Changes to Pre-Primary Drop-Off & Pick-Up Routines (From 7 January)
Dear Parents/Carers of Pre-Primary,
To allow for a smooth transition to the new academic year and encourage frequent and open communication between parents and colleagues during this new school period, we have allowed parents to enter and exit the school site regularly and at intervals outside of the agreed pick-up slots shared at the beginning of the year.
However, as we move into Term 2 and children are feeling comfortable with their routines and rhythms, we would like to create some clearer guidelines and new routines to our campus access. We feel that in doing so, we provide more opportunity for our teachers to focus without disruption to their lessons and give our students tighter structures to their day, allowing for crisp starts and more dedicated time to learning.
To allow for a smooth transition to the new academic year and encourage frequent and open communication between parents and colleagues during this new school period, we have allowed parents to enter and exit the school site regularly and at intervals outside of the agreed pick-up slots shared at the beginning of the year.
However, as we move into Term 2 and children are feeling comfortable with their routines and rhythms, we would like to create some clearer guidelines and new routines to our campus access. We feel that in doing so, we provide more opportunity for our teachers to focus without disruption to their lessons and give our students tighter structures to their day, allowing for crisp starts and more dedicated time to learning.
As of Wednesday, 7 January, the following changes were implemented:
Morning Routine: 08:00-14:20
Morning Entrance: 8:00-8:20
Parents/carers are welcome to enter the school with their children between 08:00-08:20.
No Entrance During Study Time
As the school day and lessons officially begin at 08:20, to minimise disruption, parents will not be able to enter the school site after 08:20. We request that all parents use this official window of time to help their children begin their day with their teachers and peers. If children must enter the school at a later time, then two members of our teaching staff will be available for a limited amount of time at the gate to meet the children with familiarity and to take them without their parents to their designated class.
Late Arrivals: Reception Visit Required
If families are later than 08:45, then they will be asked to take their child to reception, as there will be no staff at the gates. The reception will then call the teachers to come and meet the children at the Pre-Primary gate, where the parents will be asked to wait with their children, until a member of staff is available. We ask that in order to allow our staff to focus on the children in their classes, we avoid late entrance as much as possible.
Pick-Up Entrance: 14:00-14:20
Parents will continue to be allowed on site to collect their children and speak to their teachers between 14:00-14:20. Following this pick-up window, parents/carers will be asked to leave the site with their children to allow for a crisp, organised and safe start to our afternoon provisions.
Parents/carers are welcome to enter the school with their children between 08:00-08:20.
No Entrance During Study Time
As the school day and lessons officially begin at 08:20, to minimise disruption, parents will not be able to enter the school site after 08:20. We request that all parents use this official window of time to help their children begin their day with their teachers and peers. If children must enter the school at a later time, then two members of our teaching staff will be available for a limited amount of time at the gate to meet the children with familiarity and to take them without their parents to their designated class.
Late Arrivals: Reception Visit Required
If families are later than 08:45, then they will be asked to take their child to reception, as there will be no staff at the gates. The reception will then call the teachers to come and meet the children at the Pre-Primary gate, where the parents will be asked to wait with their children, until a member of staff is available. We ask that in order to allow our staff to focus on the children in their classes, we avoid late entrance as much as possible.
Pick-Up Entrance: 14:00-14:20
Parents will continue to be allowed on site to collect their children and speak to their teachers between 14:00-14:20. Following this pick-up window, parents/carers will be asked to leave the site with their children to allow for a crisp, organised and safe start to our afternoon provisions.
Afternoon Routine: 14:20-17:45
Pick-Up At The Gate
Our afternoon colleagues have shared that the current regular entrance of parents on site during the afternoon is disruptive to the structure and overall safeguarding of our students. Parents should not be using our school site as additional play with their children when the rest of the school community is expected to learn and transition within a timeframe. In order to prioritise smooth transitions, maximise learning and activity time, and ensure that we monitor the pick-up flow of our children more effectively, we will now be asking that parents/carers collect children at the gate. This is a procedure that most schools and our Primary section follow.
Parents will be able to enter the school site to pick children up, at the end of the afternoon schedule and between 17:30-17:45 only.
If parents would like to collect children between 14:20-17:45 then they will need to wait outside the Pre-Primary gate. At this point, they will be assisted by an afternoon colleague, who will go to the classes and collect the children. A member of staff will bring the child to the gate, which will also provide a brief opportunity to communicate directly with the teacher if they are not delivering a lesson.
Our afternoon colleagues have shared that the current regular entrance of parents on site during the afternoon is disruptive to the structure and overall safeguarding of our students. Parents should not be using our school site as additional play with their children when the rest of the school community is expected to learn and transition within a timeframe. In order to prioritise smooth transitions, maximise learning and activity time, and ensure that we monitor the pick-up flow of our children more effectively, we will now be asking that parents/carers collect children at the gate. This is a procedure that most schools and our Primary section follow.
Parents will be able to enter the school site to pick children up, at the end of the afternoon schedule and between 17:30-17:45 only.
If parents would like to collect children between 14:20-17:45 then they will need to wait outside the Pre-Primary gate. At this point, they will be assisted by an afternoon colleague, who will go to the classes and collect the children. A member of staff will bring the child to the gate, which will also provide a brief opportunity to communicate directly with the teacher if they are not delivering a lesson.
We understand that you cannot always collect your children during the pick-up slots, which is why we have other provisions and members of staff who can assist you. However, please be patient with our staff during these times and expect a more delayed service than during the pick-up slots, as our staff and children are not always expecting you and so must locate the children and ensure that they are packed up and ready to come to the gate.
Lanyards Required for Entrance
At 08:00-08:20, 14:00-14:20 and 17:30-17:45 when we welcome parents on site, we would like to remind you that you will only be allowed to enter the site with a lanyard. This is to consider the safeguarding of all of our children, as we must ensure that those on site are part of our wider school community and therefore familiar to us all.
We appreciate your collaboration in this matter and look forward to a term which allows for a more structured approach to the day, a safer environment and more focused learning time.
Many thanks,
Louise Stylianou
Pre-Primary and Primary Principal
We appreciate your collaboration in this matter and look forward to a term which allows for a more structured approach to the day, a safer environment and more focused learning time.
Many thanks,
Louise Stylianou
Pre-Primary and Primary Principal