Acorn Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP3 8DW | Tel: 01442 264 835 | Email: admin@albertthegreat.herts.sch.uk
 
St Albert The Great Catholic Primary School
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June 10 2020

New Starter Information

School Office

Dear Parents/ Carer’s,

We would like to say hello to all of our new families who will be joining us in September into our FS1 (Nursery) and FS2 (Reception) classes and to those families from our current FS1 class who are returning with their children into FS2. Due to the current uncertainty around schools, we have created this webpage to support our new starters for September 2022.  

We will provide parents and carers with relevant information for their child, due to start in our FS1 and FS2 classes in September 2022.   After accepting your place, you will receive a welcome pack with all the paperwork that needs to be completed and returned to school. 

There are a few more things that will be useful for us to know to help your child settle into school in September. 

Firstly, we will be inviting parents to attend a ‘New Starter’ meeting at the end of the Summer Term for FS1 parents and FS2 parents before your child starts school. We will be uploading a Welcome Meeting PowerPoint presentations after the meeting for those that can’t attend which will provide you with some information about your child joining our school EYFS unit including: our school uniform, adults in the setting, an overview of a timetable in the unit and other relevant information.  

Secondly, we would like you to complete an “All About Me” booklet, that we will laminate and make into a book so that your child can share it with their class friends.  This can be downloaded and either completed on a PC and emailed back to us (fmoore@albertthegreat.herts.sch.uk) or printed off and posted back to the school. Alternatively this can be handed in to the class teacher when your child starts in September.

We will be carrying out ‘Home Visits’ in September to those who have requested one, where you will complete a short questionnaire about your child.  If you have not requested a home visit the questionnaire can be downloaded and as with the ‘All About Me’ booklet, you can either email or post this back to us. This information is vital as it helps us get a clear picture of your child before they start with us.  

We have created our own ‘Welcome to Your School’ transition booklet which you will receive when you attend the parent meeting to share with your child to help them prepare for September. It will show you some of the areas of our classroom and also the adults who will be working with them in school. 

Finally, we are working hard to ensure that your child has the very best start and transition to our school. It is such an exciting adventure to begin their learning journey in FS1 (Nursery)/FS2 (Reception) and we are looking forward to meeting your little ones soon.

We hope this has provided some information for you and answered some of your questions.  We can’t wait to meet you all.

FS1 and FS2 start times will be posted below once we have clearer guidance from the Government.

Our doors open at 8.45am for FS2 (Reception) children and 8.55am for FS1 (Nursery) . Parents should settle children by 9.05am when classroom doors will be closed and locked. School ends at 12pm for nursery and 3.15pm for Reception children. Please wait for all children to be dismissed if you wish to speak to a member of staff.  Please collect your child promptly.

Where can I get my child’s school uniform from?

Information regarding uniform should have been received in your pack and is available on the Welcome PowerPoints.  Uniform can be purchased from our supplier: www.mapac.com/education/parents     

What can I do to help support my child’s transition to school before they start?

We have included some useful documents with activities that you can do with your child to help them prepare for this transition.  You can also find further information and support on the PACEY website by clicking the following link:

www.pacey.org.uk/working-in-childcare/spotlight-on/being-school-ready/#factsheets

Does my child receive a free lunch?

As of September 2014 all children from Reception Class to Year 2 are entitled to free school meals. We encourage all the Reception children to have a school dinner. You should have been sent a coloured menu in your welcome pack listing the dates and menu options.  For your information there is a Meat option, Vegetarian option and a Packed Lunch option.

If your child is starting in FS1 (Nursery) and staying for lunch they do not receive a free lunch and we ask that you provide a healthy packed lunch for your child which is nut free. 

If my child has any additional needs are we able to have a one to one chat with the teacher prior to starting school?

Yes, if your child has additional needs, please call the school office to make an appointment to see or speak to Mrs Wilson (Inclusion Leader and Head of School), Mrs Turp (EYFS Leader and FS1 Class Teacher) or Miss Wallek (FS2 Class Teacher). Please bring with you any information, details of support your child already receives and care plans if they have medical needs. If your child requires regular medication, please request a ‘Medication Form’ from the school office which will need to be completed before they start school.

We are sure that your child will be very happy at St Albert the Great Primary school and we are looking forward to working in close partnership with you as your child begins their school journey.

If you have any further questions which have not been answered, please contact the school office. We will update this page with common queries.

Nursery (FS1) New Starter Information

Reception (FS2) New Starter Information