Welcome to Acorn Class!

Thank you for choosing Bourn C of E Primary Academy for your child's primary school education. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our wonderful school. This page is dedicated especially to all the families that will be joining us, we can't wait to meet you in the new term but for now we would love it if you had a look at the information we have included on this page.

We follow the EYFS curriculum and we learn through a wide range of play based, active learning opportunities in our indoor and outdoor classrooms. More information on this is available on our EYFS page.

Please feel confident that we are always happy to talk to you about anything regarding your child. We are a caring and friendly school, very much at the heart of the community.

We hope that you find the information on this page helpful and we are very much looking forward to meeting you all soon. Click below for the slides shared at the Welcome evening in June.

Reception Welcome Meeting slides 2025

Best wishes

Mrs Garrad and the Early Years Team

Meet our Reception Team

Mrs Helen Garrad, Early Years Lead Mrs Kathryn Crome, Early Years Practitioner

Look Around our Classroom

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Hear what some of our current Acorn children have to say about being in Acorn class

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Our Transition Programme

Summer term

Our transition programme aims for the Acorn staff to start to get to know your child before they start school in September. We aim to meet your child in their pre-school setting and we will be talking to key workers and parents as early in this process as we can so we can plan to meet their needs. We aim to ease uncertainties for parents and children during this change as far as we possibly can. We will be inviting parents to a welcome evening at the school and at this meeting you will be invited to sign up for a visit to the classroom with your child for a short stay and play session. Your child will also get an additional class visit during ‘Move Up’ morning where they will stay with school adults without a parent/carer.

September

We operate a staggered start in September to help the children settle into school life as smoothly as possible. We will share with you more information of the staggered start at the induction meeting. We acknowledge that this can be tricky for working families but it works well in ensuring that children settle quickly and comfortably.

There are lots of forms that we will send you to gather the information we need. One of the forms is for you to let the class teacher know more detail about your child, such as their family setting, details of any allergies, medical conditions etc.

Getting Ready for School

You can help your child get ready for school in so many different ways. We hope you find these links useful to provide some information and activities for things you could do at home to help your child get ready for school in September.

'What does school readiness really mean?'

https://startingreception.co.uk/

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/starting-school/getting-ready-for-primary-school/

https://www.pacey.org.uk/working-in-childcare/spotlight-on/being-school-ready/

Books to help children get ready for school

There are lots of story books that can help your child think about starting school. It can be an anxious time for you both so sharing a story together at bed time is a great starting point for these conversations.

https://www.readbrightly.com/books-get-kids-ready-school/

https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/

You can watch this video with your child, a book about starting school, read by author Anna Dewdney - Llama Llama Misses Mama.

Strange new teacher. Strange new toys. Lots of kids and lots of noise! What would Llama like to do? Llama Llama feels so new . . .It's Llama Llama's first day of school.

Online Learning Journal

In Reception, we use the Tapestry learning journal app to record evidence of 'Wow!' moments for each child. We are able to share this with you as parents and carers, which provides a great home - school link and enables teachers and parents to be part of their learning adventure. You will receive your login details for Tapestry within the first 2 weeks of your child being in school.

Here is a helpful video of how to set up your account.

Useful information

Bear Club!

FABLER BJÖRN Soft toy - beige 21 cm

Each child will be given a cuddly bear on their 'move up morning' so it is really important that they attend this session!

As well as being a lovely reminder of the exciting adventures your child will have in school, the bear act as a ‘Transitionary Object’ and can help to support your child if they have any separation anxieties from their main carer.

The Aim of Bear Club is to …

Improve emotional wellbeing, therefore, improve progress

Support and improve transition

Support home routines

Support your child in getting ‘Ready for School