🌈 A Warm Welcome

Hello and welcome to Roundhill Primary School!

We are so excited that you will be joining our Reception class in September 2026. Starting school is a very special time, and we are here to make sure you feel happy, safe, and ready to learn.

🏫 Our Classroom

Our Reception classroom is a bright and exciting place!

You will find: - 📚 A cosy reading corner - 🎨 A creative area for painting and drawing - 🧱 A construction area for building - 🎭 A role-play area - 🌿 Outdoor learning space

⏰ A Typical Day

Every day is full of fun and learning. Here are some of the things you might do: -

👋 Good Morning time and register

🔤 Author time

🎲 Choosing time (playing and exploring)

🍎 📖 Snack and story time

🌳 Outdoor play

🔤 Phonics (learning sounds and letters)

🎲 Choosing time (playing and exploring)

🍽️Lunch

🎨 Afternoon activities

🎲 Choosing time (playing and exploring)

🏡 Home time

🎒 What to Bring

Please bring: - A named water bottle - A coat (for all weathers!) - A book bag - Spare clothes (just in case)

Make sure everything is clearly named.

👕 School Uniform

Our school uniform helps us feel part of the school community.

Typical uniform includes: - School jumper or cardigan (navy) - Polo shirt (white or pale blue) - Trousers, skirt, or dress (grey/navy/black) - Comfortable shoes

Please check the school website for full details.

🍽️ Lunchtime

You can choose to: - Have a school meal - Bring a healthy packed lunch

We eat together and then have time to play outside with our friends.

👫 Making Friends

Starting school is a great opportunity to meet new friends. Everyone is new, just like you!

We will help you: - Learn each other’s names - Play together - Share and take turns - Be kind and caring

👨‍👩‍👧 Helping Your Child Get Ready

You can help your child by: - Practicing putting on coats and shoes - Encouraging them to use the toilet independently - Reading together every day - Talking positively about school.

👨‍👩‍👧 Transition arrangements

We will contact you in May to share our transition arrangements with you.

• New Parents meeting
• Home visits
• Stay and Play sessions
• We are flexible about the first few weeks of starting school. We understand that families work, so we work with you to arrange whether you want your child to start full time straight away or have a slower induction.

🌱 Settling In

We understand that starting school can feel a little bit scary. That’s okay!

We will: - Help children settle in gently - Offer reassurance and support - Keep routines consistent

If you have any concerns, please talk to us—we are here to help.

📅 The Importance of Good Attendance

Even in Reception, coming to school every day is very important. Good attendance helps children: - Build healthy routines and habits - Develop friendships and social skills - Take part in all the exciting learning activities - Feel confident and secure in school. We encourage all children to come to school every day unless they are unwell.

📬 Stay in Touch

We believe that working together with families is very important.

We will keep you updated through: Class Dojo - School newsletters - Emails - Parent meetings

Contact details: - Phone: 01225 424950 - Email: office@roundhill-pri.co.uk - Website: www.roundhill-pri.co.uk

📖 First Day Social Story (for children)

My First Day at School

When I go to school: - I might feel excited 😊 - I might feel a little nervous 😟

That is okay!

• I will meet my teacher
• I will see new toys
• I will play and learn
• My grown-up will come back to get me

I am safe. I am brave. I can do it! 🌟

✅ Parent Checklist

Before September: - Uniform labelled - Book bag ready

🗣 Communication & Language

• Understands and follows simple instructions.

• Can speak in short sentences to express ideas.

• Listens to stories and talks about them.

• Recognises and responds to their own name.

🖐 Physical Independence

• Uses the toilet independently and washes hands.

• Can dress/undress with minimal help (e.g., coat, shoes).

• Eats with cutlery and opens lunch items.

• Can carry and look after their belongings.

✏ Early Learning Skills

• Recognises their own name in print.

• Can hold a pencil or crayon with some control.

• Enjoys looking at books and turning pages.

• Can count small groups of objects (up to 5 or 10).

🎨 Fine & Gross Motor Skills

• Can use scissors safely.

• Can run, jump, and climb with confidence.

• Can thread beads or complete simple puzzles.

💡 Self-Regulation & Resilience

• Can wait a short time for attention.

• Tries again after making a mistake.

• Can manage small frustrations with support.

🎉 We Can’t Wait to Meet You!

We are really looking forward to welcoming you to Reception at Roundhill Primary School.

Get ready for a year full of fun, friendship, and learning!

From all the staff at Roundhill Primary School

Transition arrangements:

We will be in touch in the beginning of May to share our transition arrangements and all the information you will need about your child starting school. If you have any questions in the meantime or would like to book a tour please contact the school office. 

🧩 Our SENCo – Vicky Heslop

At Roundhill Primary School, our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), Vicky Heslop, helps ensure that every child receives the support they need to feel safe, included, and ready to learn.

Vicky works closely with families, teachers, and specialist professionals to make sure support is put in place early and is matched carefully to each child’s needs.
She helps us follow Roundhill’s graduated response, which means children receive the right level of help at the right time — from universal classroom support, to enhanced strategies, small group interventions, or specialist provision if needed

💙 What Our SENCo Helps With

• Identifying children’s needs early and planning the right support
• Providing strategies for communication, learning, social or sensory needs
• Working with teachers to adapt lessons and the classroom environment
• Supporting small group or targeted interventions (e.g., speech, phonics, nurture groups)
• Liaising with external agencies, such as Speech & Language Therapists, Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, and CAMHS
• Supporting families with questions about SEN, transitions, or the EHCP process
• Ensuring children have personalised plans where needed (ILPs, EHCPs, behaviour or engagement plans)
   

🌱 Our Approach

Roundhill has a strong relational, inclusive ethos.
We focus on:

• Understanding children’s needs as a whole
• Providing a safe, predictable and supportive environment
• Helping children develop emotional regulation and readiness to learn
   

📞 Contact

If you ever have a question or concern about your child’s development or learning, Vicky is always happy to talk with you.
You can contact her through the school office.

 Some useful links and support for your child starting school.

• BBC Bitesize - Starting primary school - videos, guidance and resources for parents and children who are moving to primary school.
• School readiness - Best Start in Life
• Starting primary school - BBC Parents' Toolkit - BBC Bitesize
• Learning to read at home - Ruth Miskin Literacy