Getting ready for Reception at Elm Grove

Welcome to Elm Grove Primary School!

Thank you for your interest in Elm Grove Primary School. We have included some important information below that will help you prepare for starting school. Please visit our ‘Reception’ page for information about what your child will be learning, and other key information.

Communication 

We communicate via the school website, School Ping, ClassDojo and some letters in book bags. There is also a fortnightly school newsletter, posted on the school website and sent out via School Ping.

School Ping: https://elmgrove-brighton-hove.secure-dbprimary.com/

Class Dojo: https://www.classdojo.com/ 

Newsletters: https://www.elmgrove.brighton-hove.sch.uk/information/newsletters/

Getting Ready for Reception

Stay and Play Sessions 

Come along to our ‘stay and play’ sessions in July where you will meet other parents and children who will be coming to Elm Grove School. ‘Stay and plays’ will be taking place on MONDAY 3rd JULY, TUESDAY 4th JULY, MONDAY 10th JULY and TUESDAY 11th JULY at 3:45 – 4:30 pm.  There will be opportunities to look at the classrooms, the corridors and pegs, the toilets and where your child’s drawer will be. We will have lovely activities set up in our OUTSIDE learning area and you can chat to Reception class teachers and staff about your child and ask questions about school life.

 Starting School in September 2023

Your child will come to school for a HALF day on TUES 5th Sept or WED 6th Sept.  All reception children will attend school THURS 7th Sept for HALF a day, pick up at 12:00. All reception children will attend school FRI 8th Sept and stay for LUNCH, pick up at 1:00 . All reception children will attend school all day MONDAY 11th Sept 2023, pick up at the end of the day 3:20. ( exact dates  and timings will be sent to you when classes have been allocated and arrangements confirmed via Class Dojo and School ping nearer the time). All parents will receive an invitation to CLASS DOJO soon by the office team.

School Uniform, PE Kits and Book Bags

Our school uniform colours are white, grey and dark green. Please make sure your child wears appropriate clothes for hot/ cold weather, outdoor learning and messy play! All clothes, bags and water bottles must be clearly labelled with the child’s name. Children will need a bag each day, and Elm Grove book bags can be purchased from the school. P.E kits can also be purchased from the school office.Please see our ‘school uniform page‘ for our price list, all uniform is to be purchased via ParentPay: https://www.parentpay.com/ 

Meals and Snacks

All children in Reception are entitled to a free school meal. The children can choose from a meat or vegetarian option every day.  The kitchen can cater for all allergies and special dietary requirements. Children can choose on the day if they would prefer a school meal or packed lunch. They need to let their teacher know as the register is taken. Menus will be shared with parents via School Ping. If your child would rather have a packed lunch please ensure that it is healthy and well-balanced and that there are no fizzy drinks, chocolate or sweets. Please note that we are a NUT FREE school. 

Please make sure your child has a named water bottle at school, which is sent home to be cleaned each day. Fruit and vegetable snacks are offered for free at morning break. All children are entitled to request free milk up until their 5th birthday. After this time if you wish for your child to continue with milk, then you will need to pay for it by visiting www.coolmilk.com. Children entitled to free school meals continue with the option of free milk.

Breakfast and After School Club

Breakfast club and After School Club is run by Elm Grove Out of School Club every day. Please contact Donna Hawkins on 07748 821786 or manager@elmgroveoutofschool.club for more information. Breakfast club runs from 7.30am – 8.55am and After School Club runs from straight after school until 6pm.