White Court School

Information for the parents of Foundation Children who will be starting school in September 2020.

We usually share this information as part of an open evening. We are currently working under government guidance and hope to be able to offer some transition events in July.

The Foundation Team at White Court School

Mrs Skinner is the Foundation Stage Leader and will teach class 1.

Miss Duhig will be the teacher responsible for class 2.

Mrs Goodwin and Miss Parish will be the teacher responsible for class 3.

Our classes will all have special names and we are currently working together to decide these.

Also within the team are Teaching Assistants who support the learning of the children, under the guidance of the teacher.

The aim of our Foundation setting is to ensure:

* children continue to make progress from their baseline assessment. We work in partnership with our Early years setting and nursery/playgroup providers.

• develop secure foundations through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the needs and interests of each individual child through a play based curriculum.

• partnership working between practitioners and with parents and/or carers.

Education is a life long journey

At White Court School we seek to work in partnership with parents and carers.

By working together we will help

your children to develop into

valuable members of our

community who have the

knowledge, skills and

understanding to make good

choices about the way they live

their lives.

• Learning Journals

• Play and stay.

• Home assessments.

• School visits / trips

• Regular updates / daily contact.

• Challenge book.

The Foundation Curriculum at White Court School:

• Communication and language.

• Physical development

• Personal, social and emotional development

• Literacy

• Maths

• Expressive arts and design

• Understanding the world

The Foundation classroom:

• The children have access to indoor and outdoor learning.

• Snack provision

• Child initiated / adult led activities daily.

• A focus story every half term

• Letters and sounds to support Literacy development.

• Weekly PE session.

• Weekly computer session.

• Guided reading weekly.

• Individual reading weekly.

• Welly Wednesday / Forest School

Jolly Phonics:

• The children learn letter sounds through Jolly phonics.

• The children use visual aids to support reading and writing development.

• Reading.

• Tricky word wall.

• Phonic sounds.

Talk for writing, focus stories:

• We have a focus story every half term.

• This story will be shared with you.

• The children build up a bank of stories and this supports their independent writing.

Challenge Books:

• Pre and post teaching.• Weekly updates / reminders.• Fun challenges linked to learning.• Suggested ideas to support learning.

What will your child need?

• School uniform

• PE kit

• Welly boots- named and pegged

• A book bag or similar

• Weekly challenge log

• Reading books / reading log

• Water bottle

Classroom provision

• We ask for a weekly donation of £3 to support our snack and curriculum

• AM snack

• PM snack

• Cooking

• Additional curriculum resources

• Forest Schools

When your child will start at White Court School:

Admission to school will be staggered so that we are able to support your child to become familiar with their classroom, the school environment and the pattern of the school day or morning.

We will confirm this nearer the time as we are currently working hard to ensure we meet the government guidelines linked to COVID 19.

We will ensure that we provide a seamless transition for all of our children.

Extra staff and the Foundation team will be available during playtime and lunch time and playtimes to ensure your child finds friends to play with and does not feel lost within the outside space.

Open door policy at the end of the day to ensure regular contact.

The First Day at School• The children starting school for the first time will come into school

with their parents and meet their teachers in the classroom. We will ask parents to leave when their child is settled into their new room.

• This pattern of entry will continue until we feel that the children are ready to build upon their independence.

Useful Information.• A telephone call to the school office to let us know if your child can not attend school for any

reason would be appreciated. 01376 331801. Please send in a note when they return to school to confirm the reason.

• School news letters will be sent home with the children so you know what is happening within our community, such as non uniform days.

• Book bags Children will need a named school book bag which should be bought to school every day.

• Lunchtimes Children may have either packed lunch or a school dinner. Key-stage one school dinners are funded and therefore you will not need to pay your child’s lunch.

• PE Lessons – Will take place once a week. Children will need a named PE bag, named plimsolls and a pair of named blue shorts. They will also need a white t shirt for this. Please try to avoid sending girls into school wearing tights on a P.E. day.

• Breakfast Club available for all children from 8:00 am each school day.

• The Uniform Shop Uniform is available from the schools online shop. www.yourschooluniform.coma link is available on the school website.

• Forest School All Reception children will attend Forest School regularly throughout the year. Dates will be advised and information provided.

• If the school has to be closed due to bad weather a message will go on the Essex schools info link. Go to the emergency school closures pages on the councils website www.essex.gov.uk/Education-Schools/Schools/Dates/Pages/Emergency-School.Closures.aspx and on our parent hotline number. If you have signed up to home contact you will receive a text / e mail to inform you.

• Hotline number: 08447 707576 School ID 48785

• Website address: www.whitecourt.essex.sch.uk

• Email address: admin@whitecourt.essex.sch.uk