Dear Parents/Carers,

Induction meetings

We are delighted your child has been offered a place in our Reception class for September 2026! We can’t wait to welcome you to our wonderful school! 

We have scheduled a meeting for you all in June. This will take place in the School Hall. At this meeting, your child’s class teacher will tell you about the school routines and answer any questions you may have. You will be able to tour the school and will receive information regarding the purchase of our school uniform.

You will be given a welcome pack at this meeting, including our school brochure and admission forms which need completing and returning to school with your child’s details and emergency contacts etc... Please return these prior the first ‘Visit Morning’ to the school office.

We expect this meeting to take less than an hour. This meeting is for parents and carers only. Your child does not need to attend unless you are unable to make alternative childcare arrangements.

'Visit mornings' before starting in September

Children starting with us in Reception in September are invited to come to some visits. During these visits, your child will spend time getting to know the school and their classroom, prior to starting in September - school uniform is not required for those days.

They should be at school by 9am and wait outside in the playground behind the green gate.

Children will be ready to go home at 11.30am each day and can be picked up from school; accessed by the gate at the far end of the staff car park.

Please note for our current afternoon nursery children who will be attending the morning visits to Reception class – There will be no nursery afternoon session these days for those children.

If your child currently does all day in our Nursery on the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, the Reception teacher will take your child to the Nursery at midday. Your child will need to bring their packed lunch with them as usual on these days.

Our team will update this section with short bits of information to share with your child over the coming weeks to help their induction.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Yours sincerely,

Admissions Team

Parkview Primary School

How can I get my child ready for school?

All children develop at their own pace. When it’s time to start school, some children will need more help than others. There are some things that schools expect children to be learning before their first day. Practising these will make your child’s journey to Reception as positive as possible.

If your child is already at nursery, in pre-school, or with a childminder, those professionals will work with you and your child to help get them ready.

There’s lots you can do at home to build your child’s confidence and independence, helping them feel emotionally and practically prepared to start school:

1. Growing independence

Taking care of themselves

• Putting on/taking off their coat and shoes
• Using the toilet and washing their hands
• Getting dressed with little help, e.g. after using the toilet or doing PE
• Using cutlery (e.g. fork and spoon, chopsticks) and drinking from an open cup
• Spending time away from you, learning they can be looked after by caring adults

Play, creativity and curiosity

• Taking part in imaginative play (e.g. role play)
• Drawing, painting, colouring and sticking
• Sharing story books with caregivers, looking at pictures and talking about the characters
• Exploring the world around them (e.g. looking closely at the natural world or playing safely with objects at home) 

2. Building relationships and communicating

Being with others

• Practising sharing and taking turns with toys
• Talking to them about how they are feeling and why
• Looking at story books together and speaking about what characters are feeling is a good way to do this
• Beginning to recognise what others are feeling, e.g. understanding if a friend is sad
• Encouraging them to set boundaries for themselves and others (e.g. knowing how to say ‘no’)

Communication and language

• Singing along with songs and nursery rhymes
• Talking happily to others about activities, experiences and the world around them
• Showing they need help by speaking clearly (in basic English or sign language)
• Recognising the pattern of their name (so they can find it on their coat peg or jacket)

Listening and engaging

• Paying attention for short periods of time
• Listening to and following simple instructions
• Carrying on with a task even when it’s difficult and bouncing back if things go wrong

3. Physical development

Getting moving for at least three hours a day

• Walking up and down steps (one foot at a time, using the wall for support)
• Climbing, running, jumping and playing
• Catching a large ball (most of the time)
• Doing simple puzzles and craft activities, strengthening their grip with cutting and sticking

4. Healthy routines

• Going to bed around the same time each night, waking up in time to get ready for school
• Limiting screen time to the recommended daily amounts (see advice)
• Eating a healthy diet and trying new foods
• Brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day (you’ll need to supervise this until they are at least 7)

What should I do if I have concerns about my child’s development?

• If you're worried about your child's progress, talk to your childminder/nursery/pre-school team, health visitor, local children's centre or Family Hub.
• If your child has developmental delays or SEND (suspected or confirmed), speak to their nursery, childminder, or health visitor/nursery/pre-school team well before they start Reception and discuss their needs when you are selecting schools.
• You can work with your child’s early years setting to help your child with self-care, managing emotions, social skills and communication in a way that suits their stage of development.
• ​You might want to share details about: their development, needs, what motivates them, what might trigger difficulties, how they learn best, and what strategies work well.
• Make sure you share important information with everyone supporting your child, including their new Reception teacher.