Dear Parents and Carers,

A warm welcome to all of you, whether this is a brand new experience or if you have siblings at school already, it is an important moment for you and your child and we are thoroughly looking forward to working alongside you all this year.

Your little ones have had a very busy three days settling into their new school, learning new routines and developing new friendships. We have been so impressed with their eagerness to participate in new activities and the atmosphere in the classroom has been happy and calm. Today your child will be bringing home a photo page of their first few days at school for them to talk to you about at home.

Next week we will think about ourselves and talk about our friends and family. We will be making self-portraits, talking about our family, and what makes us unique.

In Maths, we will focus on the number 5 and the ways this number can be represented with objects, images and partitioning.

If you have not already, we would love your child to bring in a shoebox of their favourite things (photos or objects) for them to share with the rest of the class as part of our circle time. This activity helps your child to settle at school and feel more confident, they enjoy sharing special things from home. It takes us a few weeks to get through the boxes, please do not hesitate to ask any questions.

Today you will receive by hard copy in the book bags some information and a consent form regarding an NHS scheme called ‘The Brush Bus’, along with a Parental Consent Form, Medical Form, and Tapestry Consent Form. Please return the completed forms to the School Office by the end of next week, Friday 13^th September.

Next week we will be visiting the school library and your child will bring a book home to share with you. Please read with your child and discuss some of the questions that are stuck in the red home-school link book. There is also a log sheet for you to record any other books you may have shared at home. You can have lots of fun with stories.

Please can you send your child in with named wellies, waterproof suit and PE kit. These will be kept on their peg. Thank you to those who have already done this.

Ideas for supporting your child’s learning at home:

• Sharing books together with family  
• Dressing and undressing independently
• Recognising and writing our names using correct letter formation
• Recognising and writing the numbers 0-5 (or beyond)
• Think of words that start with the sound ‘m’ or ‘s’.

We have children in school with peanut and kiwi allergies. We request that these products are not put into your child’s packed lunch as the children will be eating in the same environment. Thank you.

Have a wonderful weekend

Many Thanks, Foundation Team

 

Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions. We hope you find this useful. If in doubt, please ask the Foundation Stage Team or the Office Team.

SCHOOL NEWS and COMMUNICATION

We communicate to parents using the school app (School News) and website www.preston.torbay.sch.uk . You can download the app from either iTunes app store, google play or windows store searching for School News. Launch this free app and click on ‘find my school’ using GPS or using our postcode TQ2 6UY. You should then be able to click on News to view the latest news items, unit letters and upcoming calendar events by clicking on events. We recommend you have this app on your phone as the fastest route to useful information.

SCHOOL PAYMENTS

With trips, swimming, residentials, and after school activities where a payment is required, we notify you this payment is available using our schoolmoney/eduspot site. You can access the parent login using this link https://login.eduspot.co.uk/public/portal/parent/?app=schoolmoney You will be asked to enter your child’s first name, your email address, mobile number and a password that is supplied to you via text. This site is also where you book and pay if you need to use our Breakfast and After School club provisions. You will just need to complete a registration form, which you can get from the office before your child attends (if you need to use this service please request a password link to be sent to you via the office).

SCHOOL DINNERS

Lunch menus can be viewed at https://www.feedinghungryminds.co.uk/edu/preston-primary-school/ You will initially need to register your child, and you can then view, order and pay online for school meals.

ABSENCE

Should your child be absent due to illness please call the absence line on 01803 607589 and leave a message with your child’s name, class, and reason for absence.  Alternatively you can text this information to 07786 208446.  If your child has sickness or diarrhoea they will need to be absent from school for 48 hours after the last episode of illness. 

For planned absences of any nature you will need to complete an absence request form, these are available on the school website or from the office.

 

We hope your child will be very happy during their time at Preston.  If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to let us know.