Starting School

Starting school is a significant milestone in any child’s development. Whilst it can be daunting for parents and children alike, it should be exciting too.  At Boughton-under-Blean & Dunkirk Methodist Primary School, we consider it a privilege to be part of a child’s earliest educational experiences. We believe in instilling a love of learning in our youngest pupils which continues with them throughout their school days. This motivation to learn and curiosity forms an essential part of the foundation skills of a successful learner.

Starting school can often feel a little overwhelming for children and their families and we understand that. We aim for our transition process to ensure that pupils and adults begin to build positive relationships with staff which help them to feel at ease within the school setting.  Before starting school, children will have had the opportunity to meet the staff who will work within their class as well as being able to meet their new classmates. Staff will spend time playing with and getting to know children and the things that are important to them. The Reception class teacher will ensure that contact with each child’s pre-school setting is made; this ensures that a thorough handover has taken place and relevant information is shared with school staff. Home visits will also ensure that families have the opportunity to get to know the adults who will care for their children in their first year at school. Home visits also provide the opportunity for parents to discuss things which are of an importance to them and to ask any questions they may have.

Pupils within the Foundation Stage learn in a variety of ways but predominantly through practical experiences and child initiated activities. Daily Phonics sessions quickly build early reading and writing skills which are then applied when children engage with teacher directed activities. Teacher directed activities also provide pupils to learn new skills linked to a topic and to develop important number based skills.

Starting school should mark the start of an exciting adventure involving new discoveries, new stories and new relationships and we firmly believe that our foundation stage allows exactly that.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact our school office who will happily assist you.

‘Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it’ Proverbs 22:6