Information for our New Reception Starters - September 2026 Intake
Thank you for choosing St. Mary's School for your child!
We would like to warmly welcome all new families and the children who will be joining our Reception group in September 2026.
We hope the information on this page will answer some of your questions about your child starting school.
Where possible, please try and attend all of the sessions are available, as this will give you and your child the best possible start to school life and ensure you have all of the information you need.
Stay and Play
This year, we are delighted to be able to offer Stay and Play sessions! These will be gentle, easing‑in sessions for us to all get to know one another. Children and their parent/carer, or grandparent, will be invited in for two sessions during May and June, where the children can play with their new class friends in small groups, enjoy our facilities and listen to a story, while adults to get to know us, find out a little more about life at St. Mary’s and chat with key staff members. Your child’s Stay and Play session dates will be sent to you shortly. Sessions will take place on the East Street site, (postcode SS2 6LQ).
Welcome Meeting for Children and Parents
Your child’s Welcome Meeting session will take place at the end of June, (either 22nd or 23rd June). An email regarding the time and date of your child’s session date will be sent to you shortly.
This session will take place on the East Street site and start at 10.00am. Your child will stay until 12.30pm. They will meet their new Class Teacher and class friends and will have lunch with us. Children can choose from one of our delicious school meal options, or bring in their own packed lunch to enjoy. (We ask that packed-lunches do not contain nuts, sweets or fizzy drinks, please).
Parents/Carers - From 10.00am until 10.50am, parents/carers will attend a meeting in our hall, where Headteacher Mrs Lewis will welcome you to our school, talk about school readiness; with handy tips on how to prepare your child for starting school and discuss how we teach Reading, Phonics and Maths here at St. Mary’s. You will also be able to meet the Reception Team who will be working with your child.
Please would you bring your child’s birth certificate or passport for us to view on the date of their first transition session in June. |
Mix and Mingle
Mix and Mingle will take place on Friday, 3rd July, from 9.15am to 10.30am.
Your child will go to their new class and parents/carers are invited to stay for a ‘Mix and Mingle’ gathering in the school hall, where you will be able to enjoy some refreshments, meet various members of school staff, Governors and representatives of our Parent’s Association – SMASH – who will also be selling pre-loved uniform, as well as the Schoolwear Centre, (based in Hamlet Court Road), who will be on-site and selling new uniform and taking orders. Most importantly, you will get to meet the other parents who will soon become your friends over the next seven years and beyond!
Forest School Session
We will be holding some wonderful Forest School Sessions on Thursdays during June and July from 3.00pm to 4.00pm on our Boston Avenue site, (postcode SS2 6JH). This gives our new children an exciting opportunity to experience our fabulous Forest School and to acquaint themselves with our other school site. An adult will need to stay with each child during these sessions. Children should wear suitable outdoor clothing for the weather. Please note that unfortunately, siblings will not be able to attend. A session date will be emailed to you shortly. These free sessions are optional to attend.
School Start Dates
Children will start school for mornings only on Thursday, 3rd and Friday 4th September, 8.30am until 12.45pm. They will have lunch with us before they leave each day and can either bring their own packed-lunch, or enjoy one of our school lunches. (We ask that packed-lunches do not contain nuts, sweets or fizzy drinks, please).
Your child will start full time on Monday, 7th September – 8.30am to 3.00pm.
Pupil Information Form
Please complete and return the following information form by Thursday, 14th May 2026.
Attached to this email is some useful information about the school – our School Information Booklet, which details our full school uniform on pages 5 and 6, our current School Lunch Menu and school term dates for the next academic year.
Please find the following link for our online Pupil Information Form, which you will need to complete before your child joins us:
Pupil Information Form: Pupil Information Form RECEPTION INTAKE 2026/2027 – Fill out form
IMPORTANT: The online form should be completed and submitted to us by the deadline of Thursday, 14th May. Should you have any difficulties with the link, or completing the form, please do let me know.
Attached to this email is some useful information about our school – our School Information Booklet, which details our full school uniform on pages 5 and 6, as well as gives important information about the school, including Breakfast Club and After School Club. Also attached is our school term dates for the next academic year, the current School Lunch menu and a Summary of Dates of all of the events mentioned in this welcome letter.
Once your child joins us, you will receive some links to the apps we use in school:
Magic Bookings: We use this website for parents to book school lunches, school trips, school clubs and to book Parent Evening appointments during the year.
When you receive your link, you will need to press ‘reset’ and you will then be asked to sign up and then give consent to the questions asked on the page. After that, you will then be able to book anything you need.
ParentMail: This is an app that you can download to your phone or PC. This app is used to send out general information from the school – newsletters, etc. You will also use it to report your child’s absence, via the tab down the side of the home page.
Class Dojo: This is an app that you can download to your phone or PC. The app is our main communication app. The class teacher can correspond with you and for you will be able to contact the class teacher if you need to (like a texting service). It will provide regular updates and information about your child’s class and also about whole school events.
You will also be able to view your child’s Dojo points – these are reward points that children receive in school that are linked to the school’s values of Ambition, Belonging, Courage and Discovery. You can read more about this and other key points about life at St. Mary’s School on our website: www.st-marysprittlewell.com
Home Visits
Alongside the familiarisation sessions above where you will be able to speak to school staff, we will also be in contact with your child's nursery and we will visit them in their setting before they start school. If you would like the opportunity to speak with our staff about your child in your own home environment, we do offer Home Visits. Our SENCO, Miss Wood, Mrs Shahzad, our EAL (English as an Additional Language) Learning Support Assistant and Medical Lead, Mr Hosking, can also attend if necessary.
If you would like a Home Visit, please do tick the checkbox on the Pupil Information Form and an appointment will be made for you. These visits will take place before the end of the school year in July.
In the meanwhile, if you have any questions or queries, please do get in touch, either by giving us a call at our East Street site on 01702 354016, or by emailing the school’s Admissions Officer Mrs Rowlingson at: pa@st-marysprittlewell.southend.sch.uk
We really look forward to you and your child joining us and becoming a part of our school community!