Ways to help your child before he/she starts school:

• Talk with your child and encourage him/her to talk to you about what they are doing.
• Share books with your child and talk about the book.
• Encourage your child to think about the world around them and to ask questions.
• Play games which encourage your child to count and to look at and recognise numbers and letters and to take turns.
• Teach your child nursery rhymes and songs.
• Encourage your child to do puzzles, to use construction games and to draw and make models.
• Help your child to hold a pencil correctly and cut out with scissors.
• Help your child to read and write their own name in lower case letters (not capitals).
• Help your child to be able to dress and undress themselves and to go to the toilet on their own.
• Give your child opportunities to play together with other children.
• Encourage your child to carry out simple everyday tasks independently.

Ways to help your child after she/he starts school

• Please bring your child to school on time in the mornings so they don’t miss any teaching time.
  (Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 start at 8.40am;
  Years R, 1 & 2 start at 8.50am;
  and Nursery starts at 8.55am or 12.30pm )
• Please try to ensure your child comes to school regularly, BUT please keep your child at home if they are ill, especially if they have sickness or diarrhoea.
• Talk with your child and encourage him/her to talk to you about what they are doing.
• Share books with your child and talk about the book.
• Encourage your child to think about the world around them and to ask questions.
• Play games with your child to practice reading and number skills and taking turns.
• Encourage your child to do their homework, let them know that it is important.
• Let the class teacher know if someone else will be collecting your child, and who it will be.
• Ensure that any prescribed medicines kept in the School Office (e.g. asthma inhalers) are up-to-date and that we have accurate usage instructions.
• Please let the school know if anything happens at home that may upset your child or make them feel unwell or if they have any worries at all. Then we can keep a special eye on them and give extra support if needed.
• Please collect your child promptly at home time so that they are not distressed. If you are unavoidably delayed, please telephone the School Office so that we can reassure your child that you are on your way.