Transition from Pre-school / Nursery

We work very closely with you and your child’s pre-school (if they attend one) in order to best support your child’s transition to Amherst.

We begin by meeting with your child’s key workers, to find out more about your child, before going to meet them in their pre-school. If your child does not attend a pre-school, we can arrange a home visit. Once we have been to visit your child, we will contact you to invite you both to attend our four ‘Stay and Play' sessions – where we will get to know the children before placing them into a class ready for the start of the academic year.

We recognise that you, as parents and carers, are children’s first and most enduring educators, and we value the contribution you can make to their learning experience. We recognise the role parents have in educating their children.

We do this through creating positive relationships with our parents which begins at your child’s first 'Stay and Play' session, usually in June. Details of these events will be provided to you once your child is registered to attend.

We encourage strong parent partnerships in a number of ways, which include:

• Using our 'Seesaw' app to share home/ school learning 
• Using Seesaw’s private inbox service as well as school and family announcements
• 'Wow' moment certificates
• Home / School Reading Record
• 'Focus child' questionnaires and meetings

Starting in Reception

Starting school for the first time is a very exciting time for your child!

Our enhanced transition programme seeks to support both the children and you as parents to feel part of our Amherst community and be confident when leaving your child with us for the first time. 

We want your child's Reception year to be unique and to build on the many things you have taught your child already. We are proud that our school is a caring and special place where children grow, learn and flourish. We encourage you, as parents and carers, to share what you know about your children with us to help ensure they have a successful start to their school life. 

It will help us and your child if they can complete some of the following tasks when they start at Amherst Primary School. Having these basic skills will help give your child the confidence and independence to embrace new learning.

Some of these tasks include:

• Dress and undress
• Put on their shoes and socks
• Use the toilet independently
• Share and take turns
• Tidy and put away toys
• Sit quietly and listen to an adult
• Know his/her name

It is important to note that all children are different and unique, and should any of the above be challenging for your child, please let a staff member know, so we can provide enhanced support for the start of school.

Joining Amherst School mid-year or on entry to Year 1 upwards

It is common practice for children to sometimes move schools for a variety of reasons, and at Amherst Primary School, we work hard to ensure the transition from nursery / pre-school is as smooth as possible. 

Before starting at our school, we encourage all new families to visit with their children. This allows the family to meet Mr. Hind or Mrs. Kadir and look around their new environment.

At the same time, this allows us to find out some things about your child in preparation for them joining our school. In addition to this visit, we'll contact your child's previous school to get any academic and pastoral information they may hold for your child. 

Children joining us mid-year or at the start of years 1–6 will be allocated a buddy from their class. This buddy will support and guide your child through their first days and weeks at Amherst and ensure they have a familiar face to greet them each day. We will choose this buddy based on our information about your child from their school visit and any information shared by the previous school.