Information for potential Year R families 

Welcome on behalf  to all of you who are considering Gatcombe Park Primary as a potential school for your child for September.

This page has a compilation of FAQ's which we hope will be useful for you when deciding where to apply for a place for your child.

We are please to offer tours of the school on the following dates, with a maximum of 20 spaces available on each tour:

We are offering the following tours below:

Tuesday 31st October 2023 at 10 am

Tuesday 7th November 2023 at 4 pm

Wednesday 15th November 2023 at 10 am

Monday 20th November 2023 at 4 pm

Please book by telephoning on 023 92 694412.

I hope that this helps with your important decision on application for a place in Year R and of course if you have a question not answered here then please email the school on admin@gatcombepark.portsmouth.sch.uk.

Ian Baker

Headteacher

F.A.Q.'s

When does my school application have to be completed by?

Apply online at Portsmouth City Council here https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/schools-learning-and-childcare/schools/admissions/apply-to-start-school/

What are the school values?

Our school values are:

Teamwork - families, children and school working together.

Respect - politeness, fairness, tolerance.

Aim High - trying our very best to learn from our mistakes and be the best we can be.

We promote these values in everything that we do and value our families support in promoting them with the pupils.

Who are the key staff in our first year at Gatcombe Park School?

Mr Baker - Headteacher

Mrs Ogles - Deputy Headteacher

Reception class teacher - Mr Thompson

Reception class teaching assistant - Mrs Warner

Special needs Coordinator (SENDCo) - Mrs Sweenie

Pastoral Leader - Miss Mansell

What should I do if I think my child may have a special educational need?

Please talk to us to make us aware at the earliest opportunity, initially speaking to the class teacher or making an appointment via the school office if you wish to discuss this before accepting a place for your child.

If you have a diagnosis or notes from your child's preschool, the school SENDCo (Mrs Sweenie) will be happy to discuss your child's needs and what the school will be able to do to support these.

What if I have worries about my child and starting school, for example their behaviour or their anxiety?

Please do not worry that this is unique to you - it is more common than you think!

Our Pastoral Leader (Miss Mansell) is here to support you, whatever your worry, big or small. She works with families, either face to face or by telephone and with children, either one to one or in the classroom.

Most of our families find that this support really helps with any concerns but we can refer you to external support services if we think these are required. See our pastoral page on the website for more information. 

Is there anything I can do to help prepare my child for school before they start?

If your child has been attending a nursery or pre-school setting then much of the 'school ready' preparation will already have begun.

We know that the following are really helpful for children before they start school:

Talking (and listening) - children who hear lots of varied and extended vocabulary on a daily basis will be school ready. Talking in complete sentences helps them prepare for early writing and communicating with others so the more talk the better!

Reading - lots and lots! Adults who read and share books with their children are giving them a flying start into language development and imaginative thinking.

Counting - use simple opportunities for counting when using money at the shops, counting games or just talking about numbers.

Socialising - children at school clearly are part of a bigger group so supporting them with the skills of sharing, communicating, helping and encouraging will help the development of key personal skills.

Physical development - being fit and healthy by having a simple understanding of healthy foods and the importance of exercise promote a positive start to school life. Practising balancing and finger gripping (for early writing) really help too!

What will my child learn at school?

Schools follow the Early Years Curriculum in the first year of primary school. This covers three prime areas; communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. Through this we  teach the specific areas of literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.

We use a phonics approach to the teaching of reading  and your child will read daily at school.

We provide lots of outdoor and practical learning experiences for children to practise their reading, writing and maths skills and to develop their personal and social skills too. In short, our Year R children spend a lot of time in our outdoor area as well as the classroom, whatever the weather!

How can I support from home?

We have a detailed home learning policy here which details our home learning expectations. In Year R their is a focus on regular reading, phonics support, maths and speaking and listening practice.

Upon starting you will also be issued with a password to our online learning app Seesaw which will support the sharing of work between the family and the school.