Welcome to
St. Thomas More RC Primary
School’s
Foundation Stage
Your child’s name
______________________
Your child’s Key Carer is:
_______________________
Our Foundation Stage Team
Miss Sarah Brookfield
Nursery Teacher and Key Carer
Miss Lucy Coleman
Reception Teacher and Key Carer
Mrs Jane Brooks
Co- Key Carer and Teaching Assistant
Mrs Rania Naser
Nursery Co-Key Carer and Teaching Assistant
Mrs Alicja Kryzch (Mrs K)
Nursery Co-Key Carer and Teaching Assistant
Assistant
Mrs Charlotte Pashley
Early Years Supervisor and Key Carer in Reception
Mrs Alison Edwards
Co-Key Carer and Teaching Assistant
Miss Claire Dowdeswell
Nursery Co-Key Carer and Teaching Assistant
Mrs Liliane Asman
English as an Additional Language (EAL) Teaching
This booklet is intended to answer any questions you might have about the Foundation Stage Unit. If you have
any further questions please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff.
Admission Forms
An admission form must be completed in full before a child can begin school. You will be asked to fill in a
medical form stating any illness your child may have. Please note if you child has any allergies or asthma. If you
child has asthma, please give an inhaler to your child’s teacher to be kept in school at all times.
How does the Foundation Stage work?
Within the Foundation Stage we accommodate children from the ages of 3 to 5 years. There are three Key
Families within Foundation Stage that are split broadly according to age and development to help address
their varying stages. We use these terms when referring to the different age groups of children:
F1 – Reception (children who turn 5 years between September and August)
F2 – Nursery (children who turn 4 years between September and August)
F3 – Nursery (children who turn 3 years between September and April)
What are the times of the sessions?
Children from the age of 3 years old are entitled to 15 hours per week. The session times are as follows:
Morning session:
Reception children
8.50am - 11.30am
Nursery children
8.45am – 11.45am
Lunchtime session:
Reception children
11.30am – 12.30pm
Nursery Children
11.30am – 12.30pm
Afternoon session:
Reception children
12.30pm – 3.15pm
Nursery Children
12.15pm – 3.15pm
Being on time is important. Children may become quite upset and unsettled at arriving late when staff and
children have already begun activities. Any child arriving late will need to report to the school office.
Your free entitlement of 15 hours per week will be offered as either 5 mornings or 5 afternoons.
You will be able to book a lunch session for £3. Hot lunches are available if ordered on a Thursday before
9.30am the week before. Hot lunches are free for Reception children (thanks to the government initiative) and
cost £2 each for Nursery children. You will be able to book an additional morning or afternoon session for
£10.50 if space is available. Children in their Reception year are entitled to a full time place from the beginning
of the academic year.
Daily Timetable
8:45am – doors open to parents, carers and children. Parents and carers are welcome to stay to settle the
child, meet and discuss anything with their key Carer and encourage your child to engage in an activity.
9:05 – Registration then Key Family group times. Phonics in Nursery or Reception groupings
9:20 – Self-directed learning. Child initiated learning through play led by the children’s interests.
Snack is freely available to the children between 9.30am and 10.30am.
11:00 – Tidy up time. We encourage the children to take responsibility for their environment helping to tidy up.
11:10 –.Group time
11:30 – 12:30 – Lunch
12:30– Self-directed learning. Child initiated learning through play led by the children’s interests.
1:15- Registration time and Nursery and Reception group times
1:30 – Self-directed learning. Child initiated learning through play led by the children’s interests.
Snack is freely available to the children between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
2:45 – Tidy up time. We encourage the children to take responsibility for their environment helping to tidy up
and prepare for the following day.
3:00 – Group times
3:15 – Collection and pick up time.
Safeguarding children
Our setting has a duty under the law to help safeguard children against suspected or actual ‘significant
harm’. Our employment practices ensure children against the likelihood of abuse in our settings and we
have a procedure for managing complaints or allegations against a member of staff.
Our way of working with children and their parents ensures we are aware of any problems that may
emerge and can offer support, including referral to appropriate agencies when necessary, to help families
in difficulty.
How does the daily routine work?
In the morning all the Foundation Stage enter the Foundation Stage via the playground gate and through their
respective doors to their Key Family Home Bases. At the end of the afternoon the playground entrance is used
again.
At the end of the morning session, start of the lunchtime session and the start of the afternoon session, please
use the side entrance to the right of the office. This leads to the Foundation Stage gate which will be only
opened at the following times:
11.45am – 11.55am
12.15pm – 12.25pm
What happens at the end of a session?
Please make sure you are on time to collect your child. Children can become upset and worried if they are the
last to be collected. Sometimes you may like a different family member or friend to collect your child, please
inform your Key Carer.
Letters are given out at the end of sessions and are usually highly visible as they are different colours, please be
aware of them as they carry useful information that affects your child. Newsletters are also downloadable from
our school website.
When children first start…
All children are different and have had different experiences which can affect how easily they settle. Depending
on your child we might suggest you stay initially or that you leave them with us. Parents could be encouraged to
leave their child for a short time at first. If your child is upset when you leave, we will always try to give you a
follow up call within the session to let you know how they are getting on (usually children calm down and are
happy quite quickly.) We understand how difficult this can be for your child and for you and we will do
everything we can to make it less stressful.
What should my child wear?
Foundation Stage children (both Nursery and Reception) can wear:
- royal blue sweatshirt with or without logo
- white polo shirt
- grey/black jogging bottoms or grey skirt
- shoes that cover the whole foot (no open-toed shoes)
Optional:
blue reversible showerproof/fleece coat
optional summer uniform: blue and white checked dresses
grey/black shorts
royal blue legionnaire cap with school logo
Reception children will also need the current PE uniform:
white T-shirt with logo, royal blue shorts as well as a navy tracksuit for winter/outdoors PE.
Sweatshirts, reversible showerproof/fleece coat and the blue legionnaire cap with school logo as well as the Tshirts and blue shorts for PE are all available from school. Please make sure your child’s uniform is named
clearly on the labels.
We encourage outdoor play and have a wonderful garden that sometimes get muddy. Wellington boots with
your child’s name in can be left on the named welly shelves outside the Miss Button’s Home Base room. Please
also provide your child with a waterproof coat.
Footwear needs to be suitable for indoor and outdoor play and if possible should have fastenings children can
undo and do up themselves. Shoes and sandals must be flat and enclose heels and toes (this is for health and
safety). In the summer children should bring a sun hat and wear sun block. Summer clothes must cover
shoulders and stomachs.
Jewellery is not allowed in school (this includes earrings – which must be covered with tape if it is within the
time when they cannot be taken out.)
If your child becomes wet or dirty while at school they will be changed. If a change of clothes is not on their
clothes peg, they will be sent home in Foundation Stage clothes. Please wash them and return them to us.
Lost Property
Any unnamed clothing will be put in a labelled box in the yellow room so you can pick it up on your return.
Named clothing should come back to your child’s peg. Any uniform that remains there for more than half a term
will be used as changes of clothing for the children as needed.
What if my child wants to bring a toy to school?
Please do not allow your child to bring toys or other personal possessions into Foundation Stage as these can be
lost or broken. Occasionally we ask children to bring in things from home for a special occasion or in connection
with something we are doing in school and in this case parents/carers will be notified by letter and on the
parent’s notice board.
Where can I park?
Unfortunately parents are not allowed to park in our school car park at any time of the day as it blocks access
for emergency vehicles and can be a danger to children leaving/coming to school at the different times of the
day or in the Church car park. Please park considerably for our neighbours perhaps a little further away and walk
to help keep our children safe. There is a disabled space in the car park if you have a disabled badge.
What if my child is ill?
If your child is unable to attend Foundation Stage due to illness please inform us immediately. The school office
is manned from 8.30am (01865) 373674; or send an e-mail to stthomasmorefoundation@hotmail.co.uk . If a
child becomes unwell during a session, a first aider will assess the severity of the illness and will phone you if
necessary. Please supply the school with an up-to-date home address and telephone number and also details of
where they can be contacted when they are at work. This is for use in the event of an accident or emergency.
It is important to remember that children who have vomited or had diarrhoea should stay at home for at least
48 hours from the last bout before returning to Foundation Stage. If your child is diagnosed with anything that is
highly contagious (chicken pox, headlice, worms, hand foot and mouth etc) please let the school know as soon
as possible as we will need to watch out for symptoms in other children to try and prevent it from spreading
further. Medicines should not be brought to Foundation Stage unless the doctor prescribes a dosage of more
than three times a day. You will need to complete a form before any medications (including asthma pumps) are
administered in Foundation Stage.
What if my child gets hungry?
At St Thomas More we have a rolling snack time so children can sit and eat fruit and have a drink of milk or
water during their self-directed learning times. This helps children to recognise when they are hungry or thirsty.
If we have been physically active we will actively encourage children to have a drink.
We often cook and so our snack food can be supplemented. If your child has special dietary requirements,
please let staff know.
We are proud to promote healthy eating. If your child is staying for a packed lunch, please provide healthy food
in a lunch box. Generally children take sandwich, a biscuit and some fruit. Please also include a drink (no fizzy
drinks please).
How can we keep in touch?
Your child’s Key Carer or Co-Key Carers are available for you to speak to between 8.45-9.10am as well as at the
end of the day. If you would like more than a few minutes or so please ask to make an appointment.
Your child’s teacher (for Nursery children this is Miss Button and for Reception children this is Miss Sadler) is
available for you to speak to between 8.45-9.10am as well as at the end of the day. If you would like more than
a few minutes or so please ask to make an appointment.
We have an e-mail address that is checked daily during the week:
stthomasmorefoundation@hotmail.co.uk
How can I find out how my child is getting on?
It is important that we work together to care for your child. You need to feel comfortable about exchanging
information and discussing things that will benefit your child. These conversations will either need to be with
your child’s Key Carer or the class teacher. A Key Carer is the person who:
  Is your main point of contact within the setting 
  Helps your child to become settled, happy and safe 
  Is responsible for your child’s care, development and learning 
 Takes a careful note of your child’s progress, sharing this with you and giving you ideas as to how to help 
your child at home
Co-Key Carers support looking after your child and collecting observations too. Each child has their own
learning journey which is divided up into the seven areas and includes observations and photographs of your
child and their achievements. Please feel free to look at these at any time and write comments in them too so
that their learning journey reflects your child’s learning experience at home and at school.
How can I help with my child’s learning?
All the fun activities that you do with your child at home are important in supporting their learning and
development, and have a really long lasting effect on your child’s learning as they progress through school.
Even when your child is very young and is not yet able to talk, talking to them helps them to learn and
understand new words and ideas. If you make the time every day to do some of the following things with your
child it will make a real difference to your child’s confidence as a young learner.
A fundamental skill to foster is a love of learning and a love of books is crucial too. The children will bring books
home to share with you or read to you. Please try to find time each day to read with your child. It is important
that the books come back to school every day. Reception children and Nursery children as they are ready will
follow a structured reading programme to help progress their reading skills.
Please speak to your child’s Key Carer as often as possible about what your child has been doing, what they
have enjoyed, what they need to be doing more of and what you can do at home. There are also ‘wow’ slips
where you can write down what your child has achieved or particularly enjoyed at home that can be added to
their learning journey. The wow slips are next to the learning journeys.
What if I have a concern or a complaint?
If you have even the smallest concern or complaint, please speak to your child’s Key Carer first. Your child’s Key
Carer might direct you to your child’s class teacher, Miss Catherine Button or Miss Lucy Coleman. If their
response does not resolve your concern please speak to the Foundation Stage Co-ordinator, Miss Catherine
Button. If her response does not resolve your issue, please speak to the Principal, Mrs Julia Hamper. If you
remain unsatisfied or indeed if you want to tell them about us being good for childcare, Ofsted can be contacted
on 0300 123 1231.
How can I be more involved?
Parent helpers are actively encouraged within Foundation Stage (and the rest of the school too!) Before your
first session as a helper, we will ask you to read and sign a confidentiality agreement which is designed to give
security to the children and families represented in Foundation Stage. Please wait until your child has settled in
before offering to help in this way. For safety reasons we cannot have younger siblings accompanying parents
helping in school. We would be grateful if you would see Miss Button if you would like to help and/or have
particular skills you would like to offer.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum
Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education
offered by our setting helps children to continue to do this by providing all of the children with interesting
activities that are appropriate for their age and stage of development.
For children between the ages of three and five years, St Thomas More provides a curriculum for the Early Years
Foundation Stage (EYFS.) A new revised statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage is to be used
from September 2012.
Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7
areas of learning and development.
Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:
  Communication and language; 
  Physical development; and 
 Personal, social and emotional development. 
These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future
learning. As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas.
These are:







Literacy; 
Mathematics; 
Understanding the world; and 
Expressive arts and design. 
These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The professionals teaching and supporting
your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs. This is a little bit like a
curriculum in primary and secondary schools, but it's suitable for very young children, and it's designed to be
really flexible so that staff can follow your child's unique needs and interests.
Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking
which takes place both indoors and outside.
As we are a Catholic school we have RE sessions following the Archdiocese of Birmingham’s syllabus. We also
have a Foundation Stage prayer service every Wednesday morning, an assembly with Key Stage 1 on a Thursday
morning and a Foundation Stage celebration assembly on a Friday afternoon.
Communication and Language
This prime area focuses on:
  developing listening and attention skills 
  developing understanding 
 developing speaking skills 
Foundation Stage provides opportunities for children to talk and communicate in a
range of situations, to respond to adults and to each other and to practice and
extend the range of their vocabulary. At group times and during the sessions
children have opportunities to listen to stories and join in with rhymes. Through
role play activities children develop confidence in speaking to other children and
skills in listening and taking turns in conversations.
Physical Development
This prime area focuses on:
  moving and handling which develops co-ordination 
 health and self care which promote healthy living 
There are opportunities for all children to develop and practice their fine and
gross motor skills both indoors and outdoors. This includes focused games and
dance activities. Children have the opportunity to use a range of large and small
equipment and to move in different ways to develop
awareness of their own bodies and the space around
them. Children also increase their understanding of how
their bodies work and how to keep their bodies healthy
and safe. Children have access to a range of materials
both indoors and outside with which to make marks and
develop hand control.
We actively promote healthy living and encourage
children to taste different foods and help with food
preparation on a regular basis. Reception children also
have a weekly PE lesson to further extend their physical development.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
This prime area of children’s development focuses on:





developing self-confidence and self-awareness 
managing feelings and behaviour 
making relationships 
When children join our Foundation Stage, staff support the transition from home
and promote an inclusive ethos, providing opportunities for each child to become
a valued member of the unit nurtured by our Key Family
system.
We aim to help children learn how to work, play and cooperate together. They are encouraged to respect one
another feelings and cultures and to express their own
feelings in a variety of situations and contexts.
Children are encouraged to make choices about what they do and about what
resources they use. Through activities and experiences children develop
independence and become eager to explore new learning skills.
At St Thomas More we use the SEAL (Social Emotional Aspects of Learning)
programme to help us deliver PSED. This is split into areas that are taught each term:
Autumn term 1: New Beginnings
Autumn term 2: Getting on and Falling
Out
Spring term 1: Going for goals
Spring term 2: Good to be me
Summer term 1: Relationships
Summer term 2: Changes
We will send home an activity related to these themes once a term for you to
complete with your family.
Literacy
As one of the specific areas, it covers:
  developing reading skills 
 developing writing skills 
Children have access to a range of books in the book
corners. All children are encouraged to take a book
home. These books are for children to share with an
adult at home although as your child learns phonics
they will have books to try and read themselves using the sounds they have
learnt. Please take care of our books.
We encourage writing in all parts of the setting and have a variety of writing materials for
children to choose from indoors and outside. Writing includes making marks on the page
which children give meaning too; this is an important part of the writing process and
should be encouraged. Role play provides many opportunities for writing as does writing
labels for creations they have made. ‘Having a go’ at writing is the most important thing
to develop and not worrying whether it is right or not! As this is the attitude needed for a
child to succeed as a writer.
Mathematics
As one of the specific areas, it covers:
  developing knowledge and understanding of number 
 developing understanding of shape, space and measure 
Maths activities are available daily and there are always opportunities for children
to extend their mathematical thinking, skills and
knowledge using maths resources or everyday tasks as
well as maths teaching sessions.
Through a range of practical activities children develop their understanding of
number, measures, pattern, shape and space. The activities provide a broad
range of contexts in which they can explore, enjoy, learn, practice and talk about
their knowledge and understanding. Activities are mostly hands on with
opportunities for children who are ready to record their developing knowledge
and understanding.
Understanding the World
As one of the specific areas, it covers:
 developing
knowledge
and
understanding
of
people
and
communities


 developing
knowledge
and
understanding
of
the
world
environments


 developing technology skills 
At St Thomas More we are lucky to be part of a diverse community. Different
cultures and faiths are represented and all children have the opportunity to celebrate different festivals. In this
way they learn to be sensitive to the needs of and beliefs of others.
In our Foundation Stage environment there are always
opportunities for children to solve problems, make decisions,
experiment, predict, plan and ask questions in a variety of
contexts. Through topic work we encourage children to explore
and find out about their environment and to talk about past and
present events in their own lives and in the lives of their family.
Children have access to a range of construction kits, big blocks,
malleable materials and tools with which to work and develop
their building skills both indoors and outside. Children have access
to a computer with a range of software as well as programmable
toys and digital cameras. In addition there is a microphone and CD
player that children can use independently to listen to music,
stories, rhymes or songs.
Expressive Arts and Design
As one of the specific areas, it covers:

exploring and using media materials 


being imaginative 
Children have the opportunity to experiment with a range
of painting and drawing tools and techniques, to make
models using different materials and to explore and share
their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of art
activities. Children develop skills in design and technology
with the opportunity to cut and join and make models using a variety of materials. Children’s creativity is also
developed through dance, movement, imaginative play and music activities.
How does play help them to learn?
At St Thomas More, whilst children are involved in self-directed learning they move freely between indoor and
outdoor areas using the resources which best meet their needs. The aim of both indoor and outdoor play is to
provide a stimulating environment for children’s learning in all areas of the Early Years curriculum.
Outdoor play is essential for all aspects of a child’s development. As with indoor learning, the outdoor
classroom can provide children with experiences which enable them to develop in the seven learning areas.
The provision and planning for outdoor play, just as indoor play, must reflect the range of experiences and
developing interests of the children. The adults in the outdoor learning environment are actively involved with
children in their games and activities where appropriate and are not solely in a supervisory role.
Nursery and Reception children have the chance to engage regularly in Forest School activities using our very
own Forest School garden. Forest School happens on a Tuesday and your child will get a turn every three
weeks.
What if my child needs extra help?
We recognise that children have diverse learning styles and needs. We plan opportunities to build on and
extend children’s knowledge, experiences, interest and skills. We use a wide range of teaching strategies based
on children’s learning needs and provide a safe and supportive learning environment.
Some children may be identified as having special educational needs. These children need extra help if they are
able to develop their full potential and gain full access to the early years’ curriculum. If this is the case you will
be supported by our school SENCo as well as your class teacher. Our school SENCo is Mrs La Vertue.
What if my child speaks English as an additional language?
Children who start with English as an additional language will receive extra help from staff. They will work in
small groups, playing games and reading stories to reinforce basic vocabulary linked to work and to develop the
children’s confidence in speaking. The language skills of all children are valued in the Foundation Stage and
children are encouraged to contribute in their own languages and to teach the class the basic words and
numbers in different languages.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming you and your child.
We hope you and your family enjoy your time at St Thomas More Foundation Stage.