Children start school in the September of the academic year when they are five years old.

Children in Reception start school on a part-time basis for the first few days.  This enables the staff to get to know the children and their parents/carers, establishing those all-important relationships. It also helps the children adjust to a new environment, feel secure and settle quickly. All our Early Years staff strive to ensure that every child’s needs are met using a personalised learning approach.  By the end of the first week of term, all children will be attending school on a full-time basis.

During the term prior to your child starting in Reception, all parents/carers are invited to a ‘Starting School’ evening meeting and children are invited to ‘Play Date’ sessions, where you and your child will have the opportunity to meet the Early Years staff, play in their classroom, receive further information about starting school and ask any questions.

The ‘Play Date’ sessions offer your child the chance to spend time in their learning environment with their new classmates and the Early Years staff. The Early Years Foundation Stage Leader will also visit children at their nursery schools.

This powerpoint presentation 'A Day in the Life of a Reception Child' will help you and your child to prepare for starting school at Waddington Redwood.