Welcome to Mereside CE Primary Academy

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your family.

We understand that starting school, though exciting, can feel daunting for children and parents/carers alike! We aim to do all we can to make the transition into school as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Welcome Meeting and Welcome Packs

We will be holding a parents/carers only Welcome Meeting on Monday 2^nd June 2025 from 2.00pm to 2.45pm. This will give us an opportunity to meet you all, share additional information with you and answer any queries you may have. It will also give you the chance to have a look around the school if you have not already done so and to meet the Early Years teaching team. School uniform will be available to look at during this session.

At the meeting on Monday 2^nd June, you will be given a welcome pack. Please complete and return the forms to school by Friday 13^th June 2025.

Email return

Our Early Years Leader, Mrs Rachel Harper, will soon begin this process of transition by visiting your child’s pre-school setting to discuss your child’s needs and, if possible, meet your child for the first time. To assist with this process, please email school, using the admissions@mereside.shropshire.sch.uk email address, no later than Monday 19^th May 2025 with the name of your child’s pre-school setting. If your child does not attend pre-school, please let us know by email. We will be unable to place your child with their friends if we do not know their pre-school setting.

We would also like to ask for your permission to use your email address to set up internal school systems to communicate with you throughout transition. Please include in your email to school, whether you allow permission for your email address to be used.

Home Visit

We will also be offering you a home visit. The home visit is a short visit of about 15 minutes, where you and your child will be able to meet the class teacher and teaching assistant, who will be working with your child in September, in the comfort of your own home. This has proved to be a very positive way of developing the relationship between home and school. It also provides an opportunity for you to ask any questions or disclose any sensitive information. There will be an opportunity to book a home visit at the Welcome Meeting.

School Visits

School visits are another essential part of the transition process. They give children the opportunity to explore the reception environment alongside their teacher and future classmates. These visits take place on the dates below:

Tuesday 24th June	4.00pm – 5.00pm	Family Session: After school drop in session for children and parents/carers; a chance to meet other parents & carers
Tuesday 8th July	1.30pm – 2.30pm	Afternoon Tea: Afternoon tea & stay and play session for children and parents/carers
Thursday 10th July	1.30pm – 2.30pm	Stay and Play: Session for children to spend time in their new class. Parents/carers to drop children off and return to collect them at 2.30pm
Tuesday 15th July	9.30am – 10.30am	Stay and Play: Final session for children to spend time in their new class. Parents/carers to drop children off and return to collect them at 10.30am

 

If you or your child have concerns and would benefit from a `one to one’ visit after school or if your child has any additional needs and you would like to meet with our school SENCO then please call or email to arrange this.

In the meantime, we look forward to meeting you and your child in the near future.

Contact Rachel Harper, our EYFS Phase leader on 01743 356283 or by email  harper.r@mereside.shropshire.sch.uk.

Transition timetable

School Readiness

Please use the link below to access guidance on helping yourself and your child feel ready for stating school in September. The document provides advice on Growing Independence, Building Relationships and Communicating, Physical Development and Healthy routines.

Starting-Reception

 

Open Day Dates for September 2026

If your child was born between 1st September 2021 and 31st August 2022, your child will start school in September 2026. We would like to invite you to come and look around our school at one of our Open Days listed below. We are offering two time slots on each of the days; 1.30 and 5pm.