Reception Starters

Welcome to Applegarth

We have created this dedicated section on the website and created a Reception Starters Induction Booklet to give you an overview of our Reception class.

We also filmed a transition video a year or two ago in order to give children a feel for our classrooms, the layout of the school and to meet our Reception teachers and support staff. This may change for the coming academic year, but you may like to watch it if you have not had the chance to visit in person yet.

I look forward to meeting with you all in person in the near future. If there is anything further we can do to help you, please fill in the contact form on the website.

Kind regards,

Mr J Peoples

Headteacher

Open Events for Families

It is with pleasure that we invite you to attend a welcome event on:

Monday 9th October from 3:30pm – 6:00pm
Tuesday 24th October from 3:30pm – 6:00pm
Tuesday 14th November from 9:30am – 11:00am
Wednesday 22nd November 1:30pm – 3:00pm

We will introduce you to the team, give you the chance to explore (and play!) in the environment and answer any questions you might have. We are offering day time sessions so that you can see our school when pupils are on site. Our ambassadors will show you round for these sessions. This is for parents/carers and children. Please call the school office if you would like to attend.

New Starters Transition Sessions

We will be hosting two transition sessions where our newest pupils can come and play in our setting and meet the staff.

Please confirm your attendance by contacting the school office by telephone or email: 01609773521 / admin@applegarth.n-yorks.sch.uk. Children will stay in school without parents/carers and be collected at the end.

Reception Transition Information

Watch our trailer:

See the full video:

Story Time

Get to know our staff and have fun listening to our favourite stories…

Apply for Free School Meals

All children are eligible for free school meals if they’re in reception class; year 1; or year 2. We still ask that you apply using this form to prevent your child’s school missing out on additional funding which will benefit them for the rest of their primary education: https://fisportal.northyorks.gov.uk/Synergy/fsm_prereq.aspx

Policies

The policies below set out contain further useful information:

Forms

The forms below will be distributed at the New Starter meeting or when your child starts school in September. If you would like to print them, fill them in and post them to school in the meantime, that would be very much appreciated. Alternatively, you can email your completed forms to: admin@applegarth.n-yorks.sch.uk

Please follow the link below for more information about how we collect, use and store the data you share with us.

Information on GDPR (including Privacy Notices)

Frequently Asked Questions

My child’s first day at School

What will my child need to bring?

Where do I drop off and collect?

Arrive at 8:40am on the playground. A member of the team will greet you.
Take your child to their classroom door where they will join their class teacher.
The perfect opportunity to leave is when your child is calm but that is not always possible. Your child may settle quicker once you have gone. Staff will be on hand to help and we will send you a picture via Seesaw once they are settled and happy.
We would appreciate it if you could leave no later than 8:50am through the playground gate.
At 3:20pm your child’s class teacher will open the door of the classroom, which leads on to the playground.
Your child will remain with the teacher until both child and teacher see you, then your child will go down the steps. Please walk to meet your child.
It is important that you let the teacher know if someone other than you will be collecting your child.
It is useful if you stand in the same place in the playground a little way from the classroom door to make it easy for all the parents to be seen.

Is my child entitled to free milk at school?

Do I need to apply for Free School Meals?

In short, the answer is YES.
All pupils are entitled to a free school lunch in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. This is a government-funded scheme called Universal Free School Meals. It is not income dependent and the school does not receive any additional funding for those pupils.
Some pupil may ALSO be eligible for Disadvantaged (or Benefits-Related) Free School Meals. This is income and benefit dependent and it means the school receives additional funding to support those pupils for the next six years of their school career.
Many parents/carers do not apply for Free School Meals because their child will receive a free school lunch anyway. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you apply. It takes a matter of minutes and is very simple. The funding is there to accelerate and promote pupil outcomes and diminish the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers but we can only access it if you fill in the form.
You can submit a Free School Meal Application Form at any time during your child's time in school. It is especially important to do so if there is a change in your employment or financial circumstances.

Parent Concerns

What if my child seems upset about coming to school?

My child occasionally forgets to go to the toilet. Is this a problem?

Will my child be set homework?

"Get Reading. Keep Reading. Change Everything." The most important and effective thing you can do is read. Look at picture books and tell stories, read your child's phonics books and ereaders (and reread them) and read stories to your child to build their understanding of story structures and vocabulary.
Homework is usually set (and responded to) on Seesaw.
Involve your child by asking them what the homework is and allow them time to tell you.
Look at the Homework Policy on the school website.
If you are still unsure, ask the class teacher.

Daily Routines

When do children play outside?

What happens at lunchtime?

Currently, the children are taken to the toilet and they wash their hands before the rest of the children come out of their classes.
Staff supervise the children, helping to settle them at the table, open cartons and bags, cut up their food and help them to pour a beaker of water.
When the children have finished their lunch, a member of staff helps them to put their things away, go to the toilet and put on their coats to go out to play.
Familiar adults will always be with the children while they settle into school.

What is the procedure for talking to my child’s class teacher?

How will I be kept informed about school events?

What should I do if my child is ill?

My child needs to take some medicine during the school day. What should I do?

How do I pay for educational visits, wrap around care and school meals?