A new school means new friendships, new opportunities and a fresh adventure! At St Mary’s, we welcome children joining Reception after the usual September start or moving into Years 1–6, where spaces are available in their year group.

We take time to get to know each child and their family, helping them feel confident, included and excited about joining our school.

Getting to know us

Before starting, we encourage children to spend a day in school with their new class. This gives them the chance to meet their classmates, get to know their teacher and experience life at St Mary’s. A class buddy helps them find their way around and feel part of the group.

During the visit, the class teacher spends time with your child, and Mrs Maxwell carries out some assessments to help us understand their strengths, their current learning and any support they may need. Afterwards, we meet with parents to share how the day went, discuss the assessment results and plan a positive start together.

Feeling part of the family

When your child starts, their class buddy continues to help them settle into school routines and build friendships. They are also introduced to their Year 6 family buddy, giving them another friendly face and helping them feel connected to our wider school community.

Within the first few weeks, the class teacher meets with parents to talk about how their child is settling in, answer questions and share their early successes.

We look forward to welcoming your family and helping your child flourish at St Mary’s!