WELCOME TO ST THOMAS'
SEPTEMBER 2026
We are so pleased that your child will be joining us this year!
We are looking forward to getting to know our new children and their families too. Starting school is an exciting time and we will do everything we can to ensure that your child gets the best possible start in school and feels settled and reassured as they start their journey with with us.
Mrs Mason, our experienced Reception class teacher, can't wait to welcome the children and families in to our school family!
Over the Summer Term, we will start to get to know those children who are joining our school from St Thomas' Nursery, as they join us in the school hall for their lunches each day. In addition to this, we will help all our new starters settle in to school well and we have arranged a number of sessions when they can come and spend time in their new classroom. They can meet the staff and the other children, who will soon become their new friends, the parents can start to make connections with each other and with our school and the staff team.
If your child attends St Thomas' Nursery, the staff are usually happy to bring your child along to any of these visit sessions if they are attending Nursery on these dates and times. Please do ask and check with the staff whether this is possible for each of the sessions so that they are aware.
We will send out some information and a questionnaire by email to all our new parents & carers to help us start getting to know you and your child. Mrs Mason will also make arrangements to visit your child and meet them in their current Nursery or other setting where they are very comfortable and settled. This usually happens during June.
Dates for your diary 2026:
Parents and Carers information meeting: Thursday 30th April 2026 - 6pm until approx 7pm.
At this meeting you will be welcomed by Mrs Walton, the Headteacher, and introduced to other members of the team. You will meet the class teacher, Mrs Mason, and hear lots of practical information about starting school and school life. Where possible, and if childcare allows, we would recommend only adults attend this meeting. There will be other opportunities for your child to come into school with you!
Teddy Bear's picnic: Friday 12th June - 1.45pm - 3.15pm. All children, parents, carers and teddy bears are very welcome to stay for the picnic!
All our new children are invited to attend along with a parent or carer and their favourite teddy bear! Please bring along a rug if you have one.
Stay and play session : Monday 22nd June - 1.30pm - 3.00pm OR Tuesday 23rd June 1.30pm - 3.00pm
Families will be asked to choose a preferred date and we will do our best to accommodate your preferences but can't guarantee this as we don't want the group numbers to be too large. Please note that these two sessions are 'drop off' sessions - parents and carers can collect children at the end of the session.
Taster Day - half day in school: Thursday 9th July - Morning 9.15am - 11.15am or Afternoon session 1.15pm - 3.15pm
Families will be asked to choose a preferred session time for the half day visit into school. Again, we will do our best to accomodate your preferences but can't guarantee this as we don't want the group numbers to be too large. Please note that these are 'drop off' sessions - parents and carers can collect children at the end of the session.
Starting in September
The first full day at school will be Wednesday 2nd September 2026. We will have a staggered start on that first day to help children arrive calmly and happily and have a warm welcome from our staff. Children who have siblings in school will start at 9am and new families will start at either 9.30am or 10.00am. After their first day, the children will be in school at normal time and full time as we find that this is more helpful for the children - and for many parents too.
The school doors open each day at 8.50am and school closes at 3.25pm.
Wraparound Care
If you would like to reserve a place for your child in our Breakfast Club or After School Club, you will have the chance to do this as part of the Induction processes. We make sure that all those who need a place will get a place!
We are looking forward to welcoming you all into our school family.
Click here to see the presentation from our Parents and Carers Information meeting
Click here for an important letter from the NHS regarding the MMR vaccine for all new school starters