…on your child’s first day in Primary 1.
The Situation
Starting school is an exciting and important milestone. We aim to make your child’s first day in P1 welcoming, reassuring, and full of joy.
What We’ll Do
- On the first day of P1, we offer a staggered start for our new learners. During the summer, we will issue a letter letting you know what time you should bring your child to school on this first day. This will allow parents/carers in small groups to come into the classroom, meet with the teacher and allow you to settle your child into their class.
- We will greet your child warmly and help them settle in at their own pace.
- Offer gentle activities and play-based learning to ease the transition.
- Support early friendships and routines in a calm, nurturing environment.
- Communicate clearly with you at drop-off and pick-up.
- For the first week, we will ask you to pick your child up a little earlier (2.40pm) to allow P1 children to leave the school on their own, in a calm and orderly way. This will also give the teacher time to speak with parents/carers as required.
How We’ll Support Your Child
- Focus on emotional wellbeing—kindness, safety, and confidence.
- Offer extra reassurance to anyone who is worried or upset.
- Get to know your child as an individual, building trust over time.
How You Can Support at Home
- Keep the morning calm—give lots of encouragement and reassurance.
- Make sure they have everything they need (snack, water, bag, packed lunch if required)
- If you are upset leaving your child, try hard to not let this show (we know this can be hard). If your child sees you are upset, they are more likely to be upset and not settle as well as they could.
- Talk about the school day afterwards—celebrate the positives. Talk about our values of Kindness, Growth, Determination and Ambition.
- Let us know of anything that may help us support your child better.