Starting Primary 1at

Hopeman Primary School

An Information Booklet for Parents and Carers

Your most frequently asked questions answered by teachers and parents.

2CONTENTS

Introduction Page 3

1. The First Week Page 4

2. Buddies Page 5

3. Uniform Page 5

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4. Things Children Need Page 6

5. The First Day Page 7

6. Transport Page 8

7. Daily Routines Page 9

8. Playtimes Page 10

9. Lunches Page 12

10. Lost Property Page 13

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11. Illness Page 13

12. The Curriculum Page 14

13. Homework Page 16

14. Supporting your Child Page 17

15. Reporting Page 17

16. Shared Learning Page 18

17. Website Page 18

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18. Frequently Asked Questions Page 19

19. Glossary of Terms (used in P1) Page 23

Starting Primary One

When you registered your child for school you would have received a copy of the school handbook which gives you general information about the school and school procedures. This booklet is intended to give you more practical information about

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Primary 1 and how you can help your child settle into school. Hopefully most of your questions will be answered in the next few pages but if you are at all unsure about anything please do not hesitate to contact us at school.

Telephone: 01343 830281

E-mail: admin.hopemanp@moray-edunet.gov.uk

Website. WWW.hopeman.moray.sch.uk

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1. THE FIRST WEEK

Do all new children start at the same time?No, to allow the children to become familiar with new routines and procedures they will be divided into smaller groups and phased in over the first week. This may vary slightly from year to year depending on how many children we have registered for Primary 1. You will be informed of the dates and times in June.

Full day attendance begins in the second week.9.00 – 12.15 and 1.25 – 3.00

Why do the children only attend for part of the day?In line with Council policy we operate a phased introduction to Primary 1 which ensures an easier transition into school.Although the majority of children have attended pre school education and many are very familiar with the school it is still a big step for them and it

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can take several weeks for most children to get used to the new routines and responsibilities they will have. It can be a very tiring experience.

2. BUDDIESWhat are Buddies?Buddies are senior pupils who help the new Primary 1 children settle into school and support them in the playground and at times in the dining hall. Your child will meet their Buddy in the nursery or when your child comes for their school visit. Some Buddies may not be allocated one particular child and may help in the dining hall or on the bus.There are a number of things taken into account when matching up Buddies with younger children and we think carefully about who we put together. If you have any concerns about Buddies please contact the school.

3. UNIFORMWhere can I buy school uniform?

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Some items of school uniform can be purchased from the school office: school sweatshirts, polo shirts, school ties, and schoolbags.

Girls wear: Navy sweatshirt or cardigan, navy skirt or pinafore, navy or black/charcoal grey straight-legged trousers, pale blue polo shirt or blouse, black shoes, dark tights or white socks. School tie when wearing a blouse. In the summer time girls in the early stages may wear blue and white checked cotton dresses.

Boys wear: navy sweatshirt or jersey, navy or charcoal grey trousers, pale blue shirt or polo shirt, black school shoes, school tie when wearing a shirt.For more formal occasions children are asked to wear pale blue, long sleeved shirts and the school tie. e.g. school photos and certain concerts.

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4. THINGS CHILDREN NEED

What should they carry in their schoolbags?Children are always keen to have things in their schoolbags. Initially they will only need to bring their filled water bottle, a snack, a packet of tissues and a painting apron (an old shirt or adult t-shirt is often as good as a plastic apron). As time goes on they will have a bag for reading materials and parents should ensure that the contents are kept safe and returned to school each day.Information is passed on to parents through letters so please check school bags each night.

What do they wear for P.E.?

Gym shoes, plain/self coloured shorts and t-shirt should be worn for P.E. Before the children start school they will be given a gym bag as part of

their induction pack and these should be left in school with their gym shoes and clothes. They will be sent home mid-term and at

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the end of each term for you to wash shorts and T-shirts and check that gym shoes fit.

House Groups - each child is allocated to a house. Brothers and sisters are in the same house.

Cameron - Blue Duff - Red Gordon - Yellow

Coloured T-shirts for each house group will be available to buy from the school office.

5. THE FIRST DAY

What happens on their first day?Your child will come to school either in the morning or the afternoon.

Morning 9.05am - 11.35am Afternoon 12.40pm – 3.10pm

On the first day you will be met by a member of staff at the main entrance. You can then take your child into the school and help him to find a peg where he can hang up his school bag and coat. School bags will be unpacked later on in the day. Most children will then want to settle down at one of the activities set out for them and this is the best time for you to say ‘bye’ and leave.

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In order to help the children settle in many of the activities will be similar to those in their pre school centre. Weather permitting we try to give the children a short break outside with their Buddy and many of them like to bring a small play-piece/snack. This will be before the normal interval so that the children can become familiar with the playground and not become overwhelmed with all the other children.

6. TRANSPORT

My child is eligible for school transport. What happens about transport for the first week?Normally the children who are eligible for transport will attend school in the morning group. This means that they can come to school on the school bus and will be taken home at the end of their

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session in a school minibus or taxi. However many parents like to bring their children to school and collect them for the first few days. You will be asked to fill in a form to let us know what your transport arrangements will be.

What happens if my child’s transport arrangements change?Once your child attends school full time, it is important that you send a note to let us know of any changes to their transport arrangements. Please discuss with your child every morning their travel arrangements for the end of the day. Children need to know if they are on the bus or not. To begin with some children may need a visual reminder and you may put a picture of a bus or car in their bag to remind them how they are getting home that afternoon.

7. DAILY ROUTINES

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Coming to SchoolDo we take the children into school?Primary 1 children line up at the main entrance to the school. A white line indicates where the lines should start. Towards the end of the first week they are encouraged to come into school with the other children in their class however if they are upset it may help if you walked into the cloakroom area with them.

Do the children go in early if the weather is bad?

When it is very wet the children wait in the dining hall where they will be supervised by support staff until it is time for them to go to class. They should line up beside the sign for their class.

Dining hall open 8.40 – 9am

Going Home

What happens at the end of the day?At the end of the day the Primary 1 teacher will take the children to the main door and check that there is someone to take them home. It is impressed upon the children that they must stand beside the teacher until they can see the person

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collecting them. It is helpful if you reinforce this message at home.

What should I do if I am late?If you have been delayed please phone the school and we will ensure that your child is kept safe until you collect them.

What happens if my child is taking the school bus?

Each morning we put the names of the children taking the bus home on a register. At the end of the day, the children taking the bus go the dining hall and the register is taken. A member of teaching or support staff will walk the children to the bus. The senior pupils will also help the Primary 1 children to get on and off the bus.

8. PLAYTIME

What happens at playtimes?Weather permitting the children go out to play mid-morning and at lunch time, so it is important that they are suitably dressed –

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especially in colder weather. When the weather is unsuitable for outdoor play the children are supervised in their classroom by support staff and senior pupils.

Can my child have a snack at playtime?Many children bring a snack with them to eat at the mid-morning playtime. There are also snacks (pancakes, scones and raisins) which the children can buy from the school dining hall.

Will my child be supervised outside?

Children are supervised in the playground by support staff at morning interval and lunchtime. They will be told that they are not allowed out of the playground until it is time to go home but it would help if you reinforced this with your child.

What happens if they hurt themselves?Minor accidents do happen and the school has a number of staff who are trained in first aid. If your child has a fall or bump they will be treated in the

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first aid room and you will receive a form giving you details about the accident and treatment. You will be contacted if the accident is of a more serious nature. If you are unavailable we will contact the person you have named as your emergency contact.

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9. LUNCHES

How do I find out more about school meals?You will be invited to come into school for a meeting to discuss the school lunch routine. This normally happens at the end of the first week – before starting full time. At this time you will get the opportunity to see menus, ask questions and find out about the snacks that can be bought at playtime.All children from Primary 1 to Primary 3 are now entitled automatically to Free School Meals.

What about packed lunches? If you prefer your child to have packed lunches please try to help them to become independent by choosing lunch boxes and containers that they can manage to open easily. There is help on hand but children can become frustrated if they have to keep asking for help. Please only put into the lunch box what your child would usually eat at home. If they are faced with lots of food, children can sometimes become overwhelmed.

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It is essential that names are clearly marked on packed lunch boxes.

Children should place their packed lunches on the appropriate shelf in the dining hall before 9am. The dining hall can be accessed between 8.40 and 9am through the door which opens to the playground.

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10. LOST PROPERTY

What happens if my child loses anything?

Often clothes and gym shoes are misplaced at school, especially after P.E. but if every item is clearly marked it is easy to return it to its owner. PLEASE LABEL CLEARLY - it is almost impossible to track down unnamed items. Any unclaimed items are kept in the dining hall, so if you are looking for any lost property please check with Mrs Jack and she will direct you to the lost property trolley.

11. ILLNESSWhat do I do if my child is unable to attend school?

If you know your child is to be absent for any reason, please let us know beforehand. If they are unable to attend due to illness then you should contact the school as soon as possible. If the school has no notification of the

absence then you will be contacted. More information is in the school handbook.What if my child becomes ill during the day?

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We will contact you (or your emergency contact) as soon as possible and your child will be cared for until you arrive.What happens if my child wets themselves?

This rarely happens but if it does a member of the support staff will change them. If spare clothing has been used we would appreciate if you washed and returned the items as soon as possible. If your child regularly has accidents it would be helpful if you had a spare change of clothes in their school bag.12. THE CURRICULUM

What do the children learn in Primary 1?

Talking and Listening – Children will learn to:

• Talk confidently in a group• Take turns when talking• Listen to instructions

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• Listen in a group• Answer questions appropriately

Reading – Children will learn to:

• Recognise letter shapes and sounds• Recognise 42 sounds from "Jolly

Phonics"• Recognise key words from "The

Oxford Reading Tree"• Read within a group• Build and decode simple words

Reading is introduced through "Jolly Phonics" and "The Oxford Reading Tree". Although some of these materials are available in bookshops we would not advise you to buy them for use at home. It takes away some of the excitement of learning something new if the children have already got the materials at home. One of the reading skills taught is prediction and this is difficult to do if they are already familiar with the story. There are lots of exciting and interesting children’s books available in books shops and libraries.

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Writing - Children will learn to:

• write their initials – this is a quick and easy way to mark their work

• hold their pencil correctly• form lower case letters correctly• use their drawings to record their experiences on

paper• dictate their stories to an adult• spell simple words and write simple sentences

Maths – Children will learn:

• to recognise numerals, shapes and money• to recognise numicon shapes and patterns (subitise)• to sort• to count objects • about charts and graphs• about ordering• addition facts to 10• subtraction facts within ten• numbers within 100

Active Learning

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The children in Primary 1 will experience a variety of teaching methods and many of the activities involve practical tasks – active learning. Children find it easier to learn if they are actively involved and they will be encouraged to work with others to complete challenges, solve problems and find solutions.

Areas of the Curriculum Technologies Health and Wellbeing Maths Languages Social Studies Expressive Arts Science Religious and Moral Education

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13. HOMEWORKWill my child get homework?Most of the homework in Primary 1 is based on reading. The children will take home a sounds book with the "Jolly Phonics" sounds and actions we have been learning each day. This is a chance for your child to show off their learning. There are a couple of activities that your child can complete within this book. Sounds Bags will also be sent home with letter cubes and cards for you to work with your child to make simple words.

The children will participate in reading activities in class and when the teacher feels that your child is ready a reading book will be sent home. Guidance will be sent home with each of these activities.

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14. SUPPORTING YOUR CHILDHow can I help my child at home?If your child feels well prepared for school then they will have less cause to feel anxious and it is often little things that can upset them. Here is a list of things that can take some of the stress away.

• Label everything (including hats, gloves, water bottles, bags)

• Check bags each night• Read notes and respond promptly• Do homework • Make sure everything they need is in their school

bag• Ensure fresh water is give each day (children are

only allowed to drink water during class time).• Remind your child who is picking them up or how

they are getting home at the end of the day.• Teach your child how to zip up their jacket• If your child will be wearing laced shoes, begin to

teach them how to tie their laces.• If your child is emotional about coming to school,

allow them to take a special teddy or something of yours so they know that you will be back to collect them.

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15. REPORTING

How do I find out how my child is getting on in school?In September there will be a 'Meet the Teacher' workshop which will also go over how reading and maths are taught in Primary 1.

In October or November you will be given the opportunity to meet with the teacher to discuss how your child is settling into school and there will be a second interview to discuss their progress near the end of the second term.

An annual report on each child’s progress is sent home in the third term. However you are welcome to contact the school at any time should you have cause for concern or wish to discuss your child’s progress.

16. SHARED LEARNINGA 'Shared Learning' session will take place every Friday up until the Christmas holidays. Parents are invited to join us for 10 minutes at the end of the day and this is a chance for the children to share the sounds that they have been learning.

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From January to the end of term shared learning will take place monthly and will be for 20 minute sessions. During this longer session children will be able to demonstrate practical activities across different areas of the curriculum.

17. SCHOOL WEBSITEBy the beginning of September each class teacher will have updated the class area on the Website. This will give curricular information about what your child will be learning that term and also timetable information about when PE, Music etc will take place.

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18. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (For parents by parents)

These are some commonly asked questions or concerns of a practical nature which have kindly been answered by existing parents who have just been through the process you are about to embark on.

How many items of school uniform will my child need?

This is a matter of personal preference. Some parents may find 3 polo shirts and 3 trousers or skirts (1 to wear, 1 in the wash, 1 spare) is enough. Others may need more or manage with less of some or all items. As the school can be quite warm at times, the children often take their school sweatshirts/jumpers/cardigans off in the classroom. Shirts and ties are usually only worn for special events, for example, school photographs. School uniform items with the school logo are available from the school throughout the year so you can always buy more if needed. Supermarkets and many high street stores also stock school uniform items throughout the year. There is a second hand clothes stall at the school’s summer fair too.

Will all the Primary 1s be in the same class?

This depends upon how many children there are in Primary 1. If there are too many children for one class, then the children would be split between 2 classes - a Primary 1 class and a composite class. The Primary 1s are Primary 1s no matter which class they are in and will have lots of opportunities to be together as a year group.

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My child is in a Primary 1 composite class. How much interaction will they have with the other Primary 1s? Will they be learning the same things?

All of the Primary 1 children spend time together, especially in the first 2 terms, in both formal learning time and classroom playtime. They are also together in the dining hall and in the playground during morning interval and lunchtime. The teachers of both the Primary 1 classes share their planning and meet regularly to ensure core subjects are taught in a similar way.

Where can I find out more about composite classes?

There is a section on the school’s website about composite classes. You are also welcome to speak with the school if you have any questions or concerns.

Will my child be able to cope with the school routine?

The first day of school is as big a day for the parent as it is for the child. It can be difficult to imagine your child taking the bus to school, choosing their own lunch in the dining hall, getting changed for gym and packing their own school bag at home time. However, the children are helped along the way by their teacher, the support staff, their buddies and all the other children in the school. Primary 1 children adapt very quickly to the school routine and, before too long, are keeping their parents right about what happens each day.

What if my child doesn’t want to go to school?

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It is completely normal and natural for children to be apprehensive about going to school. Some children may feel nervous on their first day. For others, it may be a few weeks into term when they are tired and the initial excitement about school has worn off. It can be really hard for a parent to leave an upset child but the teachers and support staff are very experienced and once the child is distracted and into the school environment, they quickly settle. Please be assured, the school will contact you if your child does not settle. If there is a specific reason why your child doesn’t want to go to school, please discuss this with the school as there may be something they can do to help.

Why isn’t my child eating his/her lunch?

At first, lunchtime in the dining hall with so many other children around can be overwhelming. The children are also excited about going out to play and don’t want to be held back by eating. Or the food at school may be different to what they would usually have at home. The lunchtime supervisors do encourage the children to eat and the school would let you know if your child was persistently not eating school meals. Once your child is more settled into school life, you may find that they eat more at lunchtime. In the meantime, you could try giving your child a bigger breakfast in the morning, a snack for morning interval that might fill them for longer and being prepared to feed a hungry child at the end of the school day.

Do Primary 1 children get homework?

Yes! Parents may experience initial horror at the thought of Primary 1 children having homework but is not as labour intensive as you may think and it certainly gets

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easier. The first homework that your child is given recommends spending a maximum of 15 minutes on it and you may find that some of it can be done informally, for example, singing the latest phonics song, on the journey home from school. Some children really enjoy doing homework. Some don’t. The best time to do homework is different for each child. In the mornings before school works for some families, for others, in the afternoon or evening works better. Finding a quiet time and place without distraction can be a challenge but usually makes for a more productive homework session.

How will I know if my child has homework to do?

Homework and instructions on how to complete the homework will be in your child’s school bag. Letters and other communications are sent home in your child’s school bag so it is always a good idea to check your child’s school bag every day after school. You can also sign up to receive school communications by e-mail.

How will I know what my child is doing at school?

Some children are very keen to share and talk about their day at school. Some say very little. The teachers provide a weekly diary on a Friday either in paper form or sent by e-mail which details what the children have been doing each day that week. The weekly diary also provides helpful reminders of, for example, forthcoming holidays or special events taking place at the school.

How long will it take for my child to get used to being at school?

This varies for every child but for many, it is around the October holidays or towards the Christmas holidays. Many

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parents are surprised at how tired their children are after a day of school. Initially this may make your child more prone to mood swings. Your child may also be hungrier or need to sleep for longer. It can be hard to fit in after school activities at first, but this becomes easier as time goes on.

How can I get involved in helping at the school?

The school is always looking for volunteers to help with activities at the school. Letters may be sent out asking for volunteers or you could note your interest with Mrs Jack at the school reception. Joining or volunteering with the Parent Council is another way to get involved. Every parent of a child at the school is a member of the Parent Forum. At Hopeman Primary School, like many other schools, the Parent Forum is represented by a Parent Council. The Parent Council is a committee of parents who meet monthly to discuss activities at the school, forthcoming events, fundraising, spending funds, issues affecting the school and concerns or queries raised by parents. The Parent Council meetings are open to all parents to attend. Details of forthcoming Parent Council meetings can be found on the school website, the notice board in the playground and on the Hopeman Primary Parent Council Facebook page.

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19. Glossary of Terms (used in P1)

In this section, we have provided a glossary of words and phrases which we often use in the Primary 1 classroom.

Digraph – is when two sounds come together to form a new sound for example ‘s’ and ‘h’ to make ‘sh’.

Golden Rules – are 6 rules which the children learn about through stories and form the basis of the school rules.

Golden Time – is a 30 minute period (usually on a Friday afternoon) where children who have followed the Golden Rules are rewarded by a choices time, sometimes with special toys.

Teachers use a visual display (such as the sun and cloud) to show the children if they are getting all their Golden time or if they have lost some Golden Time. Children are given a verbal and then a visual warning before they lose 5 minutes Golden Time. Golden Time can be earned back if children try hard to rectify their behaviour. Each day is a new day and children start on the sun everyday.

Green for Growth – is a term used to show that improvement is needed.

Numicon – is a multi sensory approach to teaching Primary maths. Children learn to subitise (visualise) the pattern that numbers make and it helps them with all types of maths activities.

Phonics - is a way of teaching children to read quickly and skillfully. They are taught how to recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes.

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Reading Bag – are plastic pockets which are sent home every night containing homework material and notes.

Shared Learning – is an opportunity for parents to come into the classroom and learn about how their children are learning.

Sounds Bag – contain little blocks with different sounds on them. These are intended to be used initially for recognition and then for word building.

Subitise – means instantly recognising the number of objects in a small group, without counting.

Tickled Pink – indicates that the children are doing something well.

Tricky Words – are words that are not decodable, they may not follow a spelling pattern or may include alternative spellings.

Weekly Diary – is a diary of some of the events which have happened during the week. It is issued on a Friday and is also published on the school website.

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