Reception: September 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to The Willows Catholic Primary School!
On behalf of our whole school community, I would like to thank you for choosing our school and we look forward to welcoming your child into our school family. We take care in planning your child’s transition from their previous pre-school/ nursery settings and we understand that this is an important milestone for your family.
We use the ClassDojo app to share your child's learning journey with you. Please download this app using either of these links: Apple: App Store or Android: Google Play Store. It is free of charge. We will then send out a link for you to access the app. You will be notified with school updates and up to date information regarding transition for your child.
The My Child At School app is the main app that is used for school. This app allows you to order school dinners, buy uniform, book Breakfast and After School Club along with many other functions. You can download this app using these links: Apple: App Store or Android: Google Play Store. During the Induction Evening you will be given the relevant details to login to your account.
Our main form of communication with parents, throughout the school, is email. If you add info@willows.lancs.sch.uk to your contacts, emails should be delivered to your inbox rather than the junk folder. This address is only used for outgoing emails. You can contact Mrs Aris on h.aris@willows.lancs.sch.uk or Miss Stedman on bursar@willows.lancs.sch.uk.
If your child has additional needs, Mrs Spacey, our SENCO, will be at the Induction Evening for you to talk to.
This page of our website gives you all the information you will need. If you do have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Miss Stedman in the office on 01772 684371.
We would like to thank you again for choosing The Willows Catholic Primary School and we look forward to meeting you in due course.
With kindest regards,
Mrs Hayley Aris
Reception Teacher
Induction Evening
All families need to attend our Induction Evening on Wednesday 17th June at 6:30pm. Mr Wylde, our Headteacher, and Mrs Aris, our Reception teacher will share lots of useful information. Our catering team will be on hand to share some of delicious meals with you, our SENCO, Mrs Spacey will be available and you will be able to meet all of our staff. Our school uniform will also be on display for you begin gauging sizes.
As there is a lot of important information to share, we ask that where possible, only adults attend the meeting. You may find it useful to bring your device with you as staff will be on hand to help set up the various apps and book appointments for September.
What happens next...
Following the Induction Evening, our transition begins almost immediately. Mrs Aris will be making appointments to visit your child in their current setting and speak to their key worker.
On Friday 19th June, your child is invited to join us for their first Play and Stay session:
- 9:30am - 11:30am - children with surnames A to J (inclusive).
- 1:30pm - 3:00pm - children with surnames K to Z (inclusive).
On Thursday 25th June, your child will have their second Play and Stay session - the opposite to their first:
- 9:30am - 11:30am - children with surnames K to Z (inclusive).
- 1:30pm - 3:00pm - children with surnames A to J (inclusive).
Our PTFA our organising our annual Summer Fayre which will be held on Sunday 5th July from 12:00pm. Your family is invited to join us and your child will able to use the bouncy castle free of charge.
During the last week of the Summer Holiday, school will be open at various times for you to collect your child's new school uniform and PE kit. We recommend waiting as long as possible before ordering their uniform to allow for that little extra growing that always happens over the summer holiday.
In September, you will meet with Mrs Aris on either:
- Wednesday 2nd September
- Thursday 3rd September or
- Friday 4th September.
This is your opportunity to tell Mrs Aris everything there is to know about your child: what they love, what they despise, what they are great at, any allergies or medical conditions etc. It is also an ideal opportunity for you to tell us what you might be worried about. You will book this appointment during the Induction Evening.
Getting ready for school...
The Government's Best Start in Life website has lots of handy hints and tips to help you and your child prepare for their transition into primary school.
Is your child starting school soon?
Simple, everyday moments like chatting, playing, reading together and encouraging independence all help build the skills that help them to feel confident. It’s not about ticking off a list – it’s about small steps that add up over time.
Whether your child is starting school this September or in the years ahead, you can start to practise these skills together now. Building these habits early supports their development and helps them settle into school with confidence.
Every child is different
Children develop at different rates and in different ways but all children will benefit from support and preparation.
If your child has special education needs or disabilities (SEND), preparing for school can feel like a particularly emotional time and it’s important to know that you don’t have to navigate it alone. Schools are experienced at supporting children with a wide range of needs and will work with you to put the right support in place from the start.
If you have any concerns about your child’s development, your health visitor, GP or the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) will be happy to help. You can also contact your local SENDIAS service (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support) for free, impartial guidance, or visit your local Best Start Family Hub.
Steps for School: skills to practise together
Watch MC Grammar’s ‘Steps for School’ song with your child for a fun way to start to practise everyday skills together.
Starting-school (ID 1092)
