St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary

         School Readiness & Transition            

Working in partnership with parents is central to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Here at St Thomas’, we value the importance of parental involvement in your child’s learning journey. We believe that a successful education is a result of collaborative enterprise between parents, staff & children. Parents are the most influential people in children’s lives, therefore sharing information on your child’s learning and development is crucial in the progress they make. Throughout the Nursery year, parents will be invited to a number of workshops to support your child’s learning journey. Parents will also be involved in termly parent meetings, where Teachers will discuss progress and next steps.

School Readiness Workshop – Dispelling myths & key information on supporting the prime areas of learning

Storytelling Workshop – Maximising reading experiences at home

Early Mathematics Workshop – Supporting children with early number & shape

Mark Making into Writing Workshop –Supporting the transition into writing using our successful school strategies

Stay and Play Sessions – Enjoy planned activities with your child in their classroom

Once you have accepted a place at our wonderful school, parents are then invited to our welcome meeting. At the meeting you will meet our lovely EYFS team, who will discuss key information to ensure a smooth transition in our Nursery setting. You will also gain an insight into our EYFS curriculum and the exciting things we offer during your child’s Nursery year. At this meeting you will also be given information regarding school admissions, ParentPay & school meals.

Setting visits are conducted in the summer term prior to the children beginning their school journey. This is an opportunity to meet the children & key workers in order to gather as much information as possible to support each child’s transition. PVI’s will also share the children’s learning journey, which includes an assessment of their learning and development towards the EYFS Profile Early Learning Goals at the end of early years. 

Home visits are a vital part of our transition process, as it is an opportunity to meet new children and their families in their familiar environment. During the visit, we will complete an all about me booklet to gather information to support your child’s transition. Children who have not attended a setting prior to beginning St Thomas of Canterbury are visited in the summer term. Home visits are scheduled to take place in the first week in September.  

During the summer term, children will be invited to spend the morning in their exciting new classroom. Children can meet their new Teachers and friends that will be joining them in September. Children will also receive a ‘Welcome to Nursery’ social story with photographs to prepare them for their new Teachers & classroom over the Summer break.