Successful settling and transition into Preschool or Reception is fundamentally important to us here at Griffin House School.  A happy start enables an enjoyment of learning new things and a willingness to face new challenges.  We appreciate that all children are individuals, we offer both standard transitional mornings together with more specific sessions for children and/or parents who may be worried or anxious about a new beginning or additional educational need. 

Set out below are some of the unique ways that we can help your child to establish a great start to their school journey:

• Regular opening mornings are held across the school year where you can come along with or without your child/ren to gain familiarity in the school surroundings as well as seeing the school in a moment of active learning .
• Children and parents/carers are invited to ‘Stay and Play’ sessions prior to joining the setting where parents are invited to join for a short period of time, during a typical school day.
• Additional/individual sessions may also be arranged where it is felt beneficial to an individual child.
• Each child has a personal profile created using the Tapestry system where you are able to view sample activities that your child has taken part in and also communicate with your child’s teacher directly. 
• A few weeks into the new school term (September) a welcome event is held during the evening for all new parents to find out first-hand how and what the children have been accessing so far, together with a vital opportunity to ask questions and gain a better understanding of the year ahead.
• A gentle introduction allows children and their parents/carers to get to know key staff members and the daily routine and to become familiar with their learning environment.
• In Preschool children will have a termly opportunity to build up their hours in preparation for attending school full time. 
• During the summer term, the children will have further opportunities to meet their new class teacher and gain familiarity to their new classroom and outdoor spaces prior to the start of the new academic year. 
• The Reception curriculum is structured in such a way that we build up incrementally towards both reaching the Early Learning Goals and being ready for the move into Key Stage 1.
• Our commitment to small class sizes ensures that each child can develop at their own pace.