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New to Reception |
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HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL MERRY HILL INFANT SCHOOL & NURSERY
School Lane, Bushey, Herts WD23 1ST Telephone: 020 8950 2166 Fax: 020 8950 6338 Email: head@merryhill.herts.sch.uk Website: www.merryhill.org.uk Headteacher: Mrs Pauline Hannibal
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to the Reception class at Merry Hill. We do hope your
child will enjoy being in our school. Starting school is a very
big step for children and parents and carers, so we have
prepared this booklet to ease the way for you. We hope you find
it useful.
If you have any further queries or problems, please do not
hesitate to speak to either the class teacher or the Headteacher.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Pauline Hannibal
Starting School at Merry Hill
Introduction
Welcome to Merry
We know how special your child is to you and it is most
important to us that they are happy and feel secure and relaxed
at school. With this in mind we try to make our school an
extension of a caring home where the children will respond well
to a learning environment.
Before the Big Day
Getting ready to start school doesn’t just happen the day before
the big day. It starts almost from the cradle. It is our job as
parents and teachers to help our children grow in confidence and
become independent beings.
Make sure your child can dress and undress themselves, go to the
toilet unaided, wash and dry their hands, put on and fasten
their coat and shoes, use a knife, fork and spoon efficiently,
know their name and address, can recognise their name when
written down, can name the colours, can play in a constructive
way using toys and games and can share these with other
children.
Children learn and develop by talking to adults; please find
time to talk to and listen to your child. Encourage them to look
at and enjoy books and take them to the local library. Children
also enjoy and learn a great deal from visiting new places and
these outings can form a valuable talking point.
Let your child lay the table, count the cutlery, weigh and cook
with you and play at the sink. When you go out, let them look
for numbers on houses and gates and help you with the shopping.
These are all valuable activities that will help prepare them
for school.
All of us need an adequate amount of sleep. Please ensure that
your child goes to bed at a reasonable time. Tired children just
switch off and are unable to make the most of the many
activities available and the demands that a school day presents.
Visiting the school before the first day will help your child
feel more at home. Formal visits are organised just before your
child starts, but you are most welcome to attend our
fund-raising fairs and sports day or simply come for an informal
walk round the school and grounds, but please let us know you
are coming.
The First Day at School
It helps for parents to have a clear picture of what the first
day at school means to a child. Instead of being a very
important little person at home, they have suddenly become one
of thirty children all vying for the teacher’s attention. They
have to cope with new faces, a different routine, strange food
and seemingly meaningless commands like ‘line up by the door’
and ‘take your clothes off for PE’. They may find the noise and
hurly-burly of the playground rather alarming. Even if they have
been well prepared for all of this, your child still has to
adjust to the necessity of leaving home and being separated from
you.
Naturally, you know your child much better than we do, so we
rely on you to form a partnership with us and share this
knowledge. It is particularly helpful for us to know about any
personality difficulties like tantrums, shyness or
hyperactivity, as well as physical conditions such as asthma,
eczema or any allergies. We would also be grateful to know of
any personal family difficulties e.g. divorce, separation,
bereavement etc. Of course we also want to know about your
child’s achievements, abilities and particular interests. Your
child’s happiness and ability to settle into school life depends
very much on this partnership. Don’t worry if, after all the
trouble you have taken to prepare your child for school, they
cry on their first day. Some children settle immediately and
never cry; some cry on the first day and never again; some
during the first week and some, weeks later - having apparently
settled down well at the start. Children are often
unpredictable!
If you feel you need to stay with your child for a while on the
first morning, please let the teacher know and she will be able
to help you settle them. Never leave your child without saying
goodbye and letting them know when you will be back.
School Hours
Morning Session
Afternoon Session
All children should arrive at school in good time. The Reception
children may wait with parents in the playground near the
Nursery Classroom until the teacher comes to collect them at
With around two hundred children using the two buildings,
corridors and cloakrooms become easily congested. In order to
keep the children safe, please do not bring pushchairs or prams
into school or leave them by doorways. If you do need to speak
to the class teacher, please do so at the end of the day. If
necessary, messages for teachers can be left with the member of
staff on gate duty.
Children having packed lunches should take their boxes to their
rooms when they go into school.
When the children come out at
To ensure your child’s safety, please make sure you bring them
into the playground each morning and that you meet them again in
the playground at the end of the day. Children should never be
left in the playground on their own before the school is opened
at 8.55am.
Wet Mornings
On really wet mornings the children are allowed into class from
8.50am.
Arriving for school in good time allows the children to chat
with friends and settle into ‘school mode’. Punctuality is
important and sets a good example to the children, showing them
the value you place on education.
At Merry Hill we aim to maintain good attendance and punctuality
in order to enable all children to take full advantage of the
learning opportunities available to them. In order to achieve
this aim we need the support of all parents. The information
given below outlines the school procedures.
·
Arrival on time: It is important that your
child arrives by
·
Absence from School: If your child has
to miss school, it is important that you tell us why. Please
explain all absences as soon as possible in writing, by
telephone or in person. If you do not do this the absence will
be noted as ‘unauthorised’.
Most absences are for good reasons and will generally be
authorised by the school if they are due to:
·
Sickness
·
Unavoidable medical or dental appointments
·
Days of religious observance
·
Exceptional family circumstances e.g. bereavement
The following reasons for
absence will not be authorised:
·
Shopping during school hours
·
Birthday Celebrations
·
Holidays - Parents are strongly urged not to book family
holidays during term time. However, if parents apply directly to
the school by requesting an ‘Absence Authorisation’ form, the
school may, at its discretion, allow up to ten school days
absence for a child to go on their annual family holiday. If a
child goes on holiday without permission or if parents fail to
apply for permission in advance of the holiday, the absence will
be classified as ‘unauthorised.’
Mid Morning Break
In line with our healthy eating policy, the children are
supplied with fruit or vegetables every day. This is eaten mid
morning. Please do not send biscuits, crisps or sweets as a
substitute as these are not allowed. Nuts should not be brought
to school and children should not share snacks or packed lunches
due to allergies.
Milk is available at a small charge for those who would like it
and free to those children who will still be four years old at
the end of their first term in school. Milk must be ordered and
paid for in the office before the start of each term. Water is
available for those who may be thirsty but dislike milk. Please
do not send cartons of drink as an alternative.
Lunches
When your child is ready to stay for lunch there are three
alternatives:
School Dinners
Packed Lunches
Lunch at home
The school dinners are cooked on the premises and there is
always a choice of main course and pudding. The menu for the
week is displayed in the glass fronted notice board in the lower
playground so you can see what is available. If you are
uncertain about your child having school lunches, they may try
them for one week (when they first join Merry Hill), before
making a decision. Please let us know if your child does not eat
a particular food for health, religious or other reasons.
You will be invoiced for your child’s meals at the beginning of
each term. Any absences will be credited the following term.
It would help us considerably if lunches could be paid for by
cheque made payable to Herts County Council. This is a much
safer way to transport money and takes less time to count.
If you receive any form of income benefit you may qualify for
free school lunches. Please check with the school secretary or
online at
www.hertsdirect.org/scholearn/canhelp/expenses/what/meals/
Children may bring a packed lunch if preferred. This may include
a small carton, or other container of juice which your child can
manage to unscrew, although water is provided. The packed lunch
should be in a clearly named lunch box.
We would be grateful for three weeks notice in writing if you
wish to make any changes to lunchtime arrangements.
Uniform
This is available from most large department stores. Sweatshirts
and polo shirts with a school badge can be bought from the
school shop. These items are optional.
Boy’s Uniform:
Winter
Summer
yellow polo shirt
yellow polo shirt
grey trousers
grey shorts
grey sweatshirt
grey sweatshirt
Girl’s Uniform:
Winter
Summer
yellow polo shirt
yellow check dress
grey tunic, skirt or trousers
grey cardigan or sweatshirt
grey cardigan or sweatshirt
Black shorts and a white T-shirt are needed for PE. Your child
should have a pair of elasticised or velcro plimsolls for games
lessons (not trainers) in a named drawstring shoe bag. These
should be kept in school. Please mark all items of clothing
clearly with your child’s name. For obvious reasons, jewellery
and watches should not be worn to school. For safety, children
who have their ears pierced should only wear plain studs, not
sleepers or dangling earrings. Studs must be removed for PE or
covered with micropore tape.
Toys
These should not be brought in to school unless at the specific
request of the class teacher.
Safety
In the interests of children’s safety, please never drive into
the school grounds or park on the yellow zig zag lines outside
the school. Local residents would much appreciate your not
parking across their driveways. Access to school is via the
pedestrian entrance as the vehicle entrance is in constant use.
Please note that as some children are wary of dogs, dogs are not
allowed on school premises.
The safety of all children out of school hours is the
responsibility of the parent.
If there is a change in your usual arrangements, please let the
class teacher know who is collecting your child at the end of
the day. If you are delayed at
Health
All children have a height and weight check by the school nurse
during their first year and parents and teachers are asked to
complete a simple medical questionnaire. Some children may be
selected for an examination by the school doctor. There may be
occasional sight, hearing and dental checks. Parents will be
informed of these but do not need to attend. The School Nurse
can be contacted at Peace Children’s Centre 0l923 470649.
At Merry Hill we follow the Health Protection Agency guidelines
which are that children should not return to school for a full
48 hours from the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting (48
Hour Rule).
Please do not send prescribed medicines into school as staff are
not allowed to administer them. Never allow your child to bring
in over the counter medicines e.g. cough sweets, throat
pastilles etc.
We need to know if your child suffers from asthma or may need
special medical attention from time to time. If this is the
case, please ask for a special medical form from the office.
Staff are regularly trained in the use of epi-pens and you
should inform us if your child suffers from anaphylaxis.
Please inform us of any changes in home circumstances, as these
may affect your child’s performance in school. We also need to
know of any change of address, home phone number or emergency
numbers in case we need to make urgent contact with you.
Please note that Merry Hill has been designated as a ‘No
Smoking’ area. This applies to all parts of the school,
including the playground, during school hours.
Homework
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday the children are encouraged to
choose a book to take home and enjoy with parents. A special
book bag, to transport the book safely to and from school, can
be purchased from the School Shop on a Tuesday after school or
by sending £2.75 to the secretary in a sealed and named
envelope.
Children and parents are encouraged to play mental maths and
board games at home together, to visit the park, local museums
and also the Library.
It is our belief that infant children need time to relax at
home, to chat to parents, to visit friends, attend a variety of
out of school activities and most of all to enjoy being an
infant.
Handwriting
The children are taught a cursive handwriting style and you will
receive a sample of this for you to practice at home with your
child. Please only use capitals at the beginning of a proper
name, never for the entire word (E.g. Mary not MARY).
Religious Education is taught throughout the school in line with
the Hertfordshire Agreed Syllabus. This is of a mainly Christian
nature but also includes other major faiths, in particular
Judaism and Hinduism. An assembly with an act of collective
worship is held each day either as a whole school in the hall,
or as a class group in the classroom. Parents have the right to
withdraw their children from religious education lessons and
assemblies. Parents wishing to do so should discuss the matter
with the Headteacher.
Parent Involvement
Parents are welcome to help in school at any time. Your
involvement in class activities is very beneficial to your
child’s education and we greatly appreciate any help you can
give. Please arrange this with your child’s teacher. Parent
Consultation Evenings are held in the Autumn Term and Spring
Term to advise you of your child’s progress and inform you of
what is going on in school. Reports are sent home at the end of
the Summer Term. We also hold an Open Evening for parents and
children during the Summer Term. Parents are welcome to see the
class teacher between
Criminal Records Bureau
It is a legal requirement that all voluntary helpers complete a
Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check. Clearance must be in place
before working with the children.
Friends of Merry Hill (FOMH)
We are fortunate in having an active group of parents and staff
who organise fundraising and social events on a regular basis.
If you would like to help in any way, please contact the
Headteacher. The Friends of Merry Hill have their own notice
board in the playground.
The School Shop and Café
This is open every Tuesday from
Letters and Leaflets Relating to Activities for Children
The school often receives letters and leaflets from
organisations, agencies and charities which are organising
activities for children. We do from time to time send these
letters and/or leaflets home. This does not mean we are
approving or recommending the activity. We are only acting as a
distributor.
Starting School Photos
A Watford Observer photographer will visit early in the first
term when your child starts in Reception. The photograph will be
printed in the Watford Observer as part of their ‘
And finally
Your child is about to start school and all the staff will do
their utmost to make sure they are happy at Merry Hill. However,
they still spend a great deal of time with you, and you are
their first teacher. You still need to provide paper, crayons,
paints, playdough and dressing up clothes. They still need the
opportunity to listen to stories and music. Keep up the outings
to the park or museums, maybe taking a new school friend with
you. Keep talking to them at home about everything that
interests them and also listen to their tales. Above all praise
their efforts and discuss them with them. Your interest and
encouragement will give them the confidence they need for
further learning and will ensure they settle happily into school
life.
All of us at Merry Hill look forward to a long and happy
partnership with you and your family. |