Dear Parent/Carers,

We are really excited to write to you, and with no further updates (as yet!) we would like to confirm our slightly adjusted transition arrangements with you. We hope you have managed to have some down time over the last few weeks to enjoy time with your families and friends, before your child begins their very exciting learning journey with us at Threemilestone School. No-one can under estimate what a big step starting school is for your child and your family, and with everything that has happened since March, now more than ever, there is a new appreciation of the range of feelings which we have in our community, at this time. All feelings and emotions are equally valued and valid: there are no silly questions or over-anxious parents!

Step 1 – Telephone conversation.

By now, Mrs Brown will have contacted each of you to introduce ourselves to you and your family. We hope you have had the opportunity to visit our website to get a flavour of our values and ethos, if you have not got older siblings in our school already.

Mrs Brown and Mrs Beckett have already spoken to the pre school settings to gather relevant information.

You will have received a transition pack in the post, as well as a link for a  short film by Mrs Brown and Mrs Beckett introducing themselves and showing you our school, before the summer holidays started.

This film is also available on the school website (https://www.threemilestone.cornwall.sch.uk/admissions/)

Please note this film has been edited as the children will now be coming straight in to the classrooms rather than lining up at the front, due to the staggered start of our school day.

Step 2 – Meeting with Families

We are planning to open the school for Years 1-6 on 7th September. We are still intending to have an initial meeting  with families on Monday 7th September at 7pm in the school hall. This is a meeting without the children. It is a chance to get to know each other as a parent community, as well as give you further information about what it is like to be part of our exciting team. We will go through our approach to learning, as well as how we develop relationships in our setting, so everyone can achieve great things. Due to Covid restrictions, we are unable to host more than 60 people in the school hall; therefore, please can only one parent/carer attend. You are more than welcome to wear face masks and we will have hand sanitizers on every table. A ‘Zoom’ link is also available, so that parents/carers at home can access the information. If you require this link please email the school office secretary@threemilestone.cornwall.sch.uk and they will send it to you.

During this meeting, we will ask you to sign up to meet Mrs Brown and Mrs Beckett for your family  meeting.

Step 3 – Meetings with Mrs Brown and Mrs Beckett

At TMS we work together closely as a team: the school and your family.  We absolutely believe that in a team, everyone achieves more, and this is why we often see the cohort as a team of 60, rather than 2 teams of 30. Therefore, both Mrs Brown and Mrs Beckett will meet with each family during the week of 7th September during the school day. If you are unable to make it during the school day,  there is not a problem in meeting after school.

Step 4 – Second evening meeting with Families

We have decided not to have a second meeting this year, as all the information will have already been disseminated. We will, however, email out to all parents/carers to let you know which class your child is in by the end of Monday 14th September, ready for the ‘Stay and Play mornings’.

Step 5 – Stay and Play mornings

Our ‘Stay and Play mornings’ are on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th September. With the Covid restrictions, we are amending the format of these days, as we will not be able to have potentially 60 people in the classroom, even for a short amount of time. For your child’s first experience in school, we do not want to rush this process as it is really important that all children (and parents!) feel calm and relaxed. We will be having 2 sessions on Tuesday to choose from, 9.00-10.00, and 10.30-11.30, and one session on Wednesday, 9.00-11.30.

We will ask you to choose which session on Tuesday you will come to when you have your family meeting with Mrs Brown and Mrs Beckett. We are hoping that there will be an equal number in both sessions. This also enables children who know each other to come to the same session.

On Tuesday, you are able to come into the classroom with your child at 9.00 or 10.30, to help settle them. You will come through the side gate to the right of the building, follow the path around and it will be clear where the EYFS classrooms are. Once you are happy that your child is settled (we hope within about 15 minutes!), teas, coffees and biscuits will be waiting for you in the school hall, where you are able to meet and relax with other parents/carers if you wish. At 10.00 or 11.30 you are able to join them back in the classroom. There is a 30 minute gap between the two groups, giving the staff time to quickly clean!

On Wednesday, the children will come straight into the classroom between 9.00-9.15 and give you a cheery wave goodbye as they join the rest of the EYFS team inside. They will then be picked up from the EYFS classroom doors at 11.30. When you are dropping off and collecting, please be considerate to other adults outside and keep a distance. Please can you also arrange it so that there is only one adult member of the family on site at one time.

Step 6 – Lunchtimes – Unfortunately, this part of the plan will not be able to take place.

Due to Covid, we are unable to offer the experience of trial lunches together. However we would like to reassure you that due to the children remaining in the EYFS ‘bubble’, the lunchtime experience for them will take place in our own classrooms which will be more familiar than the school hall, and will be with familiar adults from the same bubble.

When the children start school, they will have their lunch in the classrooms. This enables them to be more flexible with timings, and eat in an environment they are familiar with. When the time is right, we will then move to the lunch hall.

Step 7 – Drop ins!

On Thursday 17th and Friday 18th September, we are inviting you and your child to ‘drop in’ and see your new teacher and your classroom! This may be just an opportunity to find your peg and say hello, or it may be an additional opportunity to ask any further questions, share any worries, or information which hasn’t cropped up before. Mrs Ewart, our SENDCo, will also be available to meet on these days.

Step 8 – Settling in week

During the week commencing Monday 21st September, children will be starting school! During  your meeting with Mrs Brown and Mrs Beckett, you will have the opportunity to discuss whether you would like your child to have a week of part time schooling first, or whether you would like them to start full time. This year, we are leaving this decision to be made with parents/carers.

Step 9 – We are in!

We intend all children to be in school all day, every day from Monday 28th September!

Best wishes and we look forward to meeting you all in September!

Ms Teagle, Mrs Brown and Mrs Beckett

EYFS 2020 Transition letter