Starting school at Darley Dene is a journey of belonging. Whether starting in Reception or joining one of our other year groups, we understand that the transition process needs to be as smooth as possible to enable children to make the best start at Darley Dene. 

Reception

Starting school at Darley Dene is a journey of belonging. We understand that the transition process needs to be as smooth as possible to enable children to make the best start at Darley Dene. Making friends and building positive relationships with staff is a priority. Therefore, there is lots of time for play, with carefully planned activities around our Power of Reading texts, which are often familiar and much-loved stories.

We recognise how important and special this year is for so many reasons, and we aim to reflect that in all that we do throughout the year. As the year progresses, we look to build memorable experiences, such as a Diwali Dance workshop in Autumn, a trip to Addlestone Library and a Nativity Performance at Christmas. A visit from a local farm and an exciting teddy bear picnic are highlights of the summer and help create memorable experiences that the children take with them throughout their time at Darley Dene. 

Children in Reception class follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum as set out by government guidelines. The curriculum is divided into seven key areas which cover all aspects of the child's development: Personal Social Emotional Development, Physical Development, Communication & Language, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World, and Expressive Arts & Design.

Starting school can be a daunting time and we want to ensure every child is ready to start school without feeling apprehensive. To help with this, our Reception teaching team have created some films to watch with your child to help them with this exciting life milestone.  

Years 1-6

When we are made aware of a new child starting in a year group other than Reception, they are invited to the Move Up morning which takes place at the beginning of July where all the children spend the morning in their new class with their new classmates and their new teacher.  When a child transfers during the year, we do our best to offer a mutually-convenient time for the child to spend a little while in their new class to alleviate any anxieties that the change may bring.

Teachers are available in the playground at the beginning and end of each school day for brief catch-up chats so those parents wishing to check on how their child is settling are able to do this informally.