Infant Handbook
Welcome
Preparing my child for school
The School Day
In the classroom
Reading
Writing
Numeracy
Environmental Studies
Computers and Technology
Expressive Arts
Welcome
We are looking forward to your child starting his/ her education at Bonnington Primary School.We hope that the information in this booklet contains helpful information for you and will make your child's start at school happy and successful.
Please remember, if you have any questions or worries about your child coming to Bonnington please come in and see us. Back to top
Preparing my child for school
For the first five years of your child's life, you and the nursery or playgroup have been your child's educators. We need to work together to support your child at school. You can do this by asking yourself the following questions:CAN MY CHILD?
DRESS AND UNDRESS HIM/ HERSELF?
FASTEN BUTTONS?
MANAGE LACES AND BUCKLES?
USE THE TOILET PROPERLY AND FLUSH IT AFTER USE?
DO AS HE/ SHE IS TOLD?
WASH HIS/ HER HANDS?USE A HANDKERCHIEF?
USE A KNIFE AND FORK?
RECOGNISE HIS / HER NAME?
SHARE TOYS WITH OTHERS?
TIDY AND CLEAR TOYS AWAY?
REMEMBER/ FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS?
SAY PLEASE AND THANK YOU?
RECITE NURSERY RHYMES?
Different kinds of writing tools help to improve motor control:
USE PENS, PENCILS AND CRAYONS TO COLOUR IN.
PAINT WITH THICK AND THIN BRUSHES.
USE SCISSORS FOR CUTTING OUT.
Encourage your child to recognise and name colours
You can help your child by:
Reading books with him/ her
Looking at different types of books
Picture books
Story books
Information books
Talk about the pictures with your child
Help your child to do jigsaw puzzles
Play simple board games
Guessing games
This encourages your child to concentrate for longer periods of time and also improve their talking and listening skills
Want to help them to count? -
Count.........
when you are setting the table
putting the potatoes or apples into a bag at the shops
stairs in the house
people in the house
There are lots of things to count everywhere you go! Back to top
The School Day
In primary one and two:Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
8.50am- 12.15pm and 1.00pm- 2.35pm
Friday:
8.50am- 12 noon.
Please ensure that your child knows who is meeting him/ her or where he/ she is to go at the end of the day.
Please ensure that the school has your phone number and that of an emergency contact who is available if you cannot be contacted.
The children are told to come back into school if there is no one at the gate to meet them.
Whilst we are happy to look after a child in an emergency , it is important not to abuse this system. Back to top
In the classroom
The primary one and two classrooms are set up in a similar way to nursery, but there are also tables and chairs for the children to do more formal work.Language is divided up into listening and talking, reading and writing. Each area is of equal importance. Children learn to develop their listening skills through many activities
Stories
Rhyme
Instructions discussion and
Listening and talking to others.
Playing in the Wendy House encourages
role play and develops vocabulary skills. Back to top
Reading
From the children's first days at Bonnington we want them to enjoy reading and stories.Time will be spent every day either listening or talking about stories. For a lot of the children, this is the favourite part of the day.
Not all children are ready to begin reading at the same time. Do not worry if your child does not have the same book as another. Remember that children progress at different rates and most importantly, there can be twelve months difference in age between children in one class.
The teacher will want to read with all of the children at some point during the day.
It is important that you read with and to your child at home on a regular basis.
There will be a meeting soon after your child starts school to discuss reading and how you can help. In the meantime it is important to:
take time to read with and to your child
say lots of nursery rhymes with your child
talk about rhyming words with your child
clap to the beat of songs, rhymes and word
YOU CAN HELP AT HOME: Here are some helpful points when reading at home.
*choose a time that suits both of you (not when the favourite TV programme is on!)
*sit in a quiet room with your child
*talk about the pictures, point to the words as you say them and talk about what may *happen next in the story
*read the story with your child and encourage him/ her to join in
*if the child wants to try on his/ her own, let them
*help with any unknown words
*let your child read a favourite story to someone else ....a little brother or sister
*do not worry that not every word can be read
DO MAKE READING FUN AND ENJOYABLE
GIVE LOTS OF PRAISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT. Back to top
Writing
Writing is divided into two areas -handwriting and story writing.Before children can write and form letters correctly they need to be able to do many things. They need to be able to have good control with their hands. This is easy and fun to practise -
*jigsaws,
*colouring in,
*cutting out,
*using construction toys
* building with modelling materials
*drawing with attention to detail...adding eyes, buttons, hair, patterns
The children are encouraged to write as soon as they can. The important thing is to get the formation of letters correct.
IF YOUR CHILD WANTS TO WRITE AT HOME PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT LETTERS ARE FORMED AS ON THE SHEET YOU WERE GIVEN.
STORY WRITING: Children , from as soon as they start to scribble, are
'writing' stories. It may not look like anything to you, but to them it tells a story. They will mimic your writing and tell you quite confidently what it says. The children will develop their stories through lots of different activities:
*listening to stories
*role play
*painting a picture or making a model to talk about
*drama
*sequencing pictures
*lots of discussion about events and their own experience
They will tell stories through their pictures The teacher will, at first, write the story down for the children, but they are encouraged to try themselves. As the session progresses, they will be able to use wordbanks to help them write accurately. They can also use the computer to write their stories. Back to top
Numeracy
From am early age your child has been building numeracy skills at home. In school we build on those experiences. There is a big emphasis on numeracy and the children will have quite concentrated sessions each day to build on their mental skills so that they can use lots of different strategies to work out problems. These strategies are built upon through practical activities -*sorting and matching
*counting
*recognising numbers and number words
*counting back and forward
*games which help consolidate number recognition, addition and subtraction writing numbers Back to top
Environmental Studies
We use this title to study topics which are familiar to the children. My family, Myself, My street, People who help us. These are all themes which are concerned with their own experiences, which are built on to extend knowledge and encourage thinking and the forming of opinions. People are invited in to speak to the children and they also go on visits to support what they have learned and enrich their experience.In the early years at school they will also learn about the natural world, people in the past and present. They will become aware of different ways of life and learn to respect and appreciate other peoples ways and beliefs.
Through observation and investigation your child will begin to develop and build simple scientific skills.
Here, Primary one have been learning about "Under the sea"
We are always looking for help in class with trips or anyone with particular skills they could talk about or show to the children. Please speak to your child?s teacher if you can help. You are always welcome in the class!! Back to top
Computers and Technology
Computers are a fact of life nowadays and we have computers in every class. We are also very proud of our computer suite where pupils can go as a class to learn ICT skills. All schools are now connected to the internet and E mail. This means that they can communicate with people not only in Edinburgh but all over the world. They can also research subjects and download information for work they are doing. Computers are used in many areas of the curriculum, even in the early years. We have a large variety of disks to support learning in many areas of the curriculum. The children will be able to publish stories, pictures and other work using the computer.In technology the children can design and make models and working parts. They are learning about the technological world. This starts with very basic resources like scissors, card and glue.
They will also use resources like Lego for designing and making. Back to top
Expressive Arts
Music, drama, PE, art and design make up this area of the curriculum. They all play an important part in the physical and emotional development of children. Every day your child will have the opportunity to paint, draw or model. This will give them a sense of achievement and satisfaction as well as developing their self expression. During PE, dance and drama, the children will be able to build on their co ordination and body skills. Music is often used in the hall to provide rhythm and atmosphere. Singing and the use of instruments to make their own music is also provided, as well as pre recorded music to encourage listening and appreciation.Please remember to provide your child with
a gym bag containing
shorts, t shirt and gym shoes
everything should be clearly named. Back to top