General Information

School times

8.55am- 3.10pm

Parents are asked to bring children to school by 8.45am. Class teachers will open the doors, welcoming the children through into their classroom. We encourage children to enter school independently and ask parents to stand back and wave. At the end of the day at 3.10pm the children will be dismissed from the same entrance. Parents are asked to wait on the playground and staff will release children individually when they see the adult who is collecting them. Please try hard to get your child to school on time and to collect them promptly. If your child is late it is extremely important that you come in via the main reception to let the office staff your child has arrived.

Absences

If your child is absent please ring the school office in the morning to let us know the reason. The school telephone number is 01922 710874.

Dinner time

At lunch time the children will eat their packed lunch or school dinner in the dinner hall with other children. All Reception children are entitled to free school dinners and we actively encourage you to consider these. The school meals are cooked on the school premises and gives us the opportunity to encourage children to use cutlery correctly and choose a healthy balanced meal.   If you would prefer your child to bring a packed lunch, this should be in a secure lunchbox, clearly labelled with your child’s name, and should not include any sweets, chocolate bars, or fizzy drinks. Once your child has finished their lunch they will get the opportunity to play outside.

Water bottles

Throughout the day children are encouraged to stay hydrated by drinking. The children will be provided with a school water bottle, these will be kept in school and refreshed on a daily basis.

Play times

In Reception the children have a morning playtime. Sometimes the children will use the Trim trail on the field to develop their gross motor skills. However in the afternoon they have a short break for a drink. The children will also be using the outdoor area in the afternoon for learning.

Milk                                                                                                                                 

Your child is entitled free milk up to the age of 5. After their 5^th birthday you will need to pay if you want your child to continue to receive milk at school you need to register with the ‘Cool milk’ scheme either online at www.coolmilk.com or by post. Children are entitled to subsidised milk after they are 5, but you will need to pay a supplement. The cost is around £15 per term. We encourage healthy eating and ensure your child is given a daily choice of fruit free of charge.

 Uniform

 Your child will be expected to wear the Beacon primary school uniform. Please write your child’s name in each item of clothing so that we can return any lost items.  As children are very active, inside and out it is important that your child wears suitable black shoes.

We ask that the children are dressed in our school uniform of:

• White or red Polo shirt
• Grey trousers/ skirt/ pinafore dress
• Red sweatshirt/ cardigan with logo on
• Red and white checked school dress
• Sensible black shoes

As a special treat on your child's birthday they can wear their own clothes! 

 PE Kit

Your child will be doing PE twice a week. Please ensure that your child has their full PE kit in school every day. They can take it home at weekends or at the end of a half term for washing.

This should consist of:

• A ‘Beacon’ t-shirt in their house colour 

• A pair of pumps or trainers

• Black shorts   

Clothing and Weather

Reception is about active learning and this involves a range of activities both inside and out. We value outdoor play experiences and therefore use our outdoor area in all weather. Please can you ensure your child is dressed appropriately for all weathers.

During winter please try to provide wellies, gloves, scarf, hat and a suitable coat. In summer please try to provide your child with appropriate clothing and a sun hat. We ask parents to take responsibility for applying a sun screen to all exposed areas of children’s skin before Reception, or the children can apply it themselves.

Book Bags

 Please make sure that your child has a book bag labelled with their name and that they bring it to and from school every day. It is really important that book bags are in school as the children can take home any letters. Book bags are available to purchase for £4.95 via the link on the website.