New Nursery and Reception parents
Welcome to the St Margaret Ward family.
On this page, you will find some useful information to help you and your child navigate school procedures and ensure a smooth and successful start to life at our school.
Home Visits – Supporting Your Child’s Transition
Before your child starts Nursery or is joining our school new to Reception, you will meet their teacher during a home visit.
This helps children feel comfortable by meeting a familiar face in their own home, supporting a positive start to school. It also gives parents/carers the chance to ask questions and share important information.
You will be visited by:
Mrs Ezgu – Nursery Teacher and SENDCo
Mrs Royle – Reception Teacher and Early Years Lead
During the visit, we will:
- Gather key information about your child (interests, needs, medical details)
- Discuss the ‘All About Me’ sheet
- Take a photograph (if possible) for their peg and classroom
- Spend a short time getting to know your child
- Share their start date
The home visit helps us understand your child and ensures we can support them from the very beginning. Seeing a familiar face can help them settle more quickly.
Our aim is for every child to feel happy, safe, and valued from the start, and we will do our very best to give your child the best beginning to their school journey.
First Week in Reception
To support a smooth transition into Reception, children will gradually increase their hours during the first week.
Please note the following dates and ensure your child is collected promptly:
Thursday 3rd September – 8.45am – 11.45am (morning only)
Friday 4th September – 8.45am – 12.30pm (includes lunch; collect after lunch)
Monday 7th September – 8.45am – 3.20pm as normal
We also look forward to seeing all children at the Reception Transition Morning on 2nd July, where they will meet staff, other children, and explore their new environment.
Start of the school day
Doors are open from 8.45am to 8.55am. A member of staff will be there to greet the children and you will be able to briefly pass on any messages or concerns.
The children will hang up their coat independently and join their classmates sat on the carpet, where lessons or activities will start straight away after registration
Children who arrive after 8.55am will be marked as late and you will need to sign them in at the school office. Being on time every day is vital so the children are settled and do not miss any learning.
Lunchtimes
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal. Click on the link to view the menu. If you choose instead, you can provide your child with a free school meal.
For children in Nursery, you can choose for them to have a paid-for school dinner or packed lunch.
End of the school day
The school day finishes at 3.20pm.
Please always arrive on time and notify us in advance if another person will be collecting your child. Please note children up to and including Year 2 need to be collected by a responsible adult (parent, guardian or named person) aged 16 or over.
Nursery sessions
The timings of the start or end of the school day may be slightly different for children who are part-time in the Nursery, and may be doing only morning or afternoon sessions.
See Nursery Places page for more information.
Absences
If for any reason your child is unable to attend school, please phone the school (969 9852) before 9.30am each morning to let us know why they are not in school.
If your child has a medical appointment, please let us know in advance showing their appointment card/ hospital letter where possible and please do your best to bring your child to school before and after the appointment so that they only miss what is absolutely necessary.
Good attendance ensures that your child has the best possible chance to achieve well at school.
If your child has sickness/diarrhoea, please do not send them into school until they have been well for a minimum of 24 hours. I am sure you appreciate how quickly these infections can be spread.
How children learn in Reception and Nursery
Children learn through play, hands-on activities and real-life experiences. Learning is fun, active and built around children’s interests, with support from adults.
As well as learning through play, children will also have short lessons, sat on the carpet, for subjects such as phonics, maths and RE.
The curriculum followed in Nursery and Reception is called the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
In the EYFS, we focus on helping children become happy, confident and curious learners, ready for the next stage of their education.
The seven areas of learning are:
Communication & Language – listening, understanding and talking
Personal, Social & Emotional Development – confidence, friendships and feelings
Physical Development – movement, coordination and healthy habits
Literacy – enjoying stories, phonics, reading and writing
Mathematics – numbers, counting, shapes and problem solving
Understanding the World – people, communities, nature and technology
Expressive Arts & Design – art, music, role play and creativity
Your child’s progress is assessed mainly through observing children as they play and learn. This helps us understand:
- What your child can do
- What they enjoy
- What their next steps should be
Children complete a short statutory baseline check at the start of Reception and the EYFS Profile at the end of the year.
See the EYFS Curriculum page for more information.
How You Can Help at Home
We value a strong partnership with parents and carers. We share learning regularly and enjoy celebrating children’s achievements together. Your support at home makes a huge difference.
The best way to support your child’s learning is simple:
- Talk and play with them lots to develop their language
- Read with them lots to develop their reading
- Encourage independence (dressing, tidying, self‑care)
- Show interest in what your child is learning
- Good routines for bedtime and mornings.
Together, we want every child to feel happy, safe and confident, and develop a love of learning.