First Steps

May we take this opportunity to welcome any prospective parents / carers to St. John’s C. E. Primary School. We actively look to establish and build effective relationships with all our community, but place significant importance in ensuring that transition to St. John’s is smooth and happy. We hope that you will soon be part of our very close network of parents and carers.

Each year, in June, we hold an initial coffee afternoon for parents new to Reception where there is the opportunity to have a look around school, meet the Reception team and have a chance to pick up our latest prospectus and information of events in the summer term before the children start with us in September.

In addition, we offer our unique ‘First Steps’ Programme to prospective Reception children. This commences with Reception teachers visiting prospective children in their current settings and meeting their key workers. Following this begins our weekly programme to support transition and induction into our school. We run five one-hour sessions, through June and July. These sessions allow the children the opportunity to familiarise themselves with school, make new friends and very quickly become part of the St. John’s community.In July, we also have a new parents meeting, where all relevant information and questions are answered enabling parents and children to feel ready for the exciting beginning of their primary education. Our experience shows that this detailed induction programme enables children, parents and staff to have the confidence and knowledge to effectively begin their journey at St. John’s.

At St John's we use the Early Years Foundation Stage, (EYFS) statutory framework to help us provide high standards for all pupils in the Reception class. We also use the Development Matters, non statutory document to help support children. Links to both these documents can be found below. 

EYFS Framework: 
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974907/EYFS_framework_-_March_2021.pdf

Development Matters:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/988004/Development_Matters.pdf

On this page you can useful find useful links, to resources provided by pacey that you can use to support your child in preparing for school. And we have also included some photos and a short video to give you a taste of what your child will experience whilst in Reception at St John's. 

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