HERMITAGE PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL Hermitage Park, Edinburgh, EH6 8HD

November 2016

Parent Questionnaire – Transition to Primary 1 Summary of Responses

We had a total of 26 responses. Thank you so much for taking the time to offer us your views.

Website: www.hermitagepark.edin.sch.ukEmail: admin@hermitagepark.edin.sch.uk Tel: 0131 554 2952

1. How well do you feel that your child settled into primary 1?

Great Difficulty - 0 Difficulty- 0 Well - 10 Very Well - 16

Comments: My child joined late but she settled down very well as she is able to meet her nursery

friends in P1 The transition activities before starting meant we could discuss things at home, knowing

what was coming in August. He seems to have settled in well and is enjoying learning new things and especially ‘free

play’. He’s very happy with his teacher and loves the house points scheme etc. Welcome pack very useful too. I loved the children’s comments.

I was very nervous about my son settling into P1 as he was quiet at nursery but he seems to much prefer school and I’ve been delighted with how well he’s settled in.

I’m very grateful of the care and support my child received form all staff helping settle in. She is really happy, made friends, likes and gets on well with the adults and has settled in

well with the routines of school really well. I was a bit worried but he really enjoys school – my son does not like change. A few tears but other than that great. The getting to know you sessions helped so much

and actually made my son look forward to school over the summer holiday. My son grew in confidence after his visits My son was very apprehensive after the settling-in days however he seemed to enjoy

school straight away.

What we will do: Continue to support children’s transition from nursery to school with a variety of

activities and meetings. Continue to ensure that class teachers are available at the end of the school day to meet with parents for updates.

HERMITAGE PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL Hermitage Park, Edinburgh, EH6 8HD

Website: www.hermitagepark.edin.sch.ukEmail: admin@hermitagepark.edin.sch.uk Tel: 0131 554 2952

2. Transition activities for children who attending Hermitage Park Primary School Nursery:

Regular visits to library resource area, gym hall and dining hall

Eating their snack in the dining hall at the dining tables

Walks around the school Attendance at assembly Opportunities to visit primary 1 class when

it is empty Opportunities to work with primary 1

children during the school day Visits to the infant playground Sports practices in the upper playground Meet the teacher session before the

summer holidays Primary 7 buddies working in the nursery Role play area set up in the nursery –

School classroom Link project work with primary 1 – People

Who Help Us

Transition activities for children who did not attend Hermitage Park Primary School Nursery: Four ‘getting to know you sessions’

where children visit all areas of the school including the library resource area, gym hall, dining hall and playground. These sessions also included the toilets (an area than can be a concern to some children)

Opportunities to visit primary 1 class when during sessions and to work with primary 1 children during the school day

Visits to the infant playground Meet the teacher session before the

summer holidays Named primary 6 buddies working in

the primary 1 classroom; Primary 7 prefects supporting children in the playground, dining hall and throughout the school

Class teacher visits to your child’s nursery so that they can get to know them in their own environment

Do you have any further suggestions of activities that we may consider to support the transition of children from Nursery to Primary 1?

No I think that you provided more than enough No, I think that all things seem to be covered. I know through friends with children who did

not come to Hermitage Park that my son had much more transition activities that the schools that they started at.

For my son, transition activities worked find that way you did them. I am aware of other clusters nurseries feeding the primary school agree on a story project and that this is continues in primary 1.

Meditation for children It would be good for buddies to be in place for the first week of term Slightly more comprehensive explanation of reading homework up front Meet the teacher with parents and children in the same class altogether; together with trip to

the library, dinner hall etc. It was good that we arrived for the lunch during playtime so the children could see how busy

the playground is.

What we will do: We operate a link nursery – p1 project to aid transition, however last session children

came to us from over 20 different nurseries making is challenging to ensure that all children experienced this. We will however continue to work hard to ensure that this academic transition is supported by all our feeder nurseries.

We have introduced mindfulness within the school, including the nursery this session, however once again it is difficult to ensure that all feeder nurseries take this on board.

Due to numbers it is impossible to have all staff, children and parents in the classrooms and other areas at the same time. This would be overwhelming for children. We do however ensure that parents have an opportunity to see their own child’s class with other parents of that class and that the children meet their teacher together.

We were unable to hold the normal curriculum meeting in August this session due to staff shortages. During this meeting, homework and learning is explained very clearly. We will ensure that this is reinstated.

3. Did you attend the parent information event held in June?

Yes - 18 No – 8

How useful/ informative did you find this event in supporting your child with their transition to primary 1? How can we develop this event?

Didn’t attend due to work. Watched the video online and found it useful and it was nice to see my daughter in her learning environment.

I found this meeting very helpful. I think as a parent if we know what is happening during this time we can be more helpful to our children during the transition.

It was very useful and informative Very useful (even as a parent with an older child in school) It gave me the correct information that I was able to tell my child and answer questions and

help with worries.