New Blue Whale September 2023
It is our absolute pleasure to welcome you and your family to our school. We hope that you are all keeping well and that your child is excited about starting school in September. Your child will be in Blue Whale and their teacher will be Mrs Walsh who has a wealth of experience in teaching children in the Early Years.
To help with your transition into Blue Whale, we have set up this page so that we can share with you as much information as we can to help you and your child have a happy and successful start at King William Street CE Primary School. Starting school is such an important time for each child and we will do all we can to help you and your child feel welcome, confident and excited about this new adventure.
If you have received one of our Welcome letters, please can you return the acceptance slip to school ASAP.
We are very proud of our school, the children and the values we hold and we look forward to welcoming you all into our King William Street CE Primary School family.
Journey into school
On Monday 15th May, all parents and carers are invited into school for a Welcome to Blue Whale evening. This begins at 6:00pm and is an opportunity for parents and carers to meet Mrs Walsh who will introduce you to Blue Whale classroom, daily routines, the curriculum as well as an opportunity to sample our school dinners. Members of the school community will be there including Governors, Steve our school uniform supplier and Mrs Simpkins our school cook. We will also give you a 'Welcome Pack' which contains lots of information. Please can you return the completed forms to school. We look forward to meeting you and answering any questions you may have.
During the week beginning 22nd May, a 'Welcome to Blue Whale' postcard will arrive through your letterbox. This will be addressed to your child-please share this together.
During the week beginning Tuesday 5th June, Mrs Walsh and Mrs Hill, our school SENDCo, will visit you at home to meet with you. Mrs Walsh will introduce herself, answer any questions you may have and leave an induction bag for you. Inside you will find some information leaflets, craft activities, a picture book to share together and a Brilliant Beginnings Task.
On Monday 19th June, Mrs Walsh will publish ‘Five things you should know about me’ on this page for you to share with your child. In return Mrs Walsh is hoping you would complete ‘Five things you should know about me’ alongside your child and email it back to school using clerical@kingwilliamstreet.co.uk
Blue Whale classroom
On Friday 7th July, your child will visit Blue Whale classroom for the first time to meet other Blue Whale children and explore their classroom, This will be from 9:00am-10:00am. Parents and carers are invited to come along to Coffee and Cake in the school hall.
Friday 14th July, your child will visit Blue Whale classroom for the second time. This will be from 9:00am-10:00am. Parents and carers are invited to come along to Coffee and Cake in the school hall.
Monday 17th July, your child will visit Blue Whale classroom for the third time. This will be from 9:00am-10:00am.
The next time they will visit Blue Whale is on Tuesday 5th September, when they start school.
Read all about Mrs Walsh. Find out about her favourite activities and her favourite colours.
When you have read about Mrs Walsh, you could complete your own 'All about me; sheet and email it to Mrs Walsh clerical@kingwilliamstreet.co.uk
Please complete this Pupil Information and Contact Form and return to school.
Please complete this E-Safety Agreement and return to school.
How can I help my child get ready for school?
Being school ready involves encouraging your child to develop skills which help them to be independent and ready to learn. These skills range from eating and self-care to listening and turn taking.
The Road to School
Here are some other ideas of things you could do to help your child feel ready
• Walk past the school so they can see where they are going.
• Talk about what they are looking forward to.
• Practise getting dressed in their new uniform.
• If their name is on a label in their clothes, show them where and what to look for.
• Is there anything they are worried about?
• Play games together which practise turn taking or sharing.
• Play 'schools' together.
• Give them some words/phrases to help them ask for help from an adult.
• Practise asking to go to the toilet and going to the toilet themselves.
• Tell your child what you will be doing while they are at school – so that they don't worry about you!
Steps to starting school
Build your child’s confidence so that they start school confident, curious and ready to learn. Access more great advice, tips and downloadable resources at www.pacey.org.uk
BBC Bitesize also offers some great advice from professionals and some videos you can share with your child.
www.bbc.co.uk/.../starting-primary-school
Also a 'First day at School' game which you may find useful.
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics
The National Literacy Trust’s new project, Small Talk, aims to support the language development of children under the age of five. An everyday guide to chatting, playing and reading with your child https://small-talk.org.uk/
Hungry Little Minds has been launched by the Department for Education with lots of fantastic ideas for early learning: http://www.hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/
This leaflet called 'Summer Talk' has lots of games and activities you could try when you are out. For example why not try the Trolley Challenge on page 6 when you are shopping or Car Challenge on page 7 when you are on a long car journey or involve the whole family in a Sports Challenge on page 10. There is even Kitchen Fun on page 111 if you are stuck inside.
