URGENT – If you have a child of school age for entry in September 2010, please contact the school office to arrange a visit to the school or contact us by phone or email for further information.
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At Firle, we think it is really important that we build up a relationship with both parents and children before they start school. Here is a brief summary of our process for welcoming children into school in their reception year:
January – Parents are invited by East Sussex County Council to apply for a school place. Parents can contact the school to arrange a guided tour and to meet the Head teacher – Douglas Kidd, Michelle van Bochove (Catkins class teacher) and Martin Dawson (teaching assistant). Forms can be sent into school or completed on line. We appreciate it if you could tell us if you have put us as a first choice so that we can have an idea of numbers.
May – County informs the school and parents if you have been offered a place in the school of your choice. You have a short period of time in which to accept or decline the place.
May/June – Michelle and Martin go to visit the new entrants in their pre-schools.
July – New entrants are invited in to school for a morning session accompanied by their pre-school key worker.
New entrants are invited in for a second session accompanied by their parents. This is a chance to try on and order school uniform. That evening we offer an evening meeting to inform you of arrangements for home visits, start dates and timings, and explain the important principles and practice of the reception year.
Pre-schools pass on a transition document to school so that we know how your child has progressed and to give us a starting point for their school education.
Early September – Michelle comes to visit each family at home – another chance to get to know each child and anopportunity for you to ask any questions you may have.
September – all children start school, quickly building up to being at school full-time (for those with birthdays from 1st September to 31st December.) Children with later birthdays are part-time until January, going home at 1.15 having had lunch at school. Near the October half term, we begin to offer ‘taster’ sessions, this year on Wednesdays and Fridays, when part-time children can stay all day.
