Getting Ready for Reception
Stay and Play Sessions
Come along to our ‘stay and play’ sessions from 7-10th September where you will meet other parents and children who will be coming to Elm Grove School.

Staggered Start to School
We follow a ‘staggered entry’ system of inducting a few children at a time. Whilst we understand this has implications for childcare, your children will benefit from this as it will create a much calmer start to school. Dates and timings for play sessions and starting school will be sent via School Ping to parents/ carers.
School Times
From September, each class will start and end their school day at different times, in order to reduce contact between class pods and their parents/ carers. From Monday 28th September all Reception children will attend school full-time. Each Reception class will start and end their school day at the following times:
Apple Tree Class
- School starts at 8.55am.
- School ends at 3.05pm.
Once your child has attended their first settling in session, he/ she will then attend school every morning OR afternoon until Friday 25th September. You will have been advised via School Ping about this. The timings of these sessions are as follows:
- Morning session: 8.55am – 11.45am
- Afternoon session: 12.45pm – 3.05pm
Cherry Tree Class
- School starts at 9.05am.
- School ends at 3.15pm.
Once your child has attended their first settling in session, he/ she will then attend school every morning OR afternoon until Friday 25th September. You will have been advised via School Ping about this. The timings of these sessions are as follows:
- Morning session: 9.05am – 11.55am
- Afternoon session: 12.55pm – 3.15pm
Parents/ carers should use the side entrance that leads to the bottom car park and wait at the gate next to the large badger mural. Children will be greeted at the gate by their class teacher or teaching assistant. Please inform us if anyone different from usual will pick up your child. We appreciate your understanding about the need to be punctual at the start and end of each day.
Communication with Parents & Carers
We communicate via the school website, School Ping, ClassDojo and letters in book bags. There is a school newsletter and a homework grid posted on the school website every two weeks.