 and finishes at 3:15. During the school day children will have a phonics lesson, complete some small group maths/writing activities, have an opportunity to play outside and also be given plenty of time to explore the indoor areas of learning. Although we do have our daily routine, no two days are the same!

Will my child go outside?

We are very lucky with our outside space and have a large space to play and explore. We are also in the middle of creating a wonderful allotment area with chickens. Your child will be able to go outside whatever the weather. We ask parents to make sure that children are sent with suitable clothing to allow this to happen. As well as 'free flow' children will go outside for small group activities and also for free choosing time.

Will my child go on school trips?

Yes! We love school trips in Early Years. In the past we have been to farms, the cinema, the park, castles and Sundown Adventureland.

When are the school holidays?

Please check the relevant section on the school website.

What is expected of me as a parent?

We encourage parents to take an active role in the child’s school life. This will include; reading at home, attending parent workshops (where possible), attending parents evening, keeping school up to date with any changes in circumstance and most importantly making sure your child is prepared for the school day e.g. having a good sleep, eating a healthy breakfast. If you find you need any help, or even just someone to talk to at any time, please call our Family support worker, Emily Gore. They are always available (for a chat and can help with all kinds of things (or at least find someone who can help if they can’t!).

Do you have a breakfast club?

We offer a breakfast club for all children in school. Children will have a chance to have a healthy breakfast and play games with new friends. Please see the page on our school website for more details.

Do the children need to bring a snack to school?

All children will be provided with free daily fruit and milk while in reception . Every child is also given a free water bottle when they start school with us so they have access to water throughout the day. Please sign up to CoolMilk for your child to be added to the milk list. It is free to register and when your child turns 5 you will need to log onto your account and pay if you would like to continue getting milk delivered to school. Unfortunately, we can no longer give your child milk if they are not on the school list.

Reception Staff

     Miss Fox - Class Teacher- RF 

Miss Thomson - Class Teacher- RT

Parent FAQs

What is the routine on arrival?

Arrival time is 8.40am. There is a member of staff at the gate waiting to welcome all of the children and parents on entry. Your child hangs his /her coat up in the cloakroom. Children will then enter the classroom and use the provision until it is time to come together on the carpet to take the register.

What equipment will my child need to bring to school?

• A book bag (Bought from the office)

• A water bottle (Named)

• PE kit (On PE days)

• A pair of named wellington boots in a bag to be kept in school.

• Hat, gloves and scarf (For the winter months)

• Sun hat / suncream / sunglasses (A named bottle of suncream can be left in school to top-up when necessary)

What if my child loses something?

Please ensure all items of clothing/Pe kit/items brought into school are labelled clearly with their name and class. As you can imagine- Finding one lost red jumper out of 60 children is quite a task!

Will my child get dirty?

Short answer- YES! We believe a uniform covered in dirt, paint, glue is the sign of a busy and fun-filled day. We recomment buying cheaper, generic jumpers from the supermarket and getting them clearly labelled with your child's name. If you want a special jumper with the Bessacarr Bee then please feel free to order these but please be aware that your child will most definitely come home covered in fun.

Can my child bring toys into school?

We know your child may want to bring a toy in from home however, to prevent things getting lost or broken in school, it is better for these to stay at home where they are safe. If your child wants to bring something in to show the class - a special artifact, photograph, project etc - we are always happy for this to happen but please pass directly to the teacher so that they can be stored safely until the right time.

What should I do if my child is ill?

Please telephone the school office as soon as you can. Our voicemail service runs 24/7 so if you cannot speak to anyone directly then please leave a message. Please note that following a case of diarrhea or sickness your child is not permitted to return to school until they are clear of symptoms for 48 hours.

What if my child needs medicine during the school day?

You will need to fill in a form which is available at the school office - please walk round and someone will be happy to help. We are only able to administer current medicines prescribed by a doctor and clearly labelled with your child’s name.

If your child needs an inhaler, please provide one that can be kept in school. You will be asked to fill in a form so that your child can be added to our asthma register. They will have their own asthma box which will move with them around school.

What if I need to collect my child early for an appointment / we are late coming in to school one morning?

Please inform the office if you need to collect your child from school early for an appointment - wherever possible we ask to see an appointment card / letter. On the day of the appointment please go to the office and someone will collect your child for you.

If you are late for school one morning you will need to come to the school office - rather than your usual gate - as your child will need to be marked as present on the register. They will then be taken to class by the office staff.

What is ‘Free Choice’?

Children in the Early Years spend time independently planning their own learning. They ‘choose’ the area in which they would like to explore. The adults then facilitate and/or extend the learning taking place. Sometimes the free choice play will be play in which the children are exploring feelings such as empathy; sometimes they may act out scenarios in a safe environment; they may negotiate and form friendships; or develop understanding about the world we live in. These are just some examples of how free choice develops important skills for lifelong learning.

How is reading/writing/maths taught?

In Reception we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and tailor our teaching to supporting the individual needs of each pupil. We teach phonics daily following the Read Write Inc scheme and this is tailored to your child's ability. Read Write Inc is streamed across Reception and Key Stage 1 so your child may be in a group with a different adult. We offer a reading workshop for parents to attend at the start of each year to enable parents to support their children with reading and writing at home. We teach maths as a whole class and break off into smaller groups where we can target individual needs. After all of our short inputs for writing / maths we have lots of activities, both inside and out, for the children to practise their new skills in different contexts and work with the adults in the spaces to extend and embed their learning even further.

Where will my child have dinner (and what will they have)?

Your child will usually eat their dinner in the small hall. To start with they will be supported by the Early Years team but will also be encouraged to build their independence. If they are having a school dinner they will choose from 3 options in the morning these include; meat option, vegetarian option, sandwich option or jacket potato option. The menu runs on a 3 week cycle and you will be able to see this on the window at the entry into the office.

Who will be working with my child?

Your child will either be in RT (Reception Miss Thomson) or RF (Reception Miss Fox) and they will work closely with their class teacher. However due to the way Early Years works, at points your child may also work with the opposite class teacher and all the support staff that are in the setting. The children have access to the outdoor area and will engage with all members of the Early Years team.

What sort of things will my child be doing at school?

The school day starts at 8:40 and finishes at 3:15. During the school day children will have a phonics lesson, complete some small group maths/writing activities, have an opportunity to play outside and also be given plenty of time to explore the indoor areas of learning. Although we do have our daily routine, no two days are the same!

Will my child go outside?

We are very lucky with our outside space and have a large space to play and explore. We are also in the middle of creating a wonderful allotment area with chickens. Your child will be able to go outside whatever the weather. We ask parents to make sure that children are sent with suitable clothing to allow this to happen. As well as 'free flow' children will go outside for small group activities and also for free choosing time.

Will my child go on school trips?

Yes! We love school trips in Early Years. In the past we have been to farms, the cinema, the park, castles and Sundown Adventureland.

When are the school holidays?

Please check the relevant section on the school website.

What is expected of me as a parent?

We encourage parents to take an active role in the child’s school life. This will include; reading at home, attending parent workshops (where possible), attending parents evening, keeping school up to date with any changes in circumstance and most importantly making sure your child is prepared for the school day e.g. having a good sleep, eating a healthy breakfast. If you find you need any help, or even just someone to talk to at any time, please call our Family support worker, Emily Gore. They are always available (for a chat and can help with all kinds of things (or at least find someone who can help if they can’t!).

Do you have a breakfast club?

We offer a breakfast club for all children in school. Children will have a chance to have a healthy breakfast and play games with new friends. Please see the page on our school website for more details.

Do the children need to bring a snack to school?

All children will be provided with free daily fruit and milk while in reception . Every child is also given a free water bottle when they start school with us so they have access to water throughout the day. Please sign up to CoolMilk for your child to be added to the milk list. It is free to register and when your child turns 5 you will need to log onto your account and pay if you would like to continue getting milk delivered to school. Unfortunately, we can no longer give your child milk if they are not on the school list.

Reception Staff

     Miss Fox - Class Teacher- RF 

Miss Thomson - Class Teacher- RT

Parent FAQs

What is the routine on arrival?

Arrival time is 8.40am. There is a member of staff at the gate waiting to welcome all of the children and parents on entry. Your child hangs his /her coat up in the cloakroom. Children will then enter the classroom and use the provision until it is time to come together on the carpet to take the register.

What equipment will my child need to bring to school?

• A book bag (Bought from the office)

• A water bottle (Named)

• PE kit (On PE days)

• A pair of named wellington boots in a bag to be kept in school.

• Hat, gloves and scarf (For the winter months)

• Sun hat / suncream / sunglasses (A named bottle of suncream can be left in school to top-up when necessary)

What if my child loses something?

Please ensure all items of clothing/Pe kit/items brought into school are labelled clearly with their name and class. As you can imagine- Finding one lost red jumper out of 60 children is quite a task!

Will my child get dirty?

Short answer- YES! We believe a uniform covered in dirt, paint, glue is the sign of a busy and fun-filled day. We recomment buying cheaper, generic jumpers from the supermarket and getting them clearly labelled with your child's name. If you want a special jumper with the Bessacarr Bee then please feel free to order these but please be aware that your child will most definitely come home covered in fun.

Can my child bring toys into school?

We know your child may want to bring a toy in from home however, to prevent things getting lost or broken in school, it is better for these to stay at home where they are safe. If your child wants to bring something in to show the class - a special artifact, photograph, project etc - we are always happy for this to happen but please pass directly to the teacher so that they can be stored safely until the right time.

What should I do if my child is ill?

Please telephone the school office as soon as you can. Our voicemail service runs 24/7 so if you cannot speak to anyone directly then please leave a message. Please note that following a case of diarrhea or sickness your child is not permitted to return to school until they are clear of symptoms for 48 hours.

What if my child needs medicine during the school day?

You will need to fill in a form which is available at the school office - please walk round and someone will be happy to help. We are only able to administer current medicines prescribed by a doctor and clearly labelled with your child’s name.

If your child needs an inhaler, please provide one that can be kept in school. You will be asked to fill in a form so that your child can be added to our asthma register. They will have their own asthma box which will move with them around school.

What if I need to collect my child early for an appointment / we are late coming in to school one morning?

Please inform the office if you need to collect your child from school early for an appointment - wherever possible we ask to see an appointment card / letter. On the day of the appointment please go to the office and someone will collect your child for you.

If you are late for school one morning you will need to come to the school office - rather than your usual gate - as your child will need to be marked as present on the register. They will then be taken to class by the office staff.

What is ‘Free Choice’?

Children in the Early Years spend time independently planning their own learning. They ‘choose’ the area in which they would like to explore. The adults then facilitate and/or extend the learning taking place. Sometimes the free choice play will be play in which the children are exploring feelings such as empathy; sometimes they may act out scenarios in a safe environment; they may negotiate and form friendships; or develop understanding about the world we live in. These are just some examples of how free choice develops important skills for lifelong learning.

How is reading/writing/maths taught?

In Reception we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and tailor our teaching to supporting the individual needs of each pupil. We teach phonics daily following the Read Write Inc scheme and this is tailored to your child's ability. Read Write Inc is streamed across Reception and Key Stage 1 so your child may be in a group with a different adult. We offer a reading workshop for parents to attend at the start of each year to enable parents to support their children with reading and writing at home. We teach maths as a whole class and break off into smaller groups where we can target individual needs. After all of our short inputs for writing / maths we have lots of activities, both inside and out, for the children to practise their new skills in different contexts and work with the adults in the spaces to extend and embed their learning even further.

Where will my child have dinner (and what will they have)?

Your child will usually eat their dinner in the small hall. To start with they will be supported by the Early Years team but will also be encouraged to build their independence. If they are having a school dinner they will choose from 3 options in the morning these include; meat option, vegetarian option, sandwich option or jacket potato option. The menu runs on a 3 week cycle and you will be able to see this on the window at the entry into the office.

Who will be working with my child?

Your child will either be in RT (Reception Miss Thomson) or RF (Reception Miss Fox) and they will work closely with their class teacher. However due to the way Early Years works, at points your child may also work with the opposite class teacher and all the support staff that are in the setting. The children have access to the outdoor area and will engage with all members of the Early Years team.

What sort of things will my child be doing at school?

The school day starts at 8:40 and finishes at 3:15. During the school day children will have a phonics lesson, complete some small group maths/writing activities, have an opportunity to play outside and also be given plenty of time to explore the indoor areas of learning. Although we do have our daily routine, no two days are the same!

Will my child go outside?

We are very lucky with our outside space and have a large space to play and explore. We are also in the middle of creating a wonderful allotment area with chickens. Your child will be able to go outside whatever the weather. We ask parents to make sure that children are sent with suitable clothing to allow this to happen. As well as 'free flow' children will go outside for small group activities and also for free choosing time.

Will my child go on school trips?

Yes! We love school trips in Early Years. In the past we have been to farms, the cinema, the park, castles and Sundown Adventureland.

When are the school holidays?

Please check the relevant section on the school website.

What is expected of me as a parent?

We encourage parents to take an active role in the child’s school life. This will include; reading at home, attending parent workshops (where possible), attending parents evening, keeping school up to date with any changes in circumstance and most importantly making sure your child is prepared for the school day e.g. having a good sleep, eating a healthy breakfast. If you find you need any help, or even just someone to talk to at any time, please call our Family support worker, Emily Gore. They are always available (for a chat and can help with all kinds of things (or at least find someone who can help if they can’t!).

Do you have a breakfast club?

We offer a breakfast club for all children in school. Children will have a chance to have a healthy breakfast and play games with new friends. Please see the page on our school website for more details.

Do the children need to bring a snack to school?

All children will be provided with free daily fruit and milk while in reception . Every child is also given a free water bottle when they start school with us so they have access to water throughout the day. Please sign up to CoolMilk for your child to be added to the milk list. It is free to register and when your child turns 5 you will need to log onto your account and pay if you would like to continue getting milk delivered to school. Unfortunately, we can no longer give your child milk if they are not on the school list.