St Thomas' C of E Primary School

St Thomas' C of E Primary School

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  1. Parents
  2. Early Years Foundation Stage
  3. Supporting your child - Home and school working together

Supporting your child - Home and school working together

Supporting Your Child: Home and School Working Together

Children can achieve well at school when their family and friends take an interest in their school and schoolwork. Getting involved in your child’s education, even in the simplest way, shows that you care about their school life. Often, the more supported a child feels at home, the more effectively she or he will learn at school. Whatever your lifestyle, or family situation, it is never too soon (or too late) to start helping a child develop a positive attitude towards learning.

 

Try to give encouragement and show appreciation of your child’s achievements, whether great or small, as this can help boost their confidence. Teach them basic organisation and time management skills so they are not overwhelmed with projects or homework. Be realistic and avoid putting your child under pressure by having over-high expectations. Let your child develop at their own pace, but if you do have concerns, please speak to their teacher.

 

Tips to keeping up to date with school issues:

  • Make sure your child gives you any letters that are sent home.
  • Read messages and posts sent on the schools communication platform (Class Dojo).
  • School Noticeboards - Keep an eye on them weekly
  • If you can, check the school website.
  • Try to make it to the fun events, parents’ evenings and parent workshops.
  • If you are worried about anything, go and talk to a teacher.

Often parents like to introduce a variety of interests in and out of school too so children have the opportunity to explore other interests that they enjoy.  Learn together, do things together, visit interesting places, talk about things you’ve seen on television and encourage your child to ask questions. Support their reading development by having books, magazines and newspapers in the home and let your child see you and other family members reading them.

 

When a child comes home from school, they may be tired so try not to fire too many questions of your child as soon as they walk through the door. They may be tired or hungry and not feel like talking. Be available to listen later if they want to tell you about their day.

 

Education is more than just math's, English and science. your child’s talents lie in sport, art, music, drama, computers, or anything else, you can always help them aim high by boosting their confidence:

  • Encourage them to join after-school clubs or activities.
  • Tell your child how proud you are when they do well.
  • Let them hear you praising them to other people.
  • Talk together about their future and the kind of job they think they would enjoy.
  • Ask them to help you with things they are good at.

If your child has Special Educational Needs (SEN), it is even more important to be involved so you can understand what support your child is receiving at school and whether he or she is on target.  You can speak to their class teacher or the SENCO (Miss Weekes).  Your child may have a SEND plan which is reviewed on a quarterly basis. This will indicate what support your child needs and how this is being met by the school. These plans are set with your involvement in a meeting with the teacher and SENCO.

 

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Parents as Partners

 

Whilst your child is in EYFS you will have:

 

  • Regular opportunities to talk about your child’s progress through Parents’ Evenings
  • Opportunities for you to attend  Phonics Workshops/ Mathematics workshops within both Nursery and Reception
  • We send home Weekly newsletters (Paper copies, on Class Dojo and on the School Website & App) that let you know what activities will be happening in the classroom so that you can support your child’s learning at home.  
  • Communication Platform – Class Dojo - Our aim as always will be to keep you informed of all things happening in school through our learning platform which you will sign up to when your child starts school.

 

We’re keen to work as closely as possible with you all the way through your child’s time at St Thomas’, and within EYFS we know you may have questions and concerns   There is usually a chance to have a quick word with one of the EYFS team when you drop you child off in the morning, or collect them in the evening. For a longer discussion please make an appointment through the teacher or through the school office.

Throughout the school year there will be opportunities for you to take part in workshops linked to:

  • Early Reading / Phonics - Nursery
  • Mathematics – Nursery
  • Reading / Phonics Reception
  • Mathematics – Reception

All workshops will ensure that you are fully up to date with the children’s learning and what their next steps in learning will be.

Learning happens at school and at home and we want to hear about some of the learning that happens at home. This might be a ‘wow moment’ when your child does something really special at home, such as riding a bike without stabilizers, swimming without armbands, writing their name, reading signs on the street etc. Equally, it might be other learning moments, such as your child re-telling a story they heard at school, choosing to count steps, recognizing bus numbers or your child writing a shopping list. Please tell us about these ‘WoW’ learning moments on Class Dojo. As well as a great way to celebrate your child’s development, knowing about the learning, which is going on at home, will mean staff can make sure they encourage your child to practise or apply the skills they have shown.

At St Thomas’ we recognise that ‘Parents as Partners’ working together with the school will improve the learning outcomes for each individual child.