Rainbow
All About Me!!
Welcome to Haddenham St Mary’s. We are all very excited to finally meet you this week and hope you have had a wonderful Summer break! Please refer back to your email from the school office with your child’s timings for their visit this Wednesday 1st September. We will then begin our part time sessions on Thursday 2nd September, (either 9:30-11:30 or 12:30-2:30 depending on your child’s allocated slot).
The children may wear what they like for the visit on Wednesday (school uniform or own clothes), but please could they be in uniform from Thursday 2nd September. Please do make sure everything is named as jumpers, cardigans and coats especially, can go missing very quickly if not.
Please could you send your child in with a named water bottle each day (filled with water only please). We will refill the bottles for the children as needed, so it doesn’t need to be a large bottle. We also ask for the children to bring a healthy snack for each day (containing no nuts please). These snacks can be sent in a small named Tupperware box at the beginning of the week and we will send the empty boxes home again each Friday. I’m afraid we are unable to refrigerate any snacks. We also ask that the children bring in a pair of named wellies which we will keep in school as we will be outside everyday whatever the weather.
The children will be given a school bookbag within the first few days which is kindly provided by our PTA.
The Rainbow Team
Rainbow 1: Monday and Tuesday: Mrs Bradshaw, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Mrs Mehta
Rainbow 2: Monday and Tuesday: Mrs Wrigglesworth, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: Mrs Smith
Rainbow Teaching Assistants: Mrs Ladyman, Ms Booth, Mrs Birch (Thursday), Mr Worthy (Friday am)
As we work as a Foundation Stage Unit, the Teaching Assistants will work across both classes during the week.
Please feel free to speak to us at any point if you have any issues or concerns, we have an ‘open door’ policy and want to work with you as much as possible to ensure a smooth transition for your child to Haddenham St Mary’s.
Communication:
We understand that ‘drop off’ and ‘pick up’ times are often busy and difficult to hold a conversation. If you have a message you would like to get to us that day, please feel free to email the school office and they will make sure we receive it. If you would like to book an appointment for a longer chat, you can contact the class teachers via email and we can arrange a phone call/meeting, to suit you at a convenient time. Class teachers will access the class emails regularly, but these will not be seen during the school day as they will be busy with the children, hence contacting the office for anything more urgent. Please also use the school office email for any communication regarding picking up/absences etc. Here are the relevant email addresses:
office@haddenham-st-marys.bucks.sch.uk
rainbow1@haddenham-st-marys.bucks.sch.uk (Rainbow 1 parents – Mrs Mehta and Mrs Bradshaw)
rainbow2@haddenham-st-marys.bucks.sch.uk (Rainbow 2 parents – Mrs Smith and Mrs Wrigglesworth)
If you would like to speak to the Early Years Leader (Mrs Smith) – please use the Rainbow 2 email address.
Our topic for the first few weeks is ‘All about Me.’ We will spend our time getting to know each other and settling into the school routines.
All About Me! Topic Web for parents Autumn1 2021
From Monday 13th September: PE will be every Monday and Tuesday for both Rainbow classes. Please send your child into school in their PE kit on these days. Trainers with velcro rather than laces would be ideal please if possible. Please remember that it can be pretty chilly outside so tracksuits/warm clothing etc where necessary.
From Monday 13th September
The school day: 8:55-3:05
Happy Hedgehogs is now available both before and after school, pre-booking essential please;
happyhedgehogs@haddenham-st-marys.bucks.sch.uk / 07795 259421
A quick ‘heads up‘ – Our next topic will begin before half term ‘Once upon a celebration!’ We will begin this topic with a ‘Wow Day’ where the children will be invited to dress up in anything related to traditional tales (little red riding hood/Cinderella/Peter Pan etc), or festival/celebration/party clothing. More details will follow in a few weeks. As with all our Wow Days, please do not feel you have to buy an outfit especially…. we always offer alternative ideas of what they can wear and we have a lot of fancy dress at school which can be borrowed if needed.
General Information:
Please follow the one-way system through the churchyard and drop the children at the classroom door where your class teacher will be waiting to greet you!
Pick up will also be using the one way system and again you will collect your child from their classroom door at 3:05pm.
Your child only needs to bring sun hat/coat into school each day as necessary and their water bottle. They may bring a packed lunch on the days you do not wish for them to have a school dinner. Please also on a Monday send in five nut free snacks in a small named container which we will keep in school (nothing which requires refrigerating please) and we will send the empty container home on a Friday.
Reading books and records will be sent home in during the first few weeks. More details to follow.
We completely understand that this is an anxious time for a lot of families even in ‘normal’ circumstances and know that for many of you that anxiety has been heightened due to the recent pandemic. Please feel reassured that we will do everything we can to make sure your children feel happy and safe whilst in our care and that although they are completely new to our setting, we are committed to ensuring the best start to school life for all your children.
Please do contact us if you have any issues or concerns.
With very best wishes,
Mrs Smith, Mrs Mehta, Mrs Wrigglesworth and Mrs Bradshaw
Some information about the Early Years:
LEARNING within the EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE is fun!
Children in our Foundation class experience learning through the new 2021 EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE framework.
The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Communication, and Language
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding of the World
Physical Development
Creative Development
We aim to provide children with a balanced range of activities to achieve active learning through play.
The Seven Areas of Learning help Reception staff plan the learning environment, activities and experiences. The classroom environments, including outside, are designed to enable your child to become a social and confident learner through interaction, exploration and enjoyment in all areas of learning.
Throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage the children work towards EARLY LEARNING GOALS. The EARLY LEARNING GOALS establish expectations for most children to reach by the end of their Foundation Stage. The goals are also organised into the Seven areas of learning. Your child will experience a vast range of activities to ensure they are working towards the Early Learning goals.
Please feel free to come to any of us with any questions or concerns. We are in the playground before school and we are around after school, or do ask to make a time to come and see us if it is something that you would like a bit more time for.
A parent has kindly linked us to these books that help to explain to children about everything going on with the Coronavirus pandemic and the different world that we are living in:
Why Can’t I Go Outside By Emily Merrifield, Illustrated by Ciara Long
Dont-Worry-Little-Bear-Coronavirus
parsleymimblewoodsavestheworld
Useful documents and websites:
Handwriting Sheets
Handwriting c, a, o, q, g, d, e, s, f
Handwriting r, b, n, h, m, k, p
https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/
