Starting School & Settling In

When children start at St Julian’s Church School, we provide a carefully planned induction programme to help make their transition into school as smooth and positive as possible.

We want every child to feel happy, confident and secure as they begin their journey at St Julian’s, whether they are starting in Reception or joining us in another year group. We work closely with families and, where appropriate, nurseries, childminders and previous schools to understand your child’s experiences, interests, strengths and any support they may need. This helps us to build on what your child already knows and ensure that their transition to St Julian’s is as smooth and positive as possible.

Settling into Reception

During the summer term, we offer a number of settling-in visits for children and their parents. These ‘saty and play’ visits give children the opportunity to meet their new teacher, explore their classroom and become familiar with the routines and surroundings of their new school. They also provide parents with an opportunity to meet staff and ask any questions they may have, as well as get to know other parents.

Children attending Magic Box who have a place at St Julian’s for September are also invited to spend additional time in their new classroom and join our current Reception children for an afternoon or two, accompanied by their pre-school leaders. This helps children to experience school in a familiar and supportive way before they start with us.

In September, we use a staggered start, with children beginning school in small groups. This gives each child time to become familiar with their new environment and routines at their own pace, while allowing our staff to get to know them as individuals. We find that, through our summer settling-in sessions and carefully planned start to school, children quickly develop the confidence and independence they need to be ready for full-time school.

Joining St Julian’s at another time

We understand that joining a new school can feel daunting, particularly when a child joins us part way through the school year or in a year group other than Reception. We therefore make the transition as positive and supportive as possible.

Wherever possible, we invite children to visit St Julian’s for a taster session before they start. This gives them the opportunity to meet their teacher, see their classroom and begin to get to know the school environment. When they start, we provide a buddy to help them navigate those first few days while they make friends and get to know their surroundings.

We recognise that every child is different, so we work closely with families to understand what will help their child settle quickly and feel that they belong at St Julian’s.

Virtual Tour of Reception

While this video is a little old, here is a virtual tour of our school and our Reception classroom to help give your child an idea of what to expect when they start in September: